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Infiltration Forums > Rookie Forum > Best Rookie Equipment?(Viewed 5665 times)
McQueen1043 location:
Cincinnati
 
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Best Rookie Equipment?
< on 2/24/2018 3:12 AM >
Posted on Forum: UER ForumQuote
Hello all, I'm arranging to film a journey through a 6-story abandoned factory--but I've never done anything like it before, and not sure where to start as far as equipment goes. I have a DSLR camera, but not sure what clothes/camcorder will best fit this. Please comment below with suggestions!



Fleeting location:
Toronto
 
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Re: Best Rookie Equipment?
<Reply # 1 on 2/24/2018 4:35 AM >
Posted on Forum: UER ForumQuote
A DSLR is fine, but bring something to stabilize your camera, be it a tripod or weighted handle. The use of either depends on the shots you want to get.

There's lots of posts on here already about what clothes to wear, but generally something you don't mind getting dirty or torn. I prefer stretchy/slim jeans and layers to keep me warm on top. Wear some good boots with good support.


[last edit 2/24/2018 4:37 AM by Fleeting - edited 1 times]

One day I got a good camera.
https://www.flickr...hotos/fleetsurbex/
blackhawk
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location:
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Re: Best Rookie Equipment?
<Reply # 2 on 2/24/2018 4:41 AM >
Posted on Forum: UER ForumQuote
Watch what you're walking on at all times.
Hellholes are real... bring 2 good flashlights.



Just when I thought I was out... they pulled me back in.
Samurai
Vehicular Lord Rick
 
location:
northeastern New York
 
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Re: Best Rookie Equipment?
<Reply # 3 on 2/24/2018 2:33 PM >
Posted on Forum: UER ForumQuote
best rookie equipment?

good judgement and patience



jeepdave location:
Anderson, SC
 
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Re: Best Rookie Equipment?
<Reply # 4 on 2/24/2018 2:48 PM >
Posted on Forum: UER ForumQuote
Posted by Samurai
best rookie equipment?

good judgement and patience


This all the way. Exploring is fun and simple. But if you don't use your head it can get deadly quick. Especially when we're talking heights. A good flashlight (no matter when you are going) sturdy shoes and clothes you don't care about are the minimum equipment.



Ezekiel 25:17
Granuaile location:
Cincinnati
 
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Re: Best Rookie Equipment?
<Reply # 5 on 2/25/2018 2:01 PM >
Posted on Forum: UER ForumQuote
Try to go bare minimum. You never know when you got to climb a fence, make a quick entry/exit or hide. Having a bunch of shit getting caught on things is going to ruin your day. I have a feeling I know which building you are filming. Be safe and have fun!



"First rule of space travel, kids, is always answer distress beacons. 9 out of 10 times it's a ship full of dead bodies and free shit."
Aran location:
Kansas City
 
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Re: Best Rookie Equipment?
<Reply # 6 on 2/26/2018 4:42 AM >
Posted on Forum: UER ForumQuote
For a rookie exploration, I would advise a minimalist approach to equipment. It's all too easy to go for the tacticool look and end up with a bunch of stuff that just gets in the way. You really only need the following:

- Whatever camera equipment you feel is necessary
- Good shoes, preferably hiking boots.
- Jeans and a long sleeve shirt
- Work gloves
- A flashlight with batteries that aren't dead
- Cell phone


As for optional equipment, I'm always in favor of the following:

- A small backpack
- A bottle of water
- A dust mask
- A baseball cap or winter hat


Basically, you should be able to blend into a crowd if necessary. If somebody can tell you're about to enter an abandoned building just by looking at you, maybe you brought too much. That's not to say there aren't occasions where bringing large amounts of equipment is necessary, because such locations do exist- but if it requires climbing gear, Geiger counters, inflatable rafts, etc, then maybe it's not a good location for a rookie exploration.



"Sorry, I didn't know I'm not supposed to be here," he said, knowing full well he wasn't supposed to be there.

blackhawk
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Re: Best Rookie Equipment?
<Reply # 7 on 2/26/2018 4:44 PM >
Posted on Forum: UER ForumQuote
Always bring water. At least a quart.
If you get caustic or acid in your eyes time is of the essence.
Even a minute delay is too long...

It's not uncommon to find sodium/potassium hydroxide at sites. Dried or as liquid only it's soapy slippery feel gives it away and it's a real flesh eater. Be especially wary at paper mills and water treatment facilities.
Be careful what you touch and keep your hands away from your face.
Always good to carry a brush towel too; around your neck, on a gear strap or on your shoulder.



