got a good extinguisher handy?

[grumpyvette]

how many guys HAVE a couple CO2 or chemical fire extinguishers handy, in the garage for emergency screw ups
Ive made it a practice to keep a least two, located near the doors of my garage ever since seeing the results of a buddy who managed to burn his house down due to a small engine fire that got out of hand in his garage.
hopefully they never get used........but Ive come close at times in the last 40 years.
my buddy was trying to start a car after installing a cam, and had the distrib timing 180 degrees out because he forgot to spin the enigne over one full turn before dropping in the distributor, the engine spit back and caught a small cup of gas he was using to prime the carb on fire, he dropped it and the cars engine compartment caught, if he had the presents of mind to grab a hose or a fire extinguisher at the time he might have been ok, but he tried to beat the fire out with a greasy towel, just making thing worse, things went down hill VERY rapidly after that!
IF you work on cars LONG enought, you WILL eventually do something STUPID, get into circumstances you did not see coming or work with guys that do! so having a large CO2 extinguisher handy is a great idea, and far easier to clean up after when you are forced to use them., than dry chemical extinguishers

 

[KANE]

how many guys HAVE a couple CO2 or chemical fire extinguishers handy, in the garage for emergency screw ups
Ive made it a practice to keep a least two, located near the doors of my garage ever since seeing the results of a buddy who managed to burn his house down due to a small engine fire that got out of hand in his garage.
hopefully they never get used........but Ive come close at times in the last 40 years.
my buddy was trying to start a car after installing a cam, and had the distrib timing 180 degrees out because he forgot to spin the engine over one full turn before dropping in the distributor, the engine spit back and caught a small cup of gas he was using to prime the carb on fire, he dropped it and the cars engine compartment caught, if he had the presents of mind to grab a hose or a fire extinguisher at the time he might have been ok, but he tried to beat the fire out with a greasy towel, just making thing worse, things went down hill VERY rapidly after that!
IF you work on cars LONG enough, you WILL eventually do something STUPID, get into circumstances you did not see coming or work with guys that do! so having a large CO2 extinguisher handy is a great idea, and far easier to clean up after when you are forced to use them., than dry chemical extinguishers

Huh. Good point.

I've nearly caught some thing on fire more than a couple of times too. Better to have ruined a couple dollars worth of stuff- versus burning the whole house down.

 

[gary55r]

I've got a powder ABC by the door and a small Halon on the wall. Sadly I don't have anything with a carburator anymore. I guess I could take up welding...

 

[grumpyvette]

yeah! welding is usually good for kicking the potential fire hazzard up a percentage point....especially if your not careful

 

[warren s]

I have had 2 in the garage for years, though I never work on any fuel related things while the car is inside (carbs, fuel lines, fuel filtes etc)

I also replace the extinguishers evey few years, used or not.

 

[Zippy]

Excellent thread!

Yes, I have two in the garage, and another one in the kitchen.

 

[KOPBET]

Good sources with great prices would be nice if anybody has some!