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workshop Fire Safety SETTING UP Shop ^fe i The last tool in your shop you'll want to use is the first tool you need to buy A quick look around my shop shows me plenty of available fuel sources — from wood and sawdust to paint and finishing materials. You'll also find a number of heat sources. Tool sharpening and electric motors generate heat. Even mixing some glues and finishes can produce enough heat to start a fire. Fortunately, all it takes to put out a fire is to remove one of those three elements. FIRE EXTINGUISHERS In the workshop, one of the most effective ways to remove one of die elements is with a fire extinguisher. Most fire extinguishers accomplish this by separating the oxygen from the fuel, smothering the fire. What Kind? You can use water to put out a fire. But since electricity is usually present in the shop, diis can be dangerous. Carbon dioxide extinguishers work well but they're fairly expensive. So the most practical choice of fire extinguisher for the shop is one that use a dry chemical. What's Inside? Dry chemical extinguishers have a dry powder (a lot like baking soda) and an aerosol propellant inside. They work a lot like a can of spray paint. When you press the lever, the propellant forces the powder out on the fire. These extinguishers are also the best all-around choice because they'll put out most types of fires. They can effectively put out wood and flammable-liquid fires. And since the powder won't conduct electricity, it's good for electrical fires as well. Best of all, they're inexpensive and readily available. How Big? You can find dry chemical fire extinguishers in sizes ranging from 2 lbs. all die way up to giant, 350-lb. wheeled tank canisters. The weight designation refers to the die amount of chemical that's inside the extinguisher. When you look for extinguishers at home centers and hardware stores, you'll find the 2-lb. and 5-lb. sizes most often. It's tempting to pick up the less-expensive, smaller extinguisher, like the one shown in the photo at left. But the minimum size you should consider for the shop is a 5-lb extinguisher, like the larger one in the photo. The reason die larger extinguisher is a better tool is because it contains more than twice the dry 42 ShopNotes No. 84 Handle Longer hose provides more reach and is easier to aim A 5-lb. extinguisher should be the minimum size for a shop A 2-lb. size is good for the kitchen, boat, or car The most important tool in your shop is one most of us will never use. It's also one tool no shop should be without — a fire extinguisher. My friends in the fire department say it takes three things to make a fire: fuel, oxygen, and heat. Safety Pin Thumb Lever Lever |
