Psa - Be Careful Whats Around You When Grinding...

I always look around the area for paper or combustables when I weld or grind, but I guess I need to look closer. I have a section of that Metaltech 'Baker style' scaffolding in my shop that I use as a mobile work bench. I'm currently making a Mahi-Mahi chasing a couple of flying fish out of the water, and grinding down the tail of the Mahi (recycled grass-shears). On the bench is also some 0000-steel wool with a LOT of other stuff. As I'm grinding away all of a sudden under the face guard, I smell something burning. I stop and look at the bench and see little embers and smoke coming from the steel wool pad. Sure enough, the grinding sparks were aimed directly at the steel wool, which any Boy Scout will tell you is an excellent fire starter when touched by a 9 volt battery. So, lessons here is: 1) work in cleaner area. 2) pay attention to all surroundings BEFORE you start gringing. 3) always stick around a while after welding/grinding is done - look/smell, etc. Do not take it for granted that everything is going to be OK when you shut the doors of the shed. Carry on

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Yikes - good thing you you caught the safety issue

 

I can't tell you how many times I have lit my shirt on fire while grinding steel.. Generally I put it out and keep going, one time I had to take it off and let it burn out in the yard on concrete.

A fairly dramatic accident happened when I made a scratch start TIG welder out of an AC/DC buzzbox welder. I was cleaning the parts with acetone and left the can on the table I was using to weld on. Steel topped... The tungsten got stuck in the puddle and when I yanked it out, it shot right into the metal acetone can. Now, this is in my house.. The tungsten came out and a steam of burning acetone followed. Fortunately I was wearing a leather welding jacket and gloves, so it wasn't too bad.. As I took the fire streaming can outside, it left a line of burning acetone on the floor..

It was dramatic and really funny at the time and in retrospect..

Just get a big fire extinguisher. I had one then and now, youre going to light stuff on fire if you do any real work occasionally. Dont panic, just put it out... No big deal, complete the work.

 

I've been there too, but please .... Don't take this stuff too lightly. That's me in the red helmet just last month.

That white stuff on the ground is the walls of the building which were leveled in the blast.

 

Why is your tailboard letting you do all the fun stuff ;P

 

I'm low man on the totem pole, still have to do all the hard work.

My hose stream was on a burning truck just out of frame - maybe he figured me for a blast shield?

 

I’ve had more “sniff sniff… what’s on fire? Oh, it’s me!” moments than I can count.

 

Our Daughter's hairspray or what the hell ?, caught on fire once when she was using our gas stove to cook dinner ? . We put her out , toot sweet.
I, myself , have burned up more things than I can count using my cutting torch. Always keep a fire extinguisher close.....for the big ones

 

Grinder sparks will also mark windshield glass. I've sworn never to tell anyone how I know.

 

Tig welding up some bike frames and doing some grinding a few years ago. I always go back and check in an hour or two just making sure everything is OK. Went back into the shop and in the corner was a rag with just a little wisp of smoke coming up.
Took it outside and it blazed up outside. I always go back and check several times.
Good reminder.
Lightening striking the garage was a different story. Fire Dept. got there quick and put out the roof that was on fire.
Every battery charger plugged in (all electrical devices) were smoked as well as the door opener. All good now, thanks to the firemen.



Dave

 

Not to mention head lights and the hard to find glass parking lights. Or windows------

I managed to lite myselve up a few times welding/grinding on farm equipment. Boy that sun was getting warm on my backside---

 

No Kidding, I covered the truck and windshield but forgot the mirrors!

 

Ah our helmet colors are different. Red is officer, Black is driver or tailboard, blue is EMS/Safety. White for chiefs. Yellow is typically rookies.

 

We are

White=Chiefs,
Yellow=Captains,
Red=Lieutentants,
Black= Firefighters

So, I am a Lieutenant, pictured with my Captain behind me.

What do you define as a "Tailboard?" (When I was a rookie we still rode the tailboards, even out on the Interstate, in ice-storms and blizzards, etc.)

 

Anyone under the rank of driver.

 

My F 350 can confirm this..

 

Dave in post #10 has a really important message. If you’ve been welding, cutting, or grinding, go back afterwards and re-check 15 minutes to 1/2 hour after you’ve finished. Rags, dust-bunnies, wood chips, etc may be smoldering and can flare up later. When I was a firefighter, we had a house fire two hours after the owner left. He was welding downstairs previously, but we determined that some sawdust and wood chips smoldered for a while before setting the house on fire. He lost his truck he was working on, and the house above had serious smoke damage.

And, yes, cover/protect all glass from weld spatter and grinding sparks. I see these custom/fab shops on TV with grinding sparks flying on surrounding cars glass and paint. That just makes me cringe.
-Donny