Episode Name:   Barrel of Bricks

Original Air Date:   October 10,. 2003

Myths:  Barrel of Bricks, Peeing on the Thrid Rail, Eel Skin Wallet

Barrel of Bricks

Myth: A construction worker has to haul a 500 lb barrel of bricks up 30 feet.  When the barrel is at the top of the scaffolding, the barrel suddenly goes crashing to the ground, flinging the worker at the other end of the rope through the air.  The barrel hits the ground, losing its load, and flies up again, and the worker then falls to the ground.  At this point, the worker lets go of the rope, and the barrel falls on top of him.

Experts: Frank Joost, Carpenter
Kevin Smith, Macon Masonry Materials
Heather Joseph-Witham

Jamie and Adam build a 30 ft scaffold, and load a barrel with 500 lbs of bricks. Buster the Dummy is equipped with a quick-release hand, attached to the rope.  Jamie’s truck is used as a counterweight.

Adam: "I think they’ll fall out on the first try. Wanna bet? I got a dollar."

On the first try, the barrel did not break, but Buster is comically flung through the air. On the second try, they removed the steel reinforcing bands, but it still didn’t break. Adam is 0 for 2. Third try, Adam placed a board underneath to wreck the barrel.  It worked!  The barrel broke apart, spilling the bricks.  Buster falls to the ground, and the barrel falls directly on top of him

Jamie: "That was hysterical!!"

They give it one more try, with the same results.

Adam: "We broke a crash test dummy! That’s a red letter day!"

Peeing on the Third Rail

Myth: Peeing on the electrified third rail of a subway train will give enough of a shock to kill you.

Experts: Rob Lobenstein, NYC Transit
Heather Joseph-Witham

Adam and Jamie construct a "person" using a skeleton (complete with body bag) and ballistics gel.  They determine the electrical resistance of urine to be 10,000 ohms.  This can carry a charge of 65 milliamps - enough to give you a heart attack! This part of the myth is true.  They build a "bladder" using a whoopee cushion for pressure.

Adam: "I don’t let gravity do my trick!"
Jamie: " Where’s the wee bottle?  I have to go."

At the rail yard, they hook up a short section of track to a 650-volt transformer. The first try is on dry ground, with rubber-soled shoes on the dummy.  Nothing happens. On the second try, they wet the shoes, but still nothing.  On the third try, no shoes and wet ground, no response.  But wait! The ground becomes active with electricity! They have to wait until the ground is safe gain. On the fourth try, they use a larger stream of urine, and raise the rail closer to the body. This time, it works!

Adam: "Do not grab the third rail from six inches away and *#%&! On it!

Eel-skin Wallets

Myth: Eel skin wallets demagnetize credit cards.

Experts: John McCosker, Steinhart Aquarium

Eels actually do give a charge of 4000-5000 volts. To test if that will demagnetize credit cards, Adam and Jamie make stunt credit cards, and put them through various tests to see what works. They are put in different designs of wallets for a few seconds, with no change. After some wear and tear, still no change. Twenty-four hours later, nothing is different.

Is there possibly some residue from the tanning process? The put a wallet in the microwave, but no reaction was viewed. In truth, the wallets are not actually made from electric eels!  They are made from hagfish, also known as the "slime eel" for its protective slime produced.

Back to the lab: cards are put in a magnetic money clip, but still no reaction.  They rub two cards against each other, but it doesn’t change a thing.

Jamie builds an electromagnet and uses a gauss-meter to test magnetic strength.  He lays a card over the magnet at 650 gauss for one second, with no result. 700 gauss, nothing. 800 gauss, nothing still.  1600 gauss, nothing!  Adam suggests just waving the card over the magnet, and at 1000 gauss, it finally worked!  One final test. A card is placed in the tank with an electric eel. He bit the card, but was otherwise not interested.

- episode description by Striderswife