Dewie
Veteran Member
Well I was welding away on my car a short time ago; I welded in a patch on the rear dog-leg on the passengers side and was almost done welding in a patch on the front passengers wheel well when I set my car on fire.
Now I'm used to welding by myself, I'm used to welding on cars with interiors in place. I weld along for a few seconds, stop, look at the weld, look for smoke, and then weld some more. Tonight I was looking up and inside the windshield and the passengers side window.
I welded, looked, and started welding again.
Lesson 0.5: Always wear welding gloves... and apron.. ow..
When I stopped the arc I could hear a funny noise. I stopped, looked around and couldn't see anything. I was about to start welding again when I realized the noise was getting louder so I stood up - just in time to see flames come shooting out of the fresh air inlet for the HVAC system - and the interior very quickly filling with smoke.
Lesson 1: fire travels REALLY REALLY FAST
I quickly looked around for something to put on the fire and the first thing I found was the jug of Antifreeze I had drained out, so on the flames and down the hole it went.
Lesson 2: While Antifreeze IS liquid, and it can extinguish some fires it is REALLY REALLY slippery/slimy/gross afterward
The Antifreeze didn't cut it - so I headed to the house for the only fire extinguisher we had.
Lesson 3: GET MORE ****ING FIRE EXTINGUISHERS!!!! HAVE ONE EVERY 6 FT!
In to the garage I went and was able to extinguish the flames - the smoke levels inside the garage at this point were INSANE. I knew enough to take a deep breath and get in there then out as fast as I could, but I still got some of the stuff... even now as I am sitting here typing this (about an hour later) I'm still hacking like a chain smoker...
After I was sure I had the flames out I thought "****... I've gotta get some pictures of this ****... this is insane - its already happened - why not get some pictures so I can (hopefully) laugh about it later" At this point I called JROC and told him I didn't think we were going to have to rush with putting the transmission in my car... :lol:
So camera in hand, fire extinguisher under the arm, and JROC on the phone I headed back to the garage...
Now I'm used to welding by myself, I'm used to welding on cars with interiors in place. I weld along for a few seconds, stop, look at the weld, look for smoke, and then weld some more. Tonight I was looking up and inside the windshield and the passengers side window.
I welded, looked, and started welding again.
Lesson 0.5: Always wear welding gloves... and apron.. ow..
When I stopped the arc I could hear a funny noise. I stopped, looked around and couldn't see anything. I was about to start welding again when I realized the noise was getting louder so I stood up - just in time to see flames come shooting out of the fresh air inlet for the HVAC system - and the interior very quickly filling with smoke.
Lesson 1: fire travels REALLY REALLY FAST
I quickly looked around for something to put on the fire and the first thing I found was the jug of Antifreeze I had drained out, so on the flames and down the hole it went.
Lesson 2: While Antifreeze IS liquid, and it can extinguish some fires it is REALLY REALLY slippery/slimy/gross afterward
The Antifreeze didn't cut it - so I headed to the house for the only fire extinguisher we had.
Lesson 3: GET MORE ****ING FIRE EXTINGUISHERS!!!! HAVE ONE EVERY 6 FT!
In to the garage I went and was able to extinguish the flames - the smoke levels inside the garage at this point were INSANE. I knew enough to take a deep breath and get in there then out as fast as I could, but I still got some of the stuff... even now as I am sitting here typing this (about an hour later) I'm still hacking like a chain smoker...
After I was sure I had the flames out I thought "****... I've gotta get some pictures of this ****... this is insane - its already happened - why not get some pictures so I can (hopefully) laugh about it later" At this point I called JROC and told him I didn't think we were going to have to rush with putting the transmission in my car... :lol:
So camera in hand, fire extinguisher under the arm, and JROC on the phone I headed back to the garage...