Shop Be fire safe folks!

[David_R8]

A member of the Hobby Machinist forum had a serious fire in their shop, sustained burns and had zero fire insurance because no one would cover welding in the shop.
A house or shop fire just scares the living bejeebers out of me. I have three 10lb extinguishers and I still don't feel good about welding in my shop.

 

[Dabbler]

It could have been so much worse if he hadn't installed those automatic fire extinguishers.

 

[slow-poke]

Wow.

Wishing a speedy recovery.

My dad almost died in a house fire, he was in the hospital for quite a while.

I had a near miss doing fuel sender in a 69 Mustang, way too similar to what was described.

When dealing with gas, think it through before.... what if?

 

[Doggggboy]

I have three 10lb extinguishers and I still don't feel good about welding in my shop.

I have 3 20 pounders in the shop. Regulations call for for one every 50 foot. I had 12 of them in the kennel when it was open and only ever used them when the neighbour set the world on fire with a bad bearing in the walkers on the combine. I emptied about 8 of them keeping the fire in the ditch from reaching our yard. His insurance paid for the refills.
I keep a fiberglass fire blanket spread out over the gas and diesel cans in the shop and keep them at the opposite end of the welders and grinders.
Fire is no joke.

 

[David_R8]

Thinking about the oxygen/acetylene rig in my shop that I never use and the fifteen feet to my neighbour’s house is giving me pause. If there was a fire, guaranteed my insurance would not cover damages.
Hmmm

 

[Degen]

Same issue with grinding and milling some metals, sparks or hot burning metal flakes etc are all an issue.

 

[David_R8]

It could have been so much worse if he hadn't installed those automatic fire extinguishers.

Agreed. He was very lucky.

 

[Stellrammer]

I set my lathe on fire by leaving magnesium chips in the bed, doing hard turning with ceramics. I have extinguisher s as well as a bucket of sand for just such occasions.

 

[Grizzly Adams]

Agreed. He was very lucky.

" This scenario didn't unfold as I expected" I worked with a guy once, severely burned washing car parts in gasoline. What was he thinking ?

 

[Tomc938]

My friend a professional welder said NEVER weld or grind and then leave the shop. You never know if a spark will ignite some sawdust or other flammable material. Hang around for at least 15 minutes to be safe.

I need better fire protection in my shop. Thanks for the heads up.

 

[amanyad565]

I have a fear of fire. That's why I always double-check easily flammable materials. But thanks for the warning.