Author Topic: Bad day in the shop (Read 4127 times)

t.caster · « **on:** July 04, 2020, 01:51:02 AM »

I was checking out some aqua fortis stain on a piece of curly ash this morning. So I got my heat gun out and it started squealing and smelling bad so I shut it off and got out my Mapp gas torch and when I lit that and started to heat the wood, it caught fire and engulfed my hand & forearm, from a leaky valve I guess! Dropped it on the concrete floor fearing it was going to blow up and with lightening speed, grabbed my fire extinguisher and pulled the pin. Fortunately before I could pull the trigger on it the fire went out on it's own as two smoke alarms sounded a piercing sound throughout the house!
I took the HF heat gun apart and little copper pieces fell out of the back of the motor, so that's toast! I took the valve off the gas bottle and discarded both. Lightly singed a couple finger tips and took some hair off my arm and shook me up, but I'm Ok.
At that point I took it as an omen that nothing good was going to happen in the shop today, so just leave! But I'll be baaack!

Ever have days like that???

Craig Wilcox · « **Reply #1 on:** July 04, 2020, 02:03:29 AM »

Glad nothing got permanently hurt, including you, Tom.

And yes, I have. That's why the three big fingers on my right hand are the same length. And why I am extremely careful with table saws.

Daniel Coats · « **Reply #2 on:** July 04, 2020, 02:05:16 AM »

Yep, back when my kids were little I was mowing the lawn in the back yard. I had the door locked so that they wouldn't get in the middle of my lawn mowing. My lawn mower was old enough the muffler had rusted off and the whole thing caught fire. I ran and got the garden hose to put it out but the handle on the spigot was in the house so the aforementioned kids wouldn't turn it on. That didn't work so I had to run around to the front door which was also locked and bang on it till my wife let me in. By the time I got water out to the lawnmower inferno it was a lost cause. I was so mad I pushed what was left of the melted lawnmower out onto the front sidewalk since the next day was trash day. For good measure I hit it with a sledge hammer which cracked the engine block and bled oil everywhere!

TommyG · « **Reply #3 on:** July 04, 2020, 02:18:17 AM »

First and foremost, great to hear you are well. Secondly, your shop/dwelling is in tact. You will build another day, another gun(several I hope) as well. You did the right thing by walking away.

martin9 · « **Reply #4 on:** July 04, 2020, 02:28:06 AM »

When I built my jaeger my homemade ramrod drill broke off right at the desired ramrod depth. Only fix I could think of was drill and chisel a hole then weld it back and gently ease it out. I put my mask on and welded it then noticed a smell. The stock had caught fire from the welder...couldn't see the flame cause of the mask. The fire was burning my chest hair off. It was early summer in the south so it was hot in the shop and I wasn't wearing a shirt. Anyway, got the fire put out and glued a plug in that spot.....the next day...called it for the day after that. My burned off chest hair grew back more grey though...and kinda shaped like an eagle

jerrywh · « **Reply #5 on:** July 04, 2020, 02:37:51 AM »

Nothing like that ever happens to me.

44-henry · « **Reply #6 on:** July 04, 2020, 04:28:05 AM »

Glad it worked out and you are largely unharmed. Last personal encounter I had with fire resulted in a two week stay at the hospital and two surgical procedures to my left hand. It has given me a healthy respect for high temperatures and makes a good story to tell in my classes when talk moves to safety procedures however.

577SXS · « **Reply #7 on:** July 04, 2020, 04:39:49 AM »

Glad it all ended well. When you are on fire it's inspirational!

Craig Wilcox · « **Reply #8 on:** July 04, 2020, 05:28:01 AM »

The other day I had been filling a small powder flask, using a small stainless steel funnel - which clogged up.

Slid my glass ashtray over, and used a small drill bit to poke the clog out of the funnel.

Sure enough, about 15 min later, went to put out my cigarette - and had a GREAT surprise! Luckily it was only about 4 grains (weight) of powder. Was kinda cloudy for a bit.

Another reason why smoking is bad for one's health.

rich pierce · « **Reply #9 on:** July 04, 2020, 06:02:31 AM »

Close call. Sounds like you really think quickly in emergencies. Well done.

Daryl · « **Reply #10 on:** July 04, 2020, 08:05:14 AM »

Close call indeed. Good thinking!

Clark Badgett · « **Reply #11 on:** July 04, 2020, 08:17:04 AM »

I know I might go to Hades for this, but I'm dying laughing on this end. I'm not laughing at y'alls Miss Fortune, but I'm laughing in relief that this kind of stuff happens to others too.

Bill Raby · « **Reply #12 on:** July 04, 2020, 09:41:03 AM »

The gas line for my torch had a leak. My beard is shorter now.

Greg Pennell · « **Reply #13 on:** July 04, 2020, 03:05:17 PM »

Yep, though usually with sharp tools...luckily I try to keep them razor sharp, so the cuts usually heal quickly...

