Fire Extinguishers
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Fire Extinguishers
So how many and what size and type of fire extinguishers do you have handy when you are stillin? Where do you keep them located?
YouTube link courtesy of SBB.
YouTube link courtesy of SBB.
Re: Fire Extinguishers
I make it a point to keep one near me while im running.
Nothing to see and nothing to hide.
Re: Fire Extinguishers
CO2 seems like the least messy.
I'm running 240V so water is out.
I would hate to have to actually use a chemical extinguisher inside the house
... Additionally, if you ever have to use your chemical extinguisher on a fire... give it a short blast point away from the fire first so you aren't giving the fire a big blast of straight air when you start. I learned this in cadets. 50-foot flames from an oil fire before the chemicals kicked in. Very impressive. Then you get to clean up the mess.
I'm running 240V so water is out.
I would hate to have to actually use a chemical extinguisher inside the house
... Additionally, if you ever have to use your chemical extinguisher on a fire... give it a short blast point away from the fire first so you aren't giving the fire a big blast of straight air when you start. I learned this in cadets. 50-foot flames from an oil fire before the chemicals kicked in. Very impressive. Then you get to clean up the mess.
Re: Fire Extinguishers
I have one of those water pipes with a "pistol" two meters from myself. The tap is opened and the pistol controls the water. The device can "spray" water on a large surface and can extinguish any alcohol fire in no time. Alcohol is simply extinguished by diluting it with water.
Something similar to this: https://www.manomano.it/p/tubo-da-giard ... d=22914843
Something similar to this: https://www.manomano.it/p/tubo-da-giard ... d=22914843
Re: Fire Extinguishers
10# ABC extinguisher mounted to the wall of my work shop near the exit. Never more than 15' from hand.
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EXPAT
Current boiler and pot head
Cross flow condenser
Modular 3" Boka - pics tbd
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EXPAT
Current boiler and pot head
Cross flow condenser
Modular 3" Boka - pics tbd
___________________
Re: Fire Extinguishers
CO2 extinguishers may seem to be "less messy" until you try to use one on a flammable liquid fire. They are under pressure and I wouldn't even think of using one on burning alcohol any more than I would use one on a grease fire in a pan on the stove. You'll just be spreading, (forcefully blowing,) that burning liquid all over the place. Get a good quality, large sized, ABC extinguisher. And please don't buy one of those useless little compact units. You want a big one. As to the mess? Well, once you blow burning liquid all over the garage or still shed with a CO2 extinguisher, you won't really have to worry about any mess to clean up since you probably just burned that structure to the ground. Very easy cleanup. Just bring in the dump truck and the front end loader.
(Ret. career Firefighter, Lt., Capt., and later municipal Fire Marshal, and also past adjunct faculty at the local community college, teaching fire protection, suppression and alarm systems.)
(Ret. career Firefighter, Lt., Capt., and later municipal Fire Marshal, and also past adjunct faculty at the local community college, teaching fire protection, suppression and alarm systems.)
"Government doesn't have the answer to the problem, government is the problem." Ronald Reagan
Re: Fire Extinguishers
I have a 10lb (net agent weight) rechargeable Kidde Pro 460 (UL rated 4-A:60-B:C) monoammonium phosphate (dry chemical) fire extinguisher that I have mounted to my wall next to where I am typically "stationed" during a run. It's probably a little overkill but it is a cheap insurance policy if something goes wrong.
- Deplorable
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Re: Fire Extinguishers
I'd rather clean up after a dry chemical extinguisher than explain to the law man and fire Marshall what I was doing when the house burned down.
Fear and ridicule are the tactics of weak-minded cowards and tyrants who have no other leadership talent from which to draw in order to persuade.
Re: Fire Extinguishers
^^ This exactly!Deplorable wrote: ↑Fri Apr 09, 2021 9:22 am I'd rather clean up after a dry chemical extinguisher than explain to the law man and fire Marshall what I was doing when the house burned down.
_____________________
EXPAT
Current boiler and pot head
Cross flow condenser
Modular 3" Boka - pics tbd
___________________
EXPAT
Current boiler and pot head
Cross flow condenser
Modular 3" Boka - pics tbd
___________________
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Re: Fire Extinguishers
I am a bit of an extinguisher nut as an ex-FF. I have no less than 5 of them scattered around the property plus one I carry in the car. In the shed I have one just outside the door that I leave open for ventilation. Don't have it too close to the still or you may not be able to get it when you need it.
Re: Fire Extinguishers
First Alert FE3A40GR 5 lb. dry powder, Monoammonium Phosphate extinguishing agent ((UL rated 3-A:40-B:C) mounted under the workbench in the garage. Got for $35 at Costco.
Re: Fire Extinguishers
abc it is. Thanks gents.
I generally focus on avoiding my risk of an event but having the ability to suppress a fire when working with alcohol, vapors and heat seems like a no-brainer.
Here is one to share with the "mason jar" idiots
I generally focus on avoiding my risk of an event but having the ability to suppress a fire when working with alcohol, vapors and heat seems like a no-brainer.
Here is one to share with the "mason jar" idiots
Re: Fire Extinguishers
Another demonstration that ethanol burns with a transparent flame. This danger is well known to backpackers. The stove comes with a lid which is to be put on the stove before any operation. It's easy to be absolutely certain that that flame is out, just cover it and wait a few seconds, or better don't refuel a stove which is still hot.
Re: Fire Extinguishers
What he said!BamaHawk wrote: ↑Fri Apr 09, 2021 7:30 am I have a 10lb (net agent weight) rechargeable Kidde Pro 460 (UL rated 4-A:60-B:C) monoammonium phosphate (dry chemical) fire extinguisher that I have mounted to my wall next to where I am typically "stationed" during a run. It's probably a little overkill but it is a cheap insurance policy if something goes wrong.
