Workshop Safety

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Neil Evans
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Workshop Safety

Post by Neil Evans »

while some filler was drying I even started on the tank

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Feel I must point out that applying heat to the petrol tank in ANY form is dangerous. Sand blasting, grinding or sanding and even a wire brush could be enough to cause an explosion. Remember the flashpoint of petrol is minus 43°C
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Big Daddy
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Re: Workshop Safety

Post by Big Daddy »

Very relevant point Neil... :thumbs:

If there's some good advice on safe working practices, might be worth collating in a separate Workshop Safety Forum :idea: What do you reckon :?:
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David Swain
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Re: Workshop Safety

Post by David Swain »

Don't you start that again!........... :rol:
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Neil Evans
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Re: Workshop Safety

Post by Neil Evans »

WAC_Paul wrote:
I used a metal restorer left to soak on the tank over night to clean it right out. Then hit off the silly gauze filter inside as its well passed its best. Then finally clean the swan neck lift pipe within the tank. The best way I found of doing this is by using longer and longer lengths of the plastic coated wire you use for hanging net curtains. It's pretty spit on for the bore.
It's best to use a brass rod/wire as there'll be less risk of any sparks created...
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A40FARINAGURU
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Re: Workshop Safety

Post by A40FARINAGURU »

Neil Evans wrote:
WAC_Paul wrote:
I used a metal restorer left to soak on the tank over night to clean it right out. Then hit off the silly gauze filter inside as its well passed its best. Then finally clean the swan neck lift pipe within the tank. The best way I found of doing this is by using longer and longer lengths of the plastic coated wire you use for hanging net curtains. It's pretty spit on for the bore.
It's best to use a brass rod/wire as there'll be less risk of any sparks created...
:whistle: :whistle:
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Neil Evans
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Re: Workshop Safety

Post by Neil Evans »

A40FARINAGURU wrote:
:whistle: :whistle:
Indeed, the chances are slim but better safe than sorry.
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Re: Workshop Safety

Post by A40FARINAGURU »

25 year old stale fuel still 'pops' :whistle:
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Neil Evans
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Re: Workshop Safety

Post by Neil Evans »

I was supposing that 'Cyril' had cleaned and refilled the tank with fresh petrol before finding the stack pipe to be blocked...
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Re: Workshop Safety

Post by Cyril »

Yes your right Neil there was fresh petrol which was drained and tank thoroughly cleaned and hence why we acted with caution, which is always something we would do around flammable substances anyhoos. :thumbs:
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~~Lynsey~~
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Neil Evans
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Re: Workshop Safety

Post by Neil Evans »

Can't be too safe... :thumbs: It's all too easy to say, it would never happen to me.

I've had five fires over the forty plus years I've been playing with cars. Four were inside the workshop and with luck and the right equipment I managed to extinguish them all. Two were inside vehicles I was welding at the time. Two I set alight with grinding sparks, some distance from where I was working. One was a 25 litre thinners can and the other a workshop oil fired heater. The fifth fire was a good one, an Escort van I was welding (with the help of a fire watcher I might add... :whistle: ) was outside, luckily as it is likely I would have lost the lot had it been in the building.
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Re: Workshop Safety

Post by Big Daddy »

Starting a freshly rebuilt A-series out the car with fuel supply from a open 5L tin can. Knocked the can over and burnt down the wooden garage, fortunately managing to get the immaculate Mini Clubman Estate removed before it joined the inferno.

Connected battery after changing under-bonnet wiring to discover a direct short to earth with resulting electrical fire in the adjacent wooden garage.

Welding 6ft away from a battery on charge. Few sparks landed in vicinity of battery causing it to explode throwing acid around.

Not me on these occasions but close colleagues. But I have managed to set fire to my overalls several times when grinding or welding. Good reason to keep them free from oil contamination. Managed to get grit in one eye when angle grinding, due to poor fitting goggles. Tripped garage circuit breaker after inadvertently resting a large sheet of 16G steel on a power cable laying on the floor. I was holding the sheet with both hands (electrical path via heart) during the flash and arc metal erosion.

Workshop has many potential risks which with care, can be managed (but not without)... :!:
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Neil Evans
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Re: Workshop Safety

Post by Neil Evans »

When my father was stationed at RAF White Waltham C. 1953 a colleague was refueling the paraffin heater in the foreman's office whilst it was still alight, refilling it from a jerry can OF PETROL. When it went woof he dropped the half full jerry can and ran for a fire extinguisher, which just happened to be WATER. The fiercly burning petrol floated out across the workshop on the water, rapidly spreading the fire to the whole building.

The camp's fire service were called but as Prince Phillip was having flying lessons at the time they were unable to leave their positions. The MT workshops had a spare fire tender in for service at the time which wasn't caught in the fire and a spare fire crew pedalled the mile or so across the airfield on bicycles. Of course, by the time they arrived there was little left to salvage. My dad always said you couldn't make it up... :whistle:
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Neil Evans
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Re: Workshop Safety

Post by Neil Evans »

Any ideas on how to remove the more stubborn underseal! paraffin ? Petrol? Or is there another tip to be had?
Petrol is far too dangerous to use as a solvent. It's also wise to avoid prolonged skin contact as it's carcinogenic, paraffin too...

I use a hot air gun... :thumbs:
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Neil Evans
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Re: Workshop Safety

Post by Neil Evans »

... and brake cleaner to clean up the metal.
Brake cleaner should be given a very wide berth. Ok, it very handy for degreasing brake components but best kept solely for that purpose. Use for cleaning components before welding or heating is an absolute no no as phosgene gas can be given off... This is the colorless gas that gained infamy as a chemical weapon used during World War I... :whistle:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Phosgene

Thinking it couldn't happen to me?...

http://www.brewracingframes.com/id75.htm
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btriplett
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Re: Workshop Safety

Post by btriplett »

Neil Evans wrote:
... and brake cleaner to clean up the metal.
Brake cleaner should be given a very wide berth. Ok, it very handy for degreasing brake components but best kept solely for that purpose. Use for cleaning components before welding or heating is an absolute no no as phosgene gas can be given off... This is the colorless gas that gained infamy as a chemical weapon used during World War I... :whistle:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Phosgene

Thinking it couldn't happen to me?...

http://www.brewracingframes.com/id75.htm
Neil, this spurred me to pass it along to the MG Experience forum. Receiving a very positive response and obviously not something commonly known. So your expertise and thoughtfulness is spreading well beyond our group. You have probably saved another life. Or ten. Kudos, my friend.
1954 A30 PNC 427
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1946 C-120 N72273
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