Fire Extinguisher

[John Saxton]

:eek: How many of you folk working with powertools and timber in the workshop actually have the appropriate fire extinguisher handy moreover for that heavy stationary sawbench etc?

Recently had the misfortune of the saw function motor on my combination bench go up in flames...hells bells ...no extinguisher ..panic noooo but had to isolate power source and use hose which also had to be sourced from some distance.

Time to change tack here and think about fire extinguisher..readily handy and capable of dealing at least with electrical fires. :(
EXPENSE?,don't know yet about the fire extinguisher but the motor was quoted something like $498 + GST,(insurance may allay some of that )a hefty lesson but the damage may have been able to be minimised with an extinguisher to lay hands on.

So I guess the question lies in bein' like a boy scout an "being prepared" particularly with the wood dust that can get into anything no matter how good your dust collection system.

STAY SAFE work happy!

Cheers :)

[Gumby]

I have a small one which used to be in my old caravan. I'll just have to remember where I put the bloody thing. :eek:

[Auld Bassoon]

:eek: How many of you folk working with powertools and timber in the workshop actually have the appropriate fire extinguisher handy moreover for that heavy stationary sawbench etc?

Recently had the misfortune of the saw function motor on my combination bench go up in flames...hells bells ...no extinguisher ..panic noooo but had to isolate power source and use hose which also had to be sourced from some distance.

Time to change tack here and think about fire extinguisher..readily handy and capable of dealing at least with electrical fires. :(
EXPENSE?,don't know yet about the fire extinguisher but the motor was quoted something like $498 + GST,(insurance may allay some of that )a hefty lesson but the damage may have been able to be minimised with an extinguisher to lay hands on.

So I guess the question lies in bein' like a boy scout an "being prepared" particularly with the wood dust that can get into anything no matter how good your dust collection system.

STAY SAFE work happy!

Cheers :)
G'day John,

I've given this matter some thought, and partly because of the variety of potential incendiary sources, and partly because I'm a mean bugger when I'm not buying tools http://www.woodworkforums.ubeaut.com.au/images/icons/icon10.gif, I've laid on the old faithful: a couple of buckets of fine, dry sand!

I suppose that the most likely cause of fire is probably electrical in nature, but with all sorts of solvents and whatnot in the shed, not to mention quite a bit of wood http://www.woodworkforums.ubeaut.com.au/images/icons/icon12.gif, one type of extinguisher probably wouldn't cut it.

I'd be intrerested to hear what other BB lurkers think (those of them that do, that is http://www.woodworkforums.ubeaut.com.au/images/icons/icon10.gifhttp://www.woodworkforums.ubeaut.com.au/images/icons/icon10.gifhttp://www.woodworkforums.ubeaut.com.au/images/icons/icon10.gif)

Cheers!

[MajorPanic]

If you call Wormald, a rep will call round & tell ya what ya need. If you are really nice to him he can give you very good prices! http://www.woodworkforums.ubeaut.com.au/images/icons/icon14.gif

[Auld Bassoon]

If you call Wormald, a rep will call round & tell ya what ya need. If you are really nice to him he can give you very good prices! http://www.woodworkforums.ubeaut.com.au/images/icons/icon14.gif
Thanks Major,

That's an excellent idea, will do!

I'd hate to think that my insurance could be voided (by the way did you ever see "The Man who Sued God" with Billy Connelly (sp?) - an absolute hoot!)

Cheers!

[Ashore]

john
Not only do you need one in the shed but also in the house
Don't fit them in the dangerous space ie kitchen but adjacent to the door just outside the room
This is more dificult in a shed and inside the most used entry point is proberly the best place. One at each door is better.
Most important make sure you and all your family know how to use the extinguisher have seen plenty of people who thought they could operate an extinguisher fall at the post. Have seen pictures of a burnt out car with three extinguishers that were thrown into the fire because people didn't know what to do with them.
The general home type are Dry Powder these are used in a sweeping motion aimed at the base of the fire they don't last long so get it right the first time
Extinguishers cost from around $25 up
Every 2-3 months take extinguisher and shake well espically if in an area of vibration
Every 5-8 years replace and with the old ones have a little fire drill of your own where you let the kids or SHMBO let the old one off choose a good spot for this as the powder makes a mess


More than 40% of injuries from household fires still come from people putting water on burning oil.
Thus you need an extinguisher and you should also have a fire blanket in your kitchen by the exit

People will spend a fortune on their house or shed toys let alone the cost of a life, and still balk at spending $25 on an extinguisher. Its like putting in a sound system , tv, computer etc and not paying $100 for a surge protected power board.

An even more dangerous area is a caravan , tent, camper trailor

I have 5 portable extinguishers in the house , shed & camper trailor, which you may think is overkill but when you have seen two major engine room fires on ships and put out 5-6 in galleys and accomodation you see how quickly and easily they start and the damage they can do in a very short period of time. And how quickly they can be put out with a simple extinguisher before they get big enough to do much damage then you too will install some





The trouble with life is there's no background music.

