Did you know that it is really easy to start your lawn on fire while grinding metal and especially in August when it's dry?
I found out today and it was pretty cool!! At least I wasn't near the bus or the house! ;D 8)
Did you know how easy it is to start you lawn on fire while laying on your back under the bus welding up holes in your air tank. Note to self: Never weld on ANYTHING with grass surrounding you.
Is that where all the firetrucks were going?
Easy to start a lawn fire mulching leaves with a riding lawn mower too. I did that a few years ago. A small stick got on top of the deck and caught in a way that rubbed it against the belt for a while until it was glowing then snapped and flew off into dry leaves.
In retrospect it was funny. But at the time it was a race. The garden hose would reach so I ended up grabbing a shovel and putting it out that way. Ended up burning about 500 sq. feet of lawn by the time I got it out.
I love the smell of leaves burning and smelled that similar yet different smell. Now I have a patch of burned lawn.
I have all sorts of adventures with angle grinders! ;) ;D
Off the topic but now I'm thinking of burning leaves. Back in the town I lived in in Illinois when I was little they piled leaves at the street curb and burned them. We can't do that here, does anyone allow that anymore? I miss those Fall days burning leaves!
holes in clothing? ;D burning flesh :'(stories :D sharing great..Lol Bob
I can relate! ;D
While I was doing some grinding on a piece of steel I wasn't watching where the sparks were going, I was paying attention to the surface I was attacking. Well you guessed it, I smelled smoke, looked down and my overalls were smoldering and it was getting very hot in a certain place! :o
I quickly shed my overalls and stomped out the areas affected. I had just purchased them, Dickie's brand so you know how much they cost. At least I now pay more attention and I've been doing that kind of work for years!
I'm sure glad I had them on, otherwise it would have been very nasty!
Good to know I'm not the only one!
I always make it a point to not weld or grind as the last thing I do, then immediately walk away. Too easy for a fire to develop after you leave. It is also a good idea to have a charged water hose handy anytime you are welding or grinding. Guess my 28 years if Paramedic/Fighter is still with me. Jack
Paul, thats why we get married, so we don't have to shed the overalls when they catch fire in order to stomp out the flames, most wives are eager to help lol. (note to self,,,, check if wife is wearing soft soled shoes or spike heels before welding or grinding.)
I was welding on my frame work for the windows and caught stuff in the middle bay on fire. I didn't know about it till a few days later when I needed something out of the bay. I got lucky the whole bus didn't go up in smoke. Gumpy had pictures of catching the neighbors yard on fire. While welding or grinding. http://www.gumpydog.com/Bus/MC9_WIP/Structural/Reframing_The_Sides/reframing_the_sides.htm (http://www.gumpydog.com/Bus/MC9_WIP/Structural/Reframing_The_Sides/reframing_the_sides.htm)
John
Because of Jacks words of never walking away right after grinding etc which he also said in another thread several years ago I've since made a point of that. I wait around 30 minutes before leaving.
The location of my bus is currently in my driveway which is blocking the garage, about 8' from the house and about 20' from the neighbors with a wood fence between. If there were an accident I'm sure I'd catch my house and my garage with my '68 Charger in it and could burn the neighbors house too before it got put out.
So far I've never found a burning ember but I'm really paranoid. I take my time putting my tools away and then I stand and take stock of my work thinking on what still needs doing etc. This gives me a chance to hopefully see or smell something. After I go in and shower I head out again for another fresh smell and look.
Yes, I also started my pants glowing once and now I wear double front Carhartt pants to help me avoid burning my legs. I got tired of wearing or burning holes in my old jeans while working.
A buddy of mine who was helping me build my trailer caught an old towel we were using on fire on my back steps by the door and it was well away from us but the sparks hit it and it ignited. You can bet I told him to aim his sparks away from my house!
I've been a welder since high school. I've started more things on fire than you can imagine even though I try not to!!! So far nothing major unless you consider the skin on my arms!!!
somebody needs to come to my house and light the yard on fire. It rained on and off for a month here. The part of the yard I mow is 7 acres and I need a little lawn relief if you catch my drift.
Wayne, sounds like you might ought to get some goats to help you with that.
http://www.housingwatch.com/2010/08/05/lawn-mowing-takes-a-cheap-and-tasty-turn-for-goats/ (http://www.housingwatch.com/2010/08/05/lawn-mowing-takes-a-cheap-and-tasty-turn-for-goats/)
Fully Automatic Robotic Lawn Care Machine (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yMlJLD4PjHw#)