Greg

Marcruger · « **Reply #14 on:** July 04, 2020, 03:36:49 PM »

Yes Tom. I have days that turn out no-good, very bad and rotten. On those days it’s best that I go watch TV as nothing good is going to come of my efforts. Glad you are not badly hurt. God bless, Marc

t.caster · « **Reply #15 on:** July 04, 2020, 05:15:02 PM »

Oh well, I found out AF will darken in the HOT 90+ degree July sun!

WadePatton · « **Reply #16 on:** July 04, 2020, 05:36:25 PM »

I call that a short day "in the shop" or where ever I'm working--when two bad things* happen--I stop.

*not just mistakes, but personal injuries or equipment failures or near disaster type events. Mistakes are normal.

I stop, regroup and think hard about what simple and utterly safe tasks I can do for the remainder of the day. I won't push it because that THIRD thing might be the one that puts me into the hospital, or onto the floor. I take the two things as a sign that my stars/planets/guardian angels are out of alignment or the moon phase is transverted. Matters not which-I take the hint.

It's just a rule of mine: Twice bit, walk the heckfire away and find something simpler/safer to do and be careful yet of any opportunity for a "third time charm" event.

Seems to work.

Ezra · « **Reply #17 on:** July 04, 2020, 07:06:28 PM »

I used to overhead arc weld alot. God knows how many times I set myself on fire.

Ez

t.caster · « **Reply #18 on:** July 04, 2020, 07:21:52 PM »

Quote from: WadePatton on July 04, 2020, 05:36:25 PM

I call that a short day "in the shop" or where ever I'm working--when two bad things* happen--I stop.

*not just mistakes, but personal injuries or equipment failures or near disaster type events. Mistakes are normal.

I stop, regroup and think hard about what simple and utterly safe tasks I can do for the remainder of the day. I won't push it because that THIRD thing might be the one that puts me into the hospital, or onto the floor. I take the two things as a sign that my stars/planets/guardian angels are out of alignment or the moon phase is transverted. Matters not which-I take the hint.

It's just a rule of mine: Twice bit, walk the heckfire away and find something simpler/safer to do and be careful yet of any opportunity for a "third time charm" event.

Seems to work.

Pretty much what I was thinking too!

Chowmi · « **Reply #19 on:** July 04, 2020, 08:02:36 PM »

I had a propane torch catch fire on me as well.

About six years ago, I was trying to braze two pieces of steel together, using a propane torch... Yes, I know now that propane won't get hot enough.
I had one of those torches that you screw the nozzle onto a propane bottle. I lit it, and next thing I know, I had a fire going on around the base of the torch attachment. A very quick inventory in my mind identified a failure on my part to place a fire extinguisher in my shop. Wasn't going to carry this thing into the house to retrieve the fire extinguisher. Hmmm...
Fortunately, I had a glove on one hand and quick as I could, unscrewed the torch from the bottle, figuring that shutting off the supply of gas was my best option. It would either work, or take me with it!

It worked.

I also electrocuted myself in 1997. Walked across a wet garage floor in bare feet while talking on the phone. Didn't realize that my dog had chewed through the power cord to my shop lamp. Took my legs out from under me, and suddenly I'm on the floor! Fortunately, that broke the circuit, and I didn't get shocked after that, despite laying on the wet floor.

Better lucky than good!

Norm

T*O*F · « **Reply #20 on:** July 04, 2020, 08:33:40 PM »

No accidents, but some precautions for items that were starting to scare me. Both the hoses on my oxy/acetyl tanks and my portable air tank made from a freon drum were over 40 years old. I chucked both of them and replaced with new ones. My tank hoses each have 3 anti-backfire valves on them.

Nazgul · « **Reply #21 on:** July 04, 2020, 08:51:30 PM »

Yeah, Gotta love overhead welding, especially when you see the slag drop forming and duck so it doesn't hit you. Only to have it land on your beltline and burn down the crack of your behind!!

Don

Daniel Coats · « **Reply #22 on:** July 04, 2020, 08:59:55 PM »

Quote from: Nazgul on July 04, 2020, 08:51:30 PM

Yeah, Gotta love overhead welding, especially when you see the slag drop forming and duck so it doesn't hit you. Only to have it land on your beltline and burn down the crack of your behind!!

Don

Oh great, now I have that picture stuck in my head. LoL

PIKELAKE · « **Reply #23 on:** July 05, 2020, 12:46:55 AM »

I was grinding a knife blade last night to make it a tad shorter and it got caught up in the grinding wheel........at 72 I can still move. No harm, no foul. JZ

BarryE · « **Reply #24 on:** July 05, 2020, 01:00:00 AM »

So...... that isn't a normal day in the shop? Gosh.....

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Author Topic: Bad day in the shop (Read 4127 times)