[arose62]

We have one just outside the kitchen, and one just inside the garage door.

I hadn't considered that they may be up for replacement - using the old ones for a fire drill is a top idea!!

Cheers,
Andrew

[Sturdee]

I have 2 extinguishers in the workshop fixed onto the wall at convenient locations, one in the garage on the wall near the door and one in the kitchen as well as a fire blanket.

Peter.

[Auld Bassoon]

john
Not only do you need one in the shed but also in the house
Don't fit them in the dangerous space ie kitchen but adjacent to the door just outside the room
This is more dificult in a shed and inside the most used entry point is proberly the best place. One at each door is better.
Most important make sure you and all your family know how to use the extinguisher have seen plenty of people who thought they could operate an extinguisher fall at the post. Have seen pictures of a burnt out car with three extinguishers that were thrown into the fire because people didn't know what to do with them.
The general home type are Dry Powder these are used in a sweeping motion aimed at the base of the fire they don't last long so get it right the first time
Extinguishers cost from around $25 up
Every 2-3 months take extinguisher and shake well espically if in an area of vibration
Every 5-8 years replace and with the old ones have a little fire drill of your own where you let the kids or SHMBO let the old one off choose a good spot for this as the powder makes a mess


More than 40% of injuries from household fires still come from people putting water on burning oil.
Thus you need an extinguisher and you should also have a fire blanket in your kitchen by the exit

People will spend a fortune on their house or shed toys let alone the cost of a life, and still balk at spending $25 on an extinguisher. Its like putting in a sound system , tv, computer etc and not paying $100 for a surge protected power board.

An even more dangerous area is a caravan , tent, camper trailor

I have 5 portable extinguishers in the house , shed & camper trailor, which you may think is overkill but when you have seen two major engine room fires on ships and put out 5-6 in galleys and accomodation you see how quickly and easily they start and the damage they can do in a very short period of time. And how quickly they can be put out with a simple extinguisher before they get big enough to do much damage then you too will install some





The trouble with life is there's no background music.


Ashore,

Sound advice,

I think my couple of buckets of sand will stay, but be reinforced with one or two CO2 and /or maybe dry powder types.

From the earlier post, I'll take advice from an expert. I'd suggest that we all do!

Cheers!

[TassieKiwi]

Good idea. The fire can come from an unlikely source - I was resawing with my brand new 14" Jet, and had only done about 10lm of 90mm boards, when I could smell THAT smell; hot burny electric bits :eek: . Turned it off and (maybe foolishly) opened the cabinet door. Lots of smoke, too hot to touch, and only moments away from real drama.

While it was cooling I looked for the extinguisher that I knew was on the shelf nearby. That was 2 weeks ago and I still haven't found it! The saw was full of dust, within 1m of my workbench and the timber wall....things would have been sad had she gone up.

Jet are replacing the motor (which started a few times, then tripped the RCD :eek:). Lesson learned.

[Simomatra]

john
Not only do you need one in the shed but also in the house
Don't fit them in the dangerous space ie kitchen but adjacent to the door just outside the room
This is more dificult in a shed and inside the most used entry point is proberly the best place. One at each door is better.
Most important make sure you and all your family know how to use the extinguisher have seen plenty of people who thought they could operate an extinguisher fall at the post. Have seen pictures of a burnt out car with three extinguishers that were thrown into the fire because people didn't know what to do with them.


Good advise from Russell

Maybe a fire blanket could also be included.

The normal shed has more than enough potential hot spots without adding the woodworking.

I think the local fire station will also do an appraisal as they do with smoke detectors

Sam

[Iain]

I've got an aerosol extinguisher from a local hardware.
Comes with a mounting bracket and cost about $20, for memory it's dry powder and about 800g.
Fixed on the wall near the main door, never been off yet, and hope it stays where it is.

[Stuart]

Just keep drinking heaps of beer.........

[silentC]

If you are really nice to him he can give you very good prices!
Umm, exactly what form does this niceness take, Major? ;)

Not to detract from the idea - but I'd be looking at an ounce of prevention too. Did you establish what exactly caused your saw's motor to burst into flames? That's not exactly behaviour by design. Faulty motor? Dust on the windings perhaps?

[TassieKiwi]

No - I think it's on the slow boat to Taiwan, to get checked out.

[silentC]

Ah yes. I had directed that at John but I see you had a smiliar problem, although his actually did burst into flames.

I suppose I'm just curious to know because I've got more than a few induction motors around the place too and I'd like to prevent them from actually igniting if it's at all possible...

[John Saxton]

SILENT,the saw was doing some fairly heavy work and had been ripping crotch wood from Camphor Laurel for a couple of hours some up to 40 mm in thickness and as this is the most used function on the bench I guess it must'o got close to it's shelf life tho I'm given to understand they're supposedly quality motors outta Italy produced for the Mini-Max series of workbench's.

The appropriate wiring is in place rated to 15 amps tho the draw on the motor is 13.5amps which may not be constant rather than on start up and the motor had had a few starts that day.

Still awaiting prognosis being electrically illiterate.

CHEERS :)