libs Posted August 31, 2012 Report Share Posted August 31, 2012 Chaps, bit of a drama today. To say it was scary would be a huge understatement... Just thought I'd share the story to serve as a warning to home DIY-ers and shed enthusiast! Moving back to uni soon, getting my possessions in order and I find that I have lost the bolts for my office chair. Searched high and low for bolts to fit but there was nothing. I found a length of 10mm threaded rod which I decided to make some bolts from. I cut four lengths and set about welding some shanks onto them in order to be able to finger tighten them. I set the bolt sections in the vice on my large bench in the garage (which is part of a weird outbuilding complex that the last occupants built, large rooms with kitchenette and a bathroom etc) ready to arc weld the shanks onto. I did all my welding and noticed I had set some sawdust smouldering on the bench so I wiped it over with a damp rag, checked around for embers then left to fit the bolts. Off I went to enjoy tea and medals for my hard work... An hour or so later a chap that works on cars from his garage that shares a large alleyway with mine came and knocked to let me know smoke was coming from my garage. I presumed it would just be residual welding smoke seeping out but I picked up a C02 fire extinguisher just in case. As I opened the door leading into the corridor down to the garage I was hit with a strong acrid smell and thick smoke, I quickly moved along the corridor as low as I could. I felt the garage door handle which was cool, and as I slowly opened the door I was hit with a wall of thick white vile smelling smoke which nearly burnt my eyes out of my head, I saw the smoke pouring from underneath my work bench and pointed the fire extinguisher in its general direction and dumped the lot. This didn't seem to have an effect so well in the throws of adrenaline I pulled what I could out from under then bench and three canvas tool bags came out smouldering and instantly burst into flame when exposed to the air. I dropped them on the concrete and gave them a burst from the pretty much empty fire extinguisher but they kept going so I picked them up by the non-burnig parts and sprinted outside with them throwing them on the grass. I doubled over heaving and coughing but noticed the smoke was still pouring out. Dug deep, grabbed the hose and ran back into the smoke, once I got back to the source there were new flames which I doused, causing loads more smoke/steam to be kicked up. I left again quickly to get my breath then went back in one more time to pull everything out, soak it and make sure there was no chance of reignition. Relatively happy the fire was out and had been contained I ran outside to be very sick and sit on the floor looking bemused. The damage as it stands is 3 x canvas tool bags, several screwdrivers and some rolls of tape. Also the whole building now stinks as do I despite a shower. It seems that the 1/8th" gap between the two workbench halves allowed a spark to drop down and ignite the canvas bags. Totally my fault for not preparing the area properly. I certainly won't be welding indoors again. I've thanked the chap that informed me about the smoke, without him we would have lost the whole lot. Be careful in the sheds gentlemen. I certainly won't be as complacent in the future. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mk1 Man Posted August 31, 2012 Report Share Posted August 31, 2012 Wow...That was a proper close shave you had....Glad you sorted it. Stiff drink time for you me thinks. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Diceman Posted August 31, 2012 Report Share Posted August 31, 2012 BIL has a rule in his car repair business - no welding/hot work after 4pm...he nearly lost the whole workshop once in similar circumstances to you, that last hour gives them a chance to spot any problems before they shut up for the night. The thought of losing my shed & contents brings me out in cold sweats...I'd rather the house burnt down..... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gixer1 Posted August 31, 2012 Report Share Posted August 31, 2012 Did you get the chair fixed or what? :blink: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
libs Posted August 31, 2012 Author Report Share Posted August 31, 2012 Did you get the chair fixed or what? :blink: Of course! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pigeon pete Posted August 31, 2012 Report Share Posted August 31, 2012 that was a close one m8,i can remember my brother had a welder in dads shed ,and when he went to have his tea i thought i would have a crafty go !! never use a welder in flip flops lol Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
walshie Posted August 31, 2012 Report Share Posted August 31, 2012 Was the stuff you lost cheaper than a new chair though? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gixer1 Posted August 31, 2012 Report Share Posted August 31, 2012 Of course! Good man! man no stop for fire, man fix! Fix! Fix! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
