First Fire

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Well, last night I was welding in my garage and notice a light out of the corner of my eye.  Took a look and a fire started in the middle of my garage with some rags.  I was previously cleaning some metal with some thinner, and forgot to throw them away.  One of them must have caught a spark.Needless to say it was just a couple of rags with nothing around them, but it makes you think.  Funny thing is I never had a fire extinguisher until about a month ago or so.  Got it just in time I guess.Mostly, it just stunk up the garage.  Be careful though.... doesn't take much to burn down your house!  The Lord has declared, "This is my work and my glory--to bring to pass the immortality and eternal life of man"  Moses 1:39Link: My name is John, and I am a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints.-- ColdCreekWorks.com --
Reply:actually there are several chemicals that with spontanious combust without a spark when they are lumped together in a pile of soaked rags.a barn upstate by me burned down that way im trying to remember what the chemical was..
Reply:Mine were soaked with paint thinner (used them to get grease/oil/dirt off of some steel--the same steel I was welding when the fire started)The Lord has declared, "This is my work and my glory--to bring to pass the immortality and eternal life of man"  Moses 1:39Link: My name is John, and I am a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints.-- ColdCreekWorks.com --
Reply:I had the exact same experience a couple months ago, rags soaked in paint thinner that were used to wipe something down and were left in the middle of the floor. I was knelt down on the floor welding when I noticed my a-double-s was getting all hot and bothered. I had a nice bead running and didn't want to stop but it finally got to be too much. I turned around to see the flames below me. So contrary to popular beleif, "lighting a fire under someones butt" doesn't make them work faster, it stops them in their tracks
Reply:Yup -- easy to do (start a fire).  I used to do both woodwork and welding in my garage -- but too many times I found a smoldering pile of sawdust off in some remote corner from grinder sparks adding a bit of fire to the tinder.  I don't do that any longer -- all wood working is outside now and very good cleanup afterwards.  I go so far as to blow out the cracks in the cement with compressed air if I do work inside.Be safe.Bob
Reply:I had another incident that did cause me to buy an extra extinguisher and add a bucket of sand near my welding bench.  I did the same thing -- using some solvent and a rag to wipe down steel.  The rag was down at one end of the bench when I started welding.  I looked down and saw a small flame going on the rag -- you know how thinner will burn before the rag actually catches.  So I reach over and flip it off the bench since it was next to the wall -- tossing it to the floor.  Well it burst into flames as it flew across the shop and then I look at my gloved hand and its on fire (I was wearing the glove when using the thinner soaked rag).  I got a bit excited as now the rag is fully engulfed on the floor and my gloved hand is quickly following.Off with the glove and I decide to kick the rag out the door -- not a bright idea as the rag gets caught on my foot and I envisioned my leg being next.I finally calmed down a bit after I grabbed a nearby welding blanket and dropped in on the whole mess to smother the flames.  Next day a new extinguisher (closer to the bench) and a bucket of sand (as I hate cleaning up the fire extinguisher stuff if I don't have to.)I'm just glad no one was watching -- I'm sure for a minute or so there I was doing a good Laurel and Hardy  or Keystone cops routine!
Reply:It's good to have both the traditional ABC extinguishers and also the water-pressure type.  The water ones are easy to recharge.Jack OlsenMy garage website
Reply:I'm always aware of the potential for fire since I to work in the garage.  I have the woodworking down in the basement to avoid the risk that goes with sawdust.  However, recently while grinding out in my driveway I smelled burning leaves.  My first thought was that someone was in for a stiff fine if they got caught as it was a "NO BURN" day in the county.  When I looked around to see where the smoke was coming from I discovered the pine straw mulch in our flower beds  was on fire.  Grabbed the extinguisher and put it out with no harm done.
