Episode:  Steel Toe Amutation

Original Air Date:  November 9, 2005

Myths:  Steel Toe Amputation, Bottle Blast Off

The Myth: Steel toed boots are more dangerous than regular boots. The steel in the boots will, when hit, curl around and cause toe amputation.



The Experts: None

The Action/Results: Boots with the highest safety rating given were tested. Jamie builds a shock loaded guillotine and Adam creates a complicated "frangible" foot using a new ballistics gel, resin (for human foot bones) and hot glue (for tendons). The foot mold is inserted in boots steel & regular and mashed by the guillotine. The results are not spectacular- a little compression, some minor bone breaks, no amputation.



Adam realizes the new ballistics gel is not accurately mimicking the behavior of human skin. The frangible foot mold is abandoned in favor of a boot with the toe area removed and clay inserted to better observe the aftermath. The steel toed boots are again put in the guillotine, there is compression but not enough to be considered harmful to toes. The regular toed boots are mashed beyond recognition.



Jamie builds a compression rig to crush hydraulically & measure compression. Steel toes prove to provide 5 times more protection than regular boots. A shearing attachment is put on the compression rig for the complete wince factor. 750 lbs break every bone in your toes, 1400 lbs will cause toe incineration and get you a Worker's Comp check once a month forever. The research dept discovers an Australian man has lost a toe to a falling pipe lending credence to the myth. For a worst case scenario (and some grins) the boys go back to the guillotine with the shear attachment...Its a GUILLOTINE with a SHEAR ATTACHMENT -your feet are gonna get totaled no matter what kind of shoes you're wearing.



The Result: BUSTED. You'll always have more damage to your feet if you're not wearing steel toed boots.



The Myth: (from a Japanese game show clip): Is it possible to fly with just 15 water bottle rockets strapped to your back?



Special Guest Star: Deadblow, Grant's champion Battlebot



Memorable/Quotable Moments - *QUOTE OF THE YEAR: Grant: HOLY CRAP, RUN!!



The Action/Results: Kari is elected to test the myth.

Grant & Tory build the bottle rocket prototype. After some goofing around in the parking lot, including the *Quote of the Year, the build team come up with the equation of 15 soda bottles containing 1/3 water & 2/3 air at 90 psi should get Kari airborne. They secure the bottles in plywood with cable tied quick releases. Tory, not constrained by the actual myth, has figured on 50 cable tied, quick release bottles. He's also using PVC pipe & compressed air. He just wants to launch the girl. Both rigs (and Kari) are hauled to a pier. Kari's understandably

nervous but the EMT's and the harbor patrol are there to make sure she's safe. The simulaid (Jane) is strapped to the myth specific 15 bottle rig & after 2 tests the EMT's (to Kari's relief) decide it's just not safe. The simulaid is strapped to Tory's 50 bottle rig & promptly goes into the ground like a lawn dart.



The Result: BUSTED. Neither the height nor distance achieved with the Simulaid are even close to the myth.