Just when I thought I was out... they pulled me back in.
4Valhal location:
Kansas City, KS
 
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Re: Best Rookie Equipment?
<Reply # 8 on 2/26/2018 5:35 PM >
Posted on Forum: UER ForumQuote
These guys all make very solid points. My only piece to reiterate:

A good flashlight.
A good backup flashlight.
Batteries for both.

Your cell phone does not count.



Never climb after somebody with ulcerative colitis. -Steed
Aran location:
Kansas City
 
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Re: Best Rookie Equipment?
<Reply # 9 on 2/26/2018 6:04 PM >
Posted on Forum: UER ForumQuote
Posted by blackhawk
It's not uncommon to find sodium/potassium hydroxide at sites.


What places are you exploring that have significant amounts of NaOH? The only places I can think of that would have large amounts on hand are paper mills, chemistry labs, water treatment plants, and drain cleaner factories.

I've only ever encountered one abandonment that fit that criteria, and it was indeed a paper mill. But based on personal experience, I wouldn't call it common, any more so than sulfuric acid or hydrogen sulfide are "common."

Potentially present? Sometimes. Dangerous? Extremely. But common? Not really. Not common enough to warrant bringing equipment specifically to neutralize it as part of your standard gear set, though you should have water anyway for drinking and washing small scrapes.


[last edit 2/26/2018 6:06 PM by Aran - edited 2 times]

"Sorry, I didn't know I'm not supposed to be here," he said, knowing full well he wasn't supposed to be there.

fredomurban   |  |  | 
Re: Best Rookie Equipment?
<Reply # 10 on 2/26/2018 6:39 PM >
Posted on Forum: UER ForumQuote
For my personal experience, I bring a flashlight and my Nikon D3400 and my 2 lenses. And for the shoes and clothes, it depends on the location you want to explore and the temperature. Sometimes I put gloves, but only if it's cold outside. If I explore at night, I also bring a tripod. And water! "eat before explore, because you gonna burn a lot of calories!"


[last edit 2/26/2018 6:45 PM by fredomurban - edited 3 times]

blackhawk
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Re: Best Rookie Equipment?
<Reply # 11 on 2/26/2018 6:39 PM >
Posted on Forum: UER ForumQuote
Posted by Aran


What places are you exploring that have significant amounts of NaOH? The only places I can think of that would have large amounts on hand are paper mills, chemistry labs, water treatment plants, and drain cleaner factories.

I've only ever encountered one abandonment that fit that criteria, and it was indeed a paper mill. But based on personal experience, I wouldn't call it common, any more so than sulfuric acid or hydrogen sulfide are "common."

Potentially present? Sometimes. Dangerous? Extremely. But common? Not really. Not common enough to warrant bringing equipment specifically to neutralize it as part of your standard gear set, though you should have water anyway for drinking and washing small scrapes.


Water is basic survival, 1st aid and the 'universal' solvent.





Just when I thought I was out... they pulled me back in.
Samurai
Vehicular Lord Rick
 
location:
northeastern New York
 
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Re: Best Rookie Equipment?
<Reply # 12 on 2/26/2018 9:38 PM >
Posted on Forum: UER ForumQuote
Posted by blackhawk
Always bring water. At least a quart.
If you get caustic or acid in your eyes time is of the essence.
Even a minute delay is too long...

It's not uncommon to find sodium/potassium hydroxide at sites. Dried or as liquid only it's soapy slippery feel gives it away and it's a real flesh eater. Be especially wary at paper mills and water treatment facilities.
Be careful what you touch and keep your hands away from your face.
Always good to carry a brush towel too; around your neck, on a gear strap or on your shoulder.



about caustic, understand that this nasty little material doesn't behave like an acid... it's slimy and hard to get off. You get this shit in your eyes, your eyes are gone. That's it. If you get caustic on you skin, the best thing to use is vinegar. We used to have gallons of vinegar around my department just for those emergencies. I had a speck of caustic grit actually eat a hole in my finger... all the way to the bone before I could deal with it. I worked in a paper mill for 11 years, most of which was spent in the pulp mill and recausticization section... you want to see what caustic does to skin? I'll send you pics of my arms and hands.

if you go into an abandoned or shuttered paper mill, understand that there are a couple of different kinds of mills... the one I worked at was a Kraft process mill... what that means is a reference to the process used. Acid, well, that's another beastie poo right there... some acids react, well, poorly with water. (sulfuric acid is one of them). In small samples, you'll be okay. There are three liquors you might run into; white, green and black. You will also encounter weak wash (dilute caustic and water), caustic mud and lime... since chlorine dioxide degrades fast, you won't encounter that (generally), but you might run into hydrogen sulfide. Its produced when a base (liquor) meets an acid (sulfuric acid is used in chlorine dioxide reactors)... since much of this shit gets dumped to the sewers in the floor, gas can get produced. In small doses, it smells like rotten eggs. In high doses, you don't smell it and it kills almost instantly.