libs Posted August 31, 2012 Author Report Share Posted August 31, 2012 Was the stuff you lost cheaper than a new chair though? Yup, its a nice chair. However was it worth the amount of vile smoke I inhaled? Definitely not? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Asa Bear Posted August 31, 2012 Report Share Posted August 31, 2012 Get out. Get the fire brigade out. Stay out. Lucky silly boy. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Diceman Posted August 31, 2012 Report Share Posted August 31, 2012 never use a welder in flip flops lol ...or a fleece jacket! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ack-ack Posted August 31, 2012 Report Share Posted August 31, 2012 Yup, its a nice chair. Its a hot seat Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
39TDS Posted August 31, 2012 Report Share Posted August 31, 2012 Get out. Get the fire brigade out. Stay out. +1 Not sure that I wouldn't have done the same though. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
libs Posted August 31, 2012 Author Report Share Posted August 31, 2012 +1 Not sure that I wouldn't have done the same though. I fully agree that I shouldn't have gone in there etc... However I just went into auto-pilot, there was no way I could have just watched it all burn. Also how do firemen get the stink of burning off their skin I've had two showers now and all I can smell is smoke, its minging. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dr_evil Posted August 31, 2012 Report Share Posted August 31, 2012 Never weld inside is my theory, or if you do make sure its in a workshop I do all mine outside in a sheltered area so the wind isn't a problem blowing the shielding gas away, need to build a roof for it though as I cant weld when raining currently Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Asa Bear Posted August 31, 2012 Report Share Posted August 31, 2012 Also how do firemen get the stink of burning off their skin I've had two showers now and all I can smell is smoke, its minging. It's in your hair & up your nose. Nice ain't it! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Asa Bear Posted August 31, 2012 Report Share Posted August 31, 2012 BIL has a rule in his car repair business - no welding/hot work after 4pm...he nearly lost the whole workshop once in similar circumstances to you, that last hour gives them a chance to spot any problems before they shut up for the night. Whenever I do any soldering on a job I'll always stop an hour before I finish for the day. I would hate to get caught out! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bedwards1966 Posted August 31, 2012 Report Share Posted August 31, 2012 Very silly of you to go inside to try to tackle it. Exactly what I tend to do in such situations... Just be glad it ended up reasonably well, and let it serve as a warning to all. I too have welded while wearing a fleece, not wise. Never flip-flops though. I could list all the garments I've set fire to when welding, but it's a bit long. It's very easy to get complacent. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dr_evil Posted August 31, 2012 Report Share Posted August 31, 2012 Very silly of you to go inside to try to tackle it. Exactly what I tend to do in such situations... Just be glad it ended up reasonably well, and let it serve as a warning to all. I too have welded while wearing a fleece, not wise. Never flip-flops though. I could list all the garments I've set fire to when welding, but it's a bit long. It's very easy to get complacent. Don't wear jeans when using an angle grinder! I was using my work jeans and the sparks burnt right through them Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
neil w Posted September 1, 2012 Report Share Posted September 1, 2012 i was welding a cross member on a car then a droplet of red hot metal dropped inside my rigger boot and buried its in the top of my foot . . quite painful . the lads i worked with at the time where rolling around laughing !! it could only happen to me Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mungler Posted September 1, 2012 Report Share Posted September 1, 2012 Very common this. The problem is that it's also sheds and garages where people store spray cans, white spirit, oil, petrol, mowers, strimmers etc. I bet there's a hot work roofer on here who has a story or two to tell..... they're notorious for it; flat-roof-hot-torch-tastic Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
vwdolly Posted September 1, 2012 Report Share Posted September 1, 2012 A lesson to us all... glad you caught it in time Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Muggins. Posted September 1, 2012 Report Share Posted September 1, 2012 A lesson to us all... glad you caught it in time A lesson to us all ................. but is it worth risking your life for?? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KPV4 Posted September 1, 2012 Report Share Posted September 1, 2012 (edited) Very common this. The problem is that it's also sheds and garages where people store spray cans, white spirit, oil, petrol, mowers, strimmers etc. I bet there's a hot work roofer on here who has a story or two to tell..... they're notorious for it; flat-roof-hot-torch-tastic Your not wrong there Mungler, we've got a roofing contractor working locally who has kept us busy over the last few years carrying out hot work roofing. So far the count is: 1x Hotel 2x Pubs 1x House Luckily nothing in the last 12 months, he has either given up this type of work, or he has learnt the lesson the hard way! Edited September 1, 2012 by KPV4 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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