EvilRufusKay Posted July 4, 2004 Share Posted July 4, 2004 Some lessons are learned late in life . Although you know something is a bad idea you may still do it until something goes wrong. For example....Knowing that paint stipper is flammable, paint is flammable, bondo also burns well and when left in a shredded pile soaking in stripper becomes like a bomb...one would think that welding would be out of the question....kids just came home...to be continued. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
datsunlover Posted July 4, 2004 Share Posted July 4, 2004 Oh no... what'd you do man! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MrWOT Posted July 4, 2004 Share Posted July 4, 2004 Geez, wonder if he's gonna get flamed for this sorry, someone had to say it.... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tannji Posted July 5, 2004 Share Posted July 5, 2004 I think he already got flamed.... I think his next update needs pics Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
80LS1T Posted July 5, 2004 Share Posted July 5, 2004 Man I hope the 2nd half of this story is better than what I am picturing in my head! Guy Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
EvilRufusKay Posted July 5, 2004 Author Share Posted July 5, 2004 ok...so...I have been strippiing my roof for quite a while now, there was easily 1/2" to 3/4" of fiberglass spread all across the whole roof, probably 20-25 pounds worth of paint and fiberglass. Anyway it came off in thin strips as I scraped it, and of corse I just let it pile up and never tossed it out. Anyway I was motivated...multi-tasking...I was finishing the stripping on the roof and finishing welding the drivers-side floorboard. Car on a rottisserie, on its side. Just finishing my last bead when I either smelled something or noticed something...I pulled off the helmet to see a 4' x 5' BON-FIRE blazing under the car!! The guy I share my space with (Fred Sanford) has a collection of old paint, urethane, stripper, ...anything flammable stuffed against the wall right next to my car...tons of stuff. As I come around the car the flames are licking up the stack of paint, catching rags on fire, etc ......I almost ran...instead I grabbed the hose...too bad the idiot (Fred Sanford) constantly drops the bucket of his bobcat without looking... and now my hose is partially cut 4' from the spigot. I am 15' away trying to put the flames out, yet the nozzel is barely putting anything out...I ended up ripping off my welding jacket and jumping on the flames...finally put it out. Luckily the car is a shell and the only flammable thing in it is the headliner....gonna need a new one of those. My heart has never pounded so hard, it seemed like a dream...a very bad dream. Never too late too learn that sparks CAN cause ignition. No good pics, however I will take one of the paint collection (potential bomb) Fred has... Bottom line...I was not prepared..I had my water bottle,..I always keep one handy when welding...It was no use..I grabbed it and immediatly realized it was not the tool for the job...next purchase...fire extinguisher!!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Phailure Posted July 5, 2004 Share Posted July 5, 2004 wow, that sucks... but hey, it could have been alot worse Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DatsunBoy77 Posted July 5, 2004 Share Posted July 5, 2004 Must be a NY thing !! 4 days ago I was working on my 69 Roadster putting in the master cylinder i just got finished rebuilding. I thought, Hey why dont I try to fire over the engine right now. Mind you, I had no air cleaners on the carbs as i was planning to adjust them after i got it started. Well, it was just about to crank over, when it backfired out the front SU. Well, long story made short, I dont know if it was open empty bottle of brake fluid right next to it, but poof, up it goes. Luckily i got it out before any serious damage occured. Only some slight bubbling on the passenger side fender and the top corner of the hood, and also the wiring to the alternator. So now I will be putting in my GM 1 wire seeing how my old atle wont work withought wiring. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dot Posted July 6, 2004 Share Posted July 6, 2004 I had to use the fire extinguisher once. I don’t remember why. But I do remember cleaning up the yellow dust for a long… long time. Now I look for better ways to put out the flames…and that might not be a good thing. I’m glad there was no serious damage Rufus. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DatsunBoy77 Posted July 6, 2004 Share Posted July 6, 2004 Yeah, that yellow stuff tastes like crap. I pnd a good half a day cleaning up just a couple sprays of that crap. I think i am gonna get a fire blanket and an extinguisher just in case. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Aaron Posted July 6, 2004 Share Posted July 6, 2004 That dust is hard to breath too. I have had to use the Fire Extinguisher twice in the last six months in my wife's oven. First time, the element went bad and started sparking and burning, kept going after I flipped the breaker, second time, she forgot had put a plastic bowl in the oven and turned it on to pre heat it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
johnc Posted July 6, 2004 Share Posted July 6, 2004 A Kiddie rechargeable 5 lb chemical fire extinguisher is $20 at Lowes or Home Depot. Everyone reading this thread should buy one today on the way home from work and mount it in their garage, if they haven't already done so. The local firemen who inspect my shop tell me that if you can't get the fire out with one 5 lb extinguisher - run and call 911. You've got a real fire on your hands and you need help. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tim240z Posted July 6, 2004 Share Posted July 6, 2004 Right on, John!! Good advise to be sure. I have a small 1 pounder in each vehicle and a 5 pounder in the garage, and another 5 pounder in the kitchen, and we all (even my 4 year old) know how to use them. Ya know, insurance can cover the damage, but the inconvenience just is not worth it. One day when I'm all growed up, I would like a halon system in the garage!!! Tim Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Doug71zt Posted July 7, 2004 Share Posted July 7, 2004 I have a 10 lb water extinguisher near the welding bench, it's nice because there isn't a mess, and its refillable right away. Having used a dry chemical extinguisher on a car, I know what you mean by mess. But, I've got the mother of all CO2 units in there also - A 200lb aircraft ramp extinguisher. My shop is a loooong way from the fire dept. Good that your experience didn't result in injury. Doug Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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