Paper mills, even closed, aren't to be taken lightly.


tell you what, you go into any of these places, wear rubber boots, a hoodie you don't care about and jeans you don't care about. If you have pets, leave the clothes you wore there outside. Wash them outside. Trust me




4Valhal location:
Kansas City, KS
 
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Re: Best Rookie Equipment?
<Reply # 13 on 2/26/2018 10:43 PM >
Posted on Forum: UER ForumQuote
Ya'll have got me scared as hell of paper mills.

Pretty sure my fear of being knocked unconscious and waking up in a .gov lab has been overtaken by the fear of waking up in a paper mill.



Never climb after somebody with ulcerative colitis. -Steed
blackhawk
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location:
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Re: Best Rookie Equipment?
<Reply # 14 on 2/27/2018 12:40 AM >
Posted on Forum: UER ForumQuote
Posted by Samurai



about caustic, understand that this nasty little material doesn't behave like an acid... it's slimy and hard to get off. You get this shit in your eyes, your eyes are gone. That's it. If you get caustic on you skin, the best thing to use is vinegar. We used to have gallons of vinegar around my department just for those emergencies. I had a speck of caustic grit actually eat a hole in my finger... all the way to the bone before I could deal with it. I worked in a paper mill for 11 years, most of which was spent in the pulp mill and recausticization section... you want to see what caustic does to skin? I'll send you pics of my arms and hands.

if you go into an abandoned or shuttered paper mill, understand that there are a couple of different kinds of mills... the one I worked at was a Kraft process mill... what that means is a reference to the process used. Acid, well, that's another beastie poo right there... some acids react, well, poorly with water. (sulfuric acid is one of them). In small samples, you'll be okay. There are three liquors you might run into; white, green and black. You will also encounter weak wash (dilute caustic and water), caustic mud and lime... since chlorine dioxide degrades fast, you won't encounter that (generally), but you might run into hydrogen sulfide. Its produced when a base (liquor) meets an acid (sulfuric acid is used in chlorine dioxide reactors)... since much of this shit gets dumped to the sewers in the floor, gas can get produced. In small doses, it smells like rotten eggs. In high doses, you don't smell it and it kills almost instantly.

Paper mills, even closed, aren't to be taken lightly.


tell you what, you go into any of these places, wear rubber boots, a hoodie you don't care about and jeans you don't care about. If you have pets, leave the clothes you wore there outside. Wash them outside. Trust me



^Truth^
It's nasty. I've seen dried vats of sodium hydroxide in paper mills; you can't touch anything. You better recognize it or at least suspect it...

I used potassium hydroxide (which is even more caustic) to adjust the pH of the water for my mabuna tanks. The water had a pH of like 6.4 to start.
I've handled the pellet chips many times with bare hands but they were dry and I rinsed it off with lots of water.
It really doesn't want to let go... if the skin is wet or it starts eating past the epidermis you're in deep shit. It dissolves human flesh worse and faster than most acids.

One of the acids that I really respect is hydrofluoric. It's a holy terror if it gets on your skin and a true medical emergency.
It requires professional treatment to be sure it's neutralized, if not it will dissolve bone and disrupt the electrolyte balance many times leading to death hours latter even though the skin may seem intact. It goes for the bone.

Best to always carry water...





Just when I thought I was out... they pulled me back in.
ryan5685 location:
Cincinnati, OH
 
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Re: Best Rookie Equipment?
<Reply # 15 on 2/27/2018 5:32 AM >
Posted on Forum: UER ForumQuote
Posted by blackhawk
It's not uncommon to find sodium/potassium hydroxide at sites. Dried or as liquid only it's soapy slippery feel gives it away and it's a real flesh eater.


Wait, are you saying dried chemicals can still corrode you?



