|
Sponsored Links (Register now to hide all advertisements) |
|
|
Thread Tools | Display Modes |
|
01-13-2014, 12:20 PM | #1 |
Senior Member
Join Date: May 2010
Location: Camino, CA.
Posts: 3,086
|
Fire extinguishers
My fire extinguisher gauges register in the green. Does that mean that they're still ok, or should they be recharged every year?
|
01-13-2014, 12:28 PM | #2 |
Senior Member
Join Date: May 2010
Location: Lynden, Wa
Posts: 3,552
|
Re: Fire extinguishers
as long as you are in the green you should be good to go. Nothing should have leaked out, if thy are really old then you can have them checked out.
Mike
__________________
1930 TownSedan (Briggs) 1957 Country Sedan |
Sponsored Links (Register now to hide all advertisements) |
|
01-13-2014, 12:42 PM | #3 |
Senior Member
Join Date: Jun 2010
Location: (Old)Shasta (Redding) CA
Posts: 385
|
Re: Fire extinguishers
I know the Fire Marshall's office comes around about once a year checking the dates on our extinguishers.
If you are using a powder type extinguisher I would suggest looking into a Halon or CO-2 type. The powder type are not generally very effective against electrical or gas fires, unless it is rated as A. B. C.. This rating is for all types of fires. Just my W.A.G at the question |
01-13-2014, 12:56 PM | #4 |
Senior Member
Join Date: Dec 2012
Location: Enterprise, WV.
Posts: 460
|
Re: Fire extinguishers
If your using the powder type, the powder will clog in the bottom, you need to turn it upside down ever so often to keep the powder from cloging up.
|
01-13-2014, 01:12 PM | #5 | |
Senior Member
Join Date: Feb 2011
Location: Lincoln, Nebraska
Posts: 1,909
|
Re: Fire extinguishers
Quote:
Good advice but at the same time give it a couple three whacks with a rubber mallet while upside down. Once a year and you are good to go.
__________________
Dave / Lincoln Nebraska |
|
01-13-2014, 04:52 PM | #6 |
Member
Join Date: Feb 2012
Location: Kentucky
Posts: 62
|
Re: Fire extinguishers
Sponsored Links (Register now to hide all advertisements)
|
01-13-2014, 04:53 PM | #7 |
Senior Member
Join Date: May 2010
Location: Central, IL
Posts: 3,968
|
Re: Fire extinguishers
how can you tell if the water type that are gaugeless are still holding pressure?
__________________
1929 Model AA - Need long splash aprons! |
01-13-2014, 05:04 PM | #8 | |
Senior Member
Join Date: Dec 2010
Location: FRESNO, CA
Posts: 12,560
|
Re: Fire extinguishers
Quote:
Buster T.
__________________
"THE ASSISTANT GURU OF STUFF" |
|
01-13-2014, 08:57 PM | #9 |
Senior Member
Join Date: Sep 2011
Location: Alton, NH
Posts: 1,231
|
Re: Fire extinguishers
Some of the "water" type are really soda acid activated. Turning them upside down activates the process. I recommend CO2 around old cars. Although the dry chem will do the job, it makes a hell of a mess, even on a small fire. CO2 does no collateral damage.
__________________
It's not what people think they know that will hurt them, it is what they think they know that aint so! -Mark Twain. It is the very things that we think we know, that keep us from learning what we should know.- Unknown |
01-13-2014, 09:10 PM | #10 | |
Senior Member
Join Date: May 2010
Location: Mpls, MN
Posts: 27,582
|
Re: Fire extinguishers
Quote:
It's also very corrosive and anything it touches rusts right away. I use a 3 liter pop bottle with an 1/8" hole in the cap. You'd be surprised at how much fire it can put out, and doesn't make the chemical mess, plus it's free. |
|
01-14-2014, 06:07 PM | #11 | |
Senior Member
Join Date: Sep 2011
Location: Alton, NH
Posts: 1,231
|
Re: Fire extinguishers
Quote:
If you add a couple of generous tablespoons of Dawn dish washing soap to that 3 liter bottle fire extinguisher, you will have a pretty good homemade extinguisher full of what we used to call a "Slippery Water". Which is not unlike the Aqueous Foam that Firetrucks spray on the Runway at a crash site. It will work better on a fuel fire than water alone. (I am a former Fireman as well.)
