Fire fire Car's on fire!

[TEO]

I'm replacing the top bracket for the rear os spring on an 08 Mk6 Fiesta.
Drilled out the spot welds and removed the old one, before refitting the new one I thought I'd fill the holes where I went too deep with the spot weld remover drill bits (bloody brilliant! If you don't have them find them - game changer)

Anyway, put a couple of dobs of weld in the holes & then smoke from inside the strut & flames
Proper flames licking out of the strut

Much huffing & puffing later the fire's out but now I'm wondering how I'm going to stick the new bracket on without another fire?
There must be paint inside the chassis strut or powder coat.

Oddly I didn't stop to take pics while it was all happening but this is it now. Any thoughts greatly appreciated

 

[addjunkie]

Back purge the section, you need Oxygen for a fire to occur. Or do the job, then Blast co2 through the section to put it out.

 

[JOEPRO]

Back purge the section, you need Oxygen for a fire to occur. Or do the job, then Blast co2 through the section to put it out.

This is a very complex solution to a simple problem.

Have a compressed air gun and use it to cool whe welds and blow into the box section behind to put out any fire and keep doing that each weld burst to ensure no fire gets started.

 

[bourbon]

I think I would be happier with the CO2 approach that forcing more air into it.!

 

[bert]

Welcome to welding on cars, they do love to set on fire.

The air blower is what I usually use as it blows the flames out. You can also use a spray bottle with water in it if it gets too bad.

 

[TEO]

Back purge the section, you need Oxygen for a fire to occur. Or do the job, then Blast co2 through the section to put it out.

This was my first thought but a neighbour who's building stock cars says that an air line will do the job

 

[TEO]

This is a very complex solution to a simple problem.

Have a compressed air gun and use it to cool whe welds and blow into the box section behind to put out any fire and keep doing that each weld burst to ensure no fire gets started.

Thanks, gonna give that a try

 

[TEO]

I think I would be happier with the CO2 approach that forcing more air into it.!

My thoughts too, creating a mini forge on three wheels but I'll give the air line a go, if that goes wrong at least I'll be able to shoe the horses

 

[TEO]

Welcome to welding on cars, they do love to set on fire.

The air blower is what I usually use as it blows the flames out. You can also use a spray bottle with water in it if it gets too bad.

Spray bottle... Tick

 

[TEO]

Thanks all for the v speedy support.
Plan A - air line
B - spray bottle with water
C - foam extinguisher
D - the other foam extinguisher
E - run for it!

 

[Melvyn Best]

Once had an apprentice fire watching when I was welding the underside of a mk3 Cortina up on a ramp, the first I knew we had a fire was when he kept out of the car screaming “ fire” . I just gave the very small flames a squirt from a spray bottle . Why he didn’t use it was beyond me

 

[JOEPRO]

I think I would be happier with the CO2 approach that forcing more air into it.!

What's the issue with using compressed air(?) The chassis is already full of air

Have you ever welded a car before? PS you will need alot of Co2 to purge car chassis sections and that's nonsense anyway no one does that.

Use normal compressed air gun as said. Forget spray bottle of water. If the car goes on fire you will need a garden hose. That is what I have beside me too worst case.

 

[JOEPRO]

Once had an apprentice fire watching when I was welding the underside of a mk3 Cortina up on a ramp, the first I knew we had a fire was when he kept out of the car screaming “ fire” . I just gave the very small flames a squirt from a spray bottle . Why he didn’t use it was beyond me

I know of cars burned to the ground locally one took the shed with it from people welding on em and having to clue about fire risks.

Also- I always access the back of the weld where possible. For example remove the car mats and put a welding blanket on top to protect the interior. Alot of car fired from welding are caused by people not thinking before they weld!

I also open the doors of the car every few mins when welding to ensure no smoke buildup.

 

[Melvyn Best]

Use normal compressed air gun as said. Forget spray bottle of water. If the car goes on fire you will need a garden hose. That is what I have beside me too worst case.

I normally have the spray bottle as well as a CO2 extinguisher to hand

 

[Nomad]

Not backpurging but my small Clarke welder has a manual c02 valve as part of the torch trigger rather than an electric gas valve.

Handy as you can pull the trigger lightly to get gas with no power, ideal if something you'd not noticed catches fire next to your weld zone.

 

[JOEPRO]

I normally have the spray bottle as well as a CO2 extinguisher to hand

Just don't use a foam extinguisher!

Not backpurging but my small Clarke welder has a manual c02 valve as part of the torch trigger rather than an electric gas valve.

Handy as you can pull the trigger lightly to get gas with no power, ideal if something you'd not noticed catches fire next to your weld zone.

Issue is that it is what you can't see that matters. Paint and perhaps old oily protection wax inside the chassis can catch fire out of sight. A puff from a weld nozzle won't help with that. But cool the weld then blow into the chassis with 120psi+ air gun and any flame will be put out easily.

 

[Matchless]

We used to use water spray bottle, not to be confused with the WD40 spray bottle, don't ask, and a blow gun, big red thing was always handy as well.

 

[premmington]

Spray water bottle - or wet rags - when you lost control - straight Co2 fire extinguisher (dry powder ones make too much mess).

The rules are:

No welding in the last hour of work
No woodwork machining in the same building
Sweep the floor up - no rags or other stuff lying about.

And when you finished welding the car up - take it outside and don't park it too close to any other cars!

 

[premmington]

We used to use water spray bottle, not to be confused with the WD40 spray bottle, don't ask, and a blow gun, big red thing was always handy as well.

"Big red thing" - made me an old man smile - LOL

 

[TEO]

Not backpurging but my small Clarke welder has a manual c02 valve as part of the torch trigger rather than an electric gas valve.

Handy as you can pull the trigger lightly to get gas with no power, ideal if something you'd not noticed catches fire next to your weld zone.

Ooh v. Nifty