Double, Double, toil and trouble. Fire Burn and pot still bubble.
Re: Fire Extinguishers
Very valuable information, indeed.
But I hoped to see some more about mason jars and this has nothing to do with these jars.
On topic: with my electric still I work in the open. With my smaller stills I work in the kitchen on my stove and there is a water tap at arms length.
Re: Fire Extinguishers
Pressurized jet of alcohol vapor. You can pick your own ignition source. Or set up a camera and make your own fires. There are so many ways of setting up a safe thumper that there is no reason to create an unsafe one so that you can play russian roulette.
- cranky
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Re: Fire Extinguishers
Here are some of mine
They are all around my garage when distilling so when I set my truck on fire the closest one was only 4 feet away...unfortunately it was 2 feet on the other side of the closed and locked garage door at the time I had no idea that antifreeze was flammable. Now when I do stuff to the truck I make sure I have at least one handy.
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Re: Fire Extinguishers
Wait...cranky wrote: ↑Sun Apr 11, 2021 5:56 pm Here are some of mine
FX 1.JPG
They are all around my garage when distilling so when I set my truck on fire the closest one was only 4 feet away...unfortunately it was 2 feet on the other side of the closed and locked garage door at the time I had no idea that antifreeze was flammable. Now when I do stuff to the truck I make sure I have at least one handy.
Antifreeze is flammable??
Fear and ridicule are the tactics of weak-minded cowards and tyrants who have no other leadership talent from which to draw in order to persuade.
- cranky
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Re: Fire Extinguishers
Yes it is.Deplorable wrote: ↑Sun Apr 11, 2021 6:10 pmWait...cranky wrote: ↑Sun Apr 11, 2021 5:56 pm Here are some of mine
FX 1.JPG
They are all around my garage when distilling so when I set my truck on fire the closest one was only 4 feet away...unfortunately it was 2 feet on the other side of the closed and locked garage door at the time I had no idea that antifreeze was flammable. Now when I do stuff to the truck I make sure I have at least one handy.
Antifreeze is flammable??
I was running my truck for the first time after rebuilding the engine, going through the cam break in procedure when the lower radiator hose blew off spraying antifreeze all over the engine compartment. When it hit the hot exhaust it caught fire fortunately I managed to put it out without any serious damage but it very easily could have burnt my truck to the ground.
Re: Fire Extinguishers
Grain dust can be highly flammable and explosive. In our hobby, milling would probably be our most vulnerable. Stay on your toes even if it is less likely than an alcohol fire.
https://ag-safety.extension.org/grain-dust-explosions/
https://ag-safety.extension.org/grain-dust-explosions/
My 9" Shotgun Condenser
This hobby really is not so much about making alcohol. But bottling opportunities to make memories with Friends and Family.
This hobby really is not so much about making alcohol. But bottling opportunities to make memories with Friends and Family.
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Re: Fire Extinguishers
Was about 500 m away when a huge sawdust silo blew up. I don‘t remember a big bang, but it felt so warm, like on a summers day at the beach.
Re: Fire Extinguishers
Antifreeze is essentially a combination of different types of alcohols. It's hella flammable.
- SassyFrass
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Re: Fire Extinguishers
I've seen after effects of grain silo fires, sawdust fires from mills, and alcohol fires from the big guys over in the flat lands of the state. But finding out that antifreeze is flammable is a bit of information that I did not know. So thank yall.
SF
PS...I reckon it gets stored in the flammables locker from now on, with the paint, thinner, etc...
SF
PS...I reckon it gets stored in the flammables locker from now on, with the paint, thinner, etc...
Simple Lil' Pot Still, no temp guage, no carbon, no scrubbers, nuthin' fancy. Sometimes use a thumper, sometimes don't.
Real good info for New Folks:
Real good info for New Folks:
Re: Fire Extinguishers
have spent many hours this week reading the "tell us your mistakes" thread.
Just ordered two fire extinguishers.......
Just ordered two fire extinguishers.......
- cranky
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Re: Fire Extinguishers
I've had the same reaction many times when I tell the story of my fire. It seems few people know that antifreeze is flammable.SassyFrass wrote: ↑Thu Apr 22, 2021 1:42 pm I've seen after effects of grain silo fires, sawdust fires from mills, and alcohol fires from the big guys over in the flat lands of the state. But finding out that antifreeze is flammable is a bit of information that I did not know. So thank yall.
SF
PS...I reckon it gets stored in the flammables locker from now on, with the paint, thinner, etc...
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Re: Fire Extinguishers
Good to see I am not the only one with a flammables locker. I have two, one for gas and fuels and one for paint and other flammables. Made of metal and attached to the outside of the shipping container that has my solar and power system.SassyFrass wrote: ↑Thu Apr 22, 2021 1:42 pm
PS...I reckon it gets stored in the flammables locker from now on, with the paint, thinner, etc...
- SassyFrass
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Re: Fire Extinguishers
Yep, that's a take away from a career in the military. Everything has to be grunt proof, KISS principle rules in my shop. And, before you ask, yep I was a grunt.
SF
SF
Simple Lil' Pot Still, no temp guage, no carbon, no scrubbers, nuthin' fancy. Sometimes use a thumper, sometimes don't.
Real good info for New Folks:
Real good info for New Folks:
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Re: Fire Extinguishers
We have 1 in the kitchen, which is just home safety. The hobby takes place in the kitchen, as well. When we were researching before we bought the still, hobbiest on another site (I won't name it, but it rhymes with Feddit) assured us that we didn't have to worry too much, since we were using an electric heat source (we have a hotplate we use). After seeing this thread, I feel like buying 2 or 3 more.
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Re: Fire Extinguishers
Is it practical for me to have an ABC extinguisher in the shop