__________________
It's not what people think they know that will hurt them, it is what they think they know that aint so! -Mark Twain. It is the very things that we think we know, that keep us from learning what we should know.- Unknown |
|
01-14-2014, 06:11 PM | #12 |
Senior Member
Join Date: Nov 2010
Location: Anchorage, Alaska
Posts: 9,115
|
Re: Fire extinguishers
2.5 or 5 Lb Halon
__________________
Alaskan A's Antique Auto Mushers of Alaska Model A Ford Club of America Model A Restorers Club Antique Automobile Club of America Mullins Owner's Club |
01-14-2014, 07:07 PM | #13 |
BANNED
Join Date: May 2010
Location: Bucks County, PA
Posts: 11,454
|
Re: Fire extinguishers
i carry this around for such an emergency
non corrosive h2o Last edited by Mitch//pa; 01-14-2014 at 07:22 PM. |
01-15-2014, 09:48 AM | #14 |
Senior Member
Join Date: Oct 2011
Location: Raleigh, NC
Posts: 549
|
Re: Fire extinguishers
Mitch - You need to be careful with that chemical.
It contains Hydrogen that can be explosive and Oxygen that supports combustion. When mixed correctly (more than 6% oxygen in hydrogen) it is considered to be unsafe by the National Fire Protection Agency. For you guys that use Sodium Chloride - that is also unsafe! Sodium (Na) is a metal that combusts when exposed to water. Chlorine (Cl) is usually used as a bleach when mixed with 94 to 97% water and is deadly to biological organisms. When in the gaseous form it will kill everything. To the Model A hobbyist- This is a dangerous hobby It can empty your wallet, upset your neighbors, or result in a broken home. There are reports of men getting grease on their hands that is almost impossible to remove. There are also numerous cases where men spend every free minute of their time and even stay up all night trying to find just one "special" part for their car. In extreme cases they lapse into a trance when thinking about the vehicle they did not purchase. Note: Model T hobbyist are as bad or worse. It is completely hopeless when they have a T and an A. If any of you are in the A & T category I am available to help. All you need to do is send me one of your vehicles and everything will be OKey Dokey Last edited by nhusa; 01-15-2014 at 09:57 AM. |
01-15-2014, 03:57 PM | #15 |
Senior Member
Join Date: Feb 2011
Location: NNNNNNNNJJJJJJJJJJ
Posts: 6,787
|
Re: Fire extinguishers
QGolden-
a quick history lesson-don't know if you are aware, but the guy who invented Dawn is a car guy who invented Dawn while working at P and G he attempted to create a colloidal cleaner for engines and failed-that's how Dawn was created P and G thought it good enough for dishes-needless to say, he is a very wealthy man and also invented Fabreze. He has a warehouse with over 180 chopper motorcycles very near to my neck of the woods........ He now sells cleaners to HD |
01-15-2014, 05:58 PM | #16 | |
Senior Member
Join Date: Nov 2010
Location: Anchorage, Alaska
Posts: 9,115
|
Re: Fire extinguishers
Quote:
__________________
Alaskan A's Antique Auto Mushers of Alaska Model A Ford Club of America Model A Restorers Club Antique Automobile Club of America Mullins Owner's Club |
|
03-23-2014, 04:13 PM | #17 |
Junior Member
Join Date: Jan 2014
Location: Paradise, California
Posts: 28
|
Re: Fire extinguishers
I own a fire extinguisher business and a 31 RPU. Most of the posts are close. The bottom line is...if you are going to depend on the fire extinguisher have it serviced. Most service companies will not fool around servicing a cheap or plastic valved unit because the