Are we living a life that is safe from harm? Of course not, we never are. But that's not the right question. The question is, are we living a life that is worth the harm?
Samurai
Vehicular Lord Rick
 
location:
northeastern New York
 
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Re: Best Rookie Equipment?
<Reply # 16 on 2/27/2018 6:29 AM >
Posted on Forum: UER ForumQuote
Posted by ryan5685


Wait, are you saying dried chemicals can still corrode you?


oh yes... another fun time happy hour material you run into a paper mill (at least one with a pulp mill and chlorine dioxide reactor is sodium chlorate. Now, in a rail car, sodium chlorate is nothing to be agitated about... you get it on you and stings a little... get that shit wet and then let it dry, you're in for a world of hurt. Say you get some wet sodium chlorate on your pants and it dries, the slightest friction sets it ablaze and because it's a heavy duty oxidizer, you can't put it out with water. it burns fast and it burns hot. It's scary as fuck.


edit... sodium hydroxide can crystalize and just disturbing and getting that in your eyes activates it... honestly, I know this hobby is about going places you're not supposed to, but certain paper mills command respect. Give you another example... should you wander into a recausting department... there is usually lime dust all over everything. It's white, very fine and gets all over everything... should you get that dust on your skin and start sweating, it begins to slake and will literally give you burns. I used to have burns on my face and the back of my neck when I had to get the hot lime silo unstuck. It feels a little worse than a sunburn.

one last thing, and I doubt a closed mill would leave this shit hanging around, but we also use hydrogen peroxide in the reactors as well... you're thinking, well shit I have that in my bathroom... that's like 1%... the stuff we have is between 52 and 56% hydrogen peroxide. It's nasty nasty nasty material... in fact, the tanks for it are 100ft away form the sulfuric and methanol tanks... and the LOX (liquid oxygen) tanks are another 100ft from them.




[last edit 2/27/2018 6:36 AM by Samurai - edited 1 times]

Aran location:
Kansas City
 
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Re: Best Rookie Equipment?
<Reply # 17 on 2/27/2018 4:07 PM >
Posted on Forum: UER ForumQuote
Posted by Samurai
Give you another example... should you wander into a recausting department... there is usually lime dust all over everything. It's white, very fine and gets all over everything... should you get that dust on your skin and start sweating, it begins to slake and will literally give you burns. I used to have burns on my face and the back of my neck when I had to get the hot lime silo unstuck. It feels a little worse than a sunburn.


Ah yes, I remember the lime dust well. The reason I always wear gloves when I explore was because one of my earliest explorations was a Kraft process paper mill. That dust truly is everywhere.

I attempted to climb a ladder with no gloves, and ended up getting a thin coating of lime dust on my palms. My palms got sweaty, and would you look at that! Chemical burns on both hands! My skin was peeling for days afterwards.



"Sorry, I didn't know I'm not supposed to be here," he said, knowing full well he wasn't supposed to be there.

Samurai
Vehicular Lord Rick
 
location:
northeastern New York
 
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Re: Best Rookie Equipment?
<Reply # 18 on 2/27/2018 4:37 PM >
Posted on Forum: UER ForumQuote
Posted by Aran


Ah yes, I remember the lime dust well. The reason I always wear gloves when I explore was because one of my earliest explorations was a Kraft process paper mill. That dust truly is everywhere.

I attempted to climb a ladder with no gloves, and ended up getting a thin coating of lime dust on my palms. My palms got sweaty, and would you look at that! Chemical burns on both hands! My skin was peeling for days afterwards.


I worked with that shit for almost a decade.




Aran location:
Kansas City
 
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Re: Best Rookie Equipment?
<Reply # 19 on 2/27/2018 7:41 PM >
Posted on Forum: UER ForumQuote
Posted by Samurai


I worked with that shit for almost a decade.



Given your experience, can you tell me anything about these chemicals I found strewn in various places around the site? I apologize for the photo qualities, these were all taken when I was a rookie with little photography experience.

I found some yellowish rocks on the ground by some railroad tracks, and the air around them smelled like rotten eggs. Obviously sulfur or a sulfuric compound of some sort, but I can't tell which.



The next is a pile of white crystals found on the floor of a small concrete shed towards the edge of the property. I didn't touch them, so I don't have much more to go off of to determine their identity.



The third chemical was a leaking tub of something called Fennisol. According to it's website, Fennosil is a anionic micro or linear polymeracrylamide or a silica sol, I'm not sure which. I also don't know what any of that means.

https://www.kemira.com/products/kemform/



I also found large barrels of calcium chloride and hydraulic oil scattered in a couple different places around the mill, but those seem relatively safe. The identities of these chemicals has been a mystery to me for years, and I was wondering if you'd be able to use your experience to identify them.



"Sorry, I didn't know I'm not supposed to be here," he said, knowing full well he wasn't supposed to be there.

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