Reply:Lets say First fire and LAST fire.Rags only should go in a metal can with a lid. Never in a trash can.AWS certified welding inspectorAWS certified welder
Reply:Originally Posted by caldwellcplI had another incident that did cause me to buy an extra extinguisher and add a bucket of sand near my welding bench.  I did the same thing -- using some solvent and a rag to wipe down steel.  The rag was down at one end of the bench when I started welding.  I looked down and saw a small flame going on the rag -- you know how thinner will burn before the rag actually catches.  So I reach over and flip it off the bench since it was next to the wall -- tossing it to the floor.  Well it burst into flames as it flew across the shop and then I look at my gloved hand and its on fire (I was wearing the glove when using the thinner soaked rag).  I got a bit excited as now the rag is fully engulfed on the floor and my gloved hand is quickly following.Off with the glove and I decide to kick the rag out the door -- not a bright idea as the rag gets caught on my foot and I envisioned my leg being next.I finally calmed down a bit after I grabbed a nearby welding blanket and dropped in on the whole mess to smother the flames.  Next day a new extinguisher (closer to the bench) and a bucket of sand (as I hate cleaning up the fire extinguisher stuff if I don't have to.)I'm just glad no one was watching -- I'm sure for a minute or so there I was doing a good Laurel and Hardy  or Keystone cops routine!
Reply:Originally Posted by Donald BranscomLets say First fire and LAST fire.Rags only should go in a metal can with a lid. Never in a trash can.
Reply:I had a similar situation, while breaking in a new cam on a sb chevy I stepped away for a sec, engine running @ 2000 rpm, oil on headers, voila instant fire. Went and got an extinguisher next day.I can weld that up!
Reply:Fire Ext Placement.You need one Outside the geerage/work space too- if a Fire starts in the geerage while yer outside, you grab that one to go inside.Ed Conleyhttp://www.screamingbroccoli.com/MM252MM211 (Sold)Passport Plus & Spool gunLincoln SP135 Plus- (Gone to a good home)Klutch 120v Plasma cutterSO 2020 benderBeer in the fridge
Reply:Oil/solvent soaked rags/paper will combust spontaneously (no match/spark required) so Don's suggestion of a tight lidded disposal can is a good one.MM180Smith O/AMaxstar150STH
Reply:It's not just whats laying around but whats on you and how protected you are to.  In the last 4 days I have set my shirts and pants and coveralls and leathers on fire 6 times while carbon arcing.  Most were spots that caught hot molten steel that fell into mild creases but one found an opening below my glove that opened up into my leather sleeve about the size of a marble and in went a half marble sized glob the burned through my coveralls and into my shirt before I noticed the heat and the smoke pouring out of my sleeve.I'll have to replace the leather half jacket/bib soon with a full jacket and will add some snaps to the sleeves to prevent anymore openings.
Reply:Originally Posted by Jack OlsenIt's good to have both the traditional ABC extinguishers and also the water-pressure type.  The water ones are easy to recharge.
Reply:Ive made great effort to have only materials that would produce a class A fire in my garage. Gasoline and any Class B materials are stored in the shed outside, in a fire cabinet. I have water fire extinguishers and an ABC as well. If those fail, I can go grab the garden hose. Ive clad the wall between the house and garage with steel, including the door.  Station 14 is also only a few hundred meters away as well.Housekeeping is a must! clean up as you go. If you weld at home and dont have an extinguisher, you are foolish.Weldanpower 225 G7Ironworkers Local #24
Reply:Just remember .... A fire extinguisher is primarily meant to get you out of the fire, and then save your property. I would hate to use up my exstinguisher saving my tig machine just to find a fire blocking the exit! I guess i would cut the hose to the argon tank and try putting it out with that, if all else fails.... Geez, i feel like an osha inspector after this little safety rant!Lincoln ac/dc 225/125Millermatic 211 w/ Spoolmatic 100Miller 330 a/bpDynasty 200 dx
Reply:Those frayed edges on your pants leg will make a nice little fire too.I worked with a bunch of knuckleheads once that would put lighter fluid on your boot toe when you had your hood down. Everyone can dance.  They just don't know it until they try to put out a flaming steel toe.Two turn tables and a microphone.