plastic threads and it could rupture in the process. Purchase a good unit and have it serviced at least every 2=3 years. Most states only require the service company to fully tear down the extinguisher every 6 years to recertify it. My concern for the Model A guys is that I have seen vibration solidly compact a dry chemical unit so bad it was not even rechargeable. Halon type/ clean agent fire extinguishers are not as effective at a distance (5-6ft) and using outdoors was even worse. A good dry chemical could save your A. (no pun intended) Even though they make a mess (can be washed off) they are very effective for flammables /oil, grease, gasoline. Usually depending on proper training... most everyone uses the whole thing in one shot....instead, of short blasts between flare-ups. Most importantly a larger sized 5# is the wisest choice. You'll have enough chemical to initially knockdown the flames and enough to give additional short blasts there after if required. Always remember to have the unit refilled after usage. Even though the unit still has chemical in it..... Most dry chemical units will leak-down pressure within hours of usage. A good unit with a metal valve can be purchased at many discount stores, however check for the mfg date. All licensed extinguisher sales companies are required to sell a unit of same year mfg. |
03-23-2014, 04:22 PM | #18 |
Junior Member
Join Date: Jan 2014
Location: Paradise, California
Posts: 28
|
Re: Fire extinguishers
I have a small clean agent extinguisher I'll use first if a small fire occurs, but the 5# dry-chemical is my defense unit.
PS: In the last 35 years I have used my extinguishers for someone else's fire. XPS Most insurance companies will total a burned vehicle regardless of the amount of damage because there are not very many shops that will attempt a fire repair. Good Insurance is your first defense! Learn the proper fire extinguisher usage and extinguisher capabilities so you do not endanger yourself or others attempting to help someone. |
03-23-2014, 04:23 PM | #19 |
Junior Member
Join Date: Jan 2014
Location: Paradise, California
Posts: 28
|
Re: Fire extinguishers
I own a fire extinguisher business and a 31 RPU. Most of the posts are close. The bottom line is...if you are going to depend on the fire extinguisher have it serviced. Most service companies will not fool around servicing a cheap or plastic valved unit because the
plastic threads and it could rupture in the process. Purchase a good unit and have it serviced at least every 2=3 years. Most states only require the service company to fully tear down the extinguisher every 6 years to recertify it. My concern for the Model A guys is that I have seen vibration solidly compact a dry chemical unit so bad it was not even rechargeable. Halon type/ clean agent fire extinguishers are not as effective at a distance (5-6ft) and using outdoors was even worse. A good dry chemical could save your A. (no pun intended) Even though they make a mess (can be washed off) they are very effective for flammables /oil, grease, gasoline. Usually depending on proper training... most everyone uses the whole thing in one shot....instead, of short blasts between flare-ups. Most importantly a larger sized 5# is the wisest choice. You'll have enough chemical to initially knockdown the flames and enough to give additional short blasts there after if required. Always remember to have the unit refilled after usage. Even though the unit still has chemical in it..... Most dry chemical units will leak-down pressure within hours of usage. A good unit with a metal valve can be purchased at many discount stores, however check for the mfg date. All licensed extinguisher sales companies are required to sell a unit of same year mfg. |
03-23-2014, 04:35 PM | #20 |
Senior Member
Join Date: May 2010
Posts: 179
|
Re: Fire extinguishers
One of the best things you and you family can to do is to actually use an extinguisher before there is a real fire. Find an extinguisher that is going out of date and build a small fire in an old steel pan or something and let the family try to put it out. Practice and being familiar and not getting surprised is a great thing to teach. In the industrial world we are required to test and inspect our extinguishers each year. At that time we take an extinguisher that needs refilling or has to be replaced but still has product in it and have new employees use it to practice on how to use it. Also keep a few around the house and garage in an area that is easy to get to.
|
|
|
Sponsored Links (Register now to hide all advertisements) |
|