Contributor
I have a used Flammable materials cabinet that is not in the shop. I only have flammable materials in the shop when I am using them. Nothing flammable is in my shop.
Soaked rags are the bigger concern. They always hang outside on a metal frame until they're dry. Then I soak them in water and put them in a sealed zip lock bag for disposal.
"The first thing you need to know, will likely be the last thing you learn." (Unknown)
Moderator
My shop is relatively small, but I still have multiple exits available...the main "man door", a "man door" into the adjacent one remaining garage bay, the double "material/nice day" doors in the shop and a door to the outside from the upstairs. These are all normally secured for obvious reasons, but easily opened from the inside should a quick departure be necessary. I believe that every shop space should, where possible, have at least two egress points, even if one is a large window that can be opened or destroyed to get out in an emergency. "Stuff happens"...Originally Posted by John K Jordan
--
The most expensive tool is the one you buy "cheaply" and often...
Contributor
We have all heard that rags can spontaneously combust but I am interested in actual first hand accounts. Exactly what conditions were and can I duplicate that (outdoors of course). Know your enemy...
Contributor
For those of you who keep large containers outside, are high summer temperatures a problem? I would think the heat makes them more dangerous, even if not in direct sun, but also causes deterioration.
Contributor
They didn't catch fire, however they were smoking, that's close enough for me.
It was Tung oil, I normally simply lay them flat on the concrete floor to dry, no problem with that, in this case my friend cleaned up the rags and stuffed them in the garbage bin......Rod.
Contributor
On a related note, how many have fire alarms, where are they located, and most importantly, when were they installed? I ask because I learned that fire alarms become almost worthless after about 10 years. My house still has the original ones installed when built 22 years ago. I am working to replace them all now. I need to consider fire alarms for my shop, something loud so even if not there the neighbors will hear it.
I am in love with Montana. For other states I have admiration, respect, recognition, even some affection, but with Montana it is love.... It seems to me that Montana is a great splash of grandeur....the mountains are the kind I would create if mountains were ever put on my agenda. Montana seems to me to be what a small boy would think Texas is like from hearing Texans. Montana has a spell on me. It is grandeur and warmth. Of all the states it is my favorite and my love.
John Steinbeck
Moderator
Fire alarms in a shop have to be handled differently than in a home because of the nature of what we do. Particulates in the air from our machines (IE, really fine dust that's missed by the DC) can set off "regular" fire/smoke alarms. So detection in a shop (and garage) is more often a heat rise sensor. These are generally available for use with most alarm systems, but I'm not sure about "stand-alone"...that would have to be researched. I currently do not have any fire/heat detection in my shop building; just security.
--
The most expensive tool is the one you buy "cheaply" and often...
Contributor
To make Johns tip a bit easier, I put my compressor on a motion controlled contactor-this way I cannot forget to turn it off when I leave
Member
A friend hired some paint contractors to stain his wood sided house. They threw their drop cloths in a pile in his garage, and they burned the house pretty much, not to the ground, but severely damaged it. So I throw my stain and finish rags outside till they are dry, then put them in the trash.
Contributor
Get a pile of soaked rags, put them in a plastic kitchen trash bin and wait.
Jim
Heat detectors would work, but if a person were rally serious they would have Infared detectors in the shop.
Regular smoke detectors work on two principles. Ionization and photoelectric. The dust in the air to a photo and ion cell would appear as smoke.
"The first thing you need to know, will likely be the last thing you learn." (Unknown)
Contributor
Neat idea. What product(s) did you use for your motion controlled contactor?
Posting Permissions
Reply With Quote