Saftey tip

SteelSlaver

SteelSlaver

Joined
Feb 17, 2007
Messages
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Another thread brought this up and I want to emphasize it.

I keep a 25# extinguisher by my shop door. I recommend one for everyone that cuts, burns, welds or makes sparks. This might be the best piece of equipment you can own. I have several small ones in the house. I keep a quality garden hose with a sprayer laid out handy also. you hear of guys burning their shops down. It can start in a instant. Give yourself a chance. Jim
 
I do the same Jim, good advice.
I would add:
Keeping flamables products in a metal locker.
Never leave dirty rags with said products in the shop. I always put them in a steel garbage can outside the shop at the end of the day

Pat
 
jim....what type of fire extinguisher is best?....i know there are different types but never understood the differences....i'm in the middle of setting up my shop and a fire extinguisher is on my list....ryan
 
I'm sure most everybody here already knows this, but...

A boiled linseed oil soaked rag can auto ignite, meaning it can start itself on fire in the middle of the night. It is usually a bundled up rag in a can where the heat generated from the cure can run away, much like epoxy boiling if kept in a large volume due to a run away reaction feeding off the heat.

I always lay them out flat in an open area of concrete where a fire wouldn't be a hazard or put them out in my fire barrel. I don't put them in a can with other combustible stuff, or in an area with flammables. There are better approaches than this, but at least I'm aware of the risk and I address it.
 
I have a neighbor who sell FEs for cheap. little automotive sizes go for about 5 bucks, and 25#ers go for less than $20. I was grinding on my Lively style forge a week ago and sparks were flying up to 25 feet away. The sparks mixed with the arid conditions and wind started a brushfire that I quickly knocked out w/ a 10#er. luckily I had the foreisght to keep it handy during cutting operations. It can happen to anyone!
 
Thanks for the tips and reminders, gentlemen. I need a new extinguisher. I'll be going to either Harbor Freight or Menard's sometime this week and will add that to my list.

I won't get the single-use $10 one this time :grumpy: I had one, never had to use it, but the last time I checked it, there was no pressure left in it :eek: Slow leak or something? Anyway, I guess I better pony up for a better one this time.
 
If your in the habit of starting fires frequently you can buy the large water filled(or you can fill it with special liquid) that your pressurize with compressed air.
 
john0270 said:
If your in the habit of starting fires frequently you can buy the large water filled(or you can fill it with special liquid) that your pressurize with compressed air.
Click to expand...

Bad idea if you are using oil or grease anywhere near the flames! It would be a good idea if you aren't setting grease fires though.
 
James_Terrio said:
Thanks for the tips and reminders, gentlemen. I need a new extinguisher. I'll be going to either Harbor Freight or Menard's sometime this week and will add that to my list.

I won't get the single-use $10 one this time :grumpy: I had one, never had to use it, but the last time I checked it, there was no pressure left in it :eek: Slow leak or something? Anyway, I guess I better pony up for a better one this time.
Click to expand...

A few years ago, I found one of the extinguishers was low on pressure. After replacing it, and the others around the house (all were old enough to replace) I took the old ones out into the yard and showed my kids how to use them. Great way for them to learn.

Matt
 
I always keep on in the house and one in the garage. After reading these I looked and both did not have any pressure left. Time to get them recharged. It is funny how you can walk by somthing so many times and just assume that everything is fine with it. Thanks for the heads up.
 
When I read the title of this thread, I thought "Why would anyone want a blunt tip on their knife?"

Then I read it, and you all make good points. Thanks for the "tip".
 
Another thing to go with this. Most ABC extinguishers use a dry powder. It will settle. Pick up your extinguisher every few months and turn it over and give it some shakes. We actually have a scheduled safety maintenance ticket for this at work. I work at an oil refinery and we take fire safety seriously. It will fluff the powder back up. When you need it and pull the pin you want it to the powder. Jim
 
A very low-tech alternative is to keep a large bag of baking soda around (this is not the best substitute mind you, but is super cheap). You can get these at big box stores.

My brother in law was at a Christmas party at some doctors house when all the candles in the fireplace (I guess that is the fashionable thing to have a bunch of candles versus a wood fire) melted to the point of creating a pool of liquid wax in the fireplace. The whole thing ignited. While all the other doctors and pillars of academe were standing around wondering what to do. The BIL went to get kitchen and got the baking soda and chukked a big hand full into the fire. Poof! Fire was out.

Sorry for the tangient, but this does work!
 
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