 Thermal lance in use. Click to enlarge. A thermal lance or thermic lance or burning bar is a tool which burns iron in an oxygen environment to create very high temperatures for cutting. It consists of a long iron tube, often packed with iron wire. One end of the tube is placed in a holder and oxygen is fed through the tube. The far end of the tube is ignited with an oxyacetylene torch. An intense flame is produced at the lit end and can be used to rapidly cut through a variety of thick materials including steel and concrete. The tube is consumed, so every few minutes the operator shuts off the oxygen, discards the remaining stub of a lance and starts a new lance.
A thermal lance does not contain thermite, contrary to popular misconception.
The intensity of the heat generated by a thermal lance is such that it may be used by safe-crackers to burn through and gain access to safes.
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