Welding a wood pellet bin - fire risk?

[Bill Edwards]

Well thanks for all the advice, I seem to have got the impression that I shouldn't attempt welding it...

It's a pity actually as I thought I had found the perfect welding job - no grinding/cutting, making bits to fit, welding onto thin rust etc, just point and shoot welding. Also in a warm indoor room and it's winter, what could be nicer!
Ah well, I suppose that if it sounds too good to be true it's usually too good to be true...

I'll come back to them with the suggestion of sealing it, Tiger seal looks perfect for the job.

 

[brightspark]

Well thanks for all the advice, I seem to have got the impression that I shouldn't attempt welding it...

It's a pity actually as I thought I had found the perfect welding job - no grinding/cutting, making bits to fit, welding onto thin rust etc, just point and shoot welding. Also in a warm indoor room and it's winter, what could be nicer!
Ah well, I suppose that if it sounds too good to be true it's usually too good to be true...

I'll come back to them with the suggestion of sealing it, Tiger seal looks perfect for the job.

nothing stopping u doing the sealing is they

 

[the snooper]

if you want to weld it just blow / clean the room out and crack on

 

[Bill Edwards]

if you want to weld it just blow / clean the room out and crack on

I think that would be quite a task. It's very, very thick and includes awkward things such as pipes. Going in with any kind of airline would be rather interesting, and getting it to actually leave through the door - well, it would be a long day!
Sealing it may actually be quicker, easier and cheaper than welding it anyway. I just hope it works well and is permanent. My comment about it being a good job was because it would be easy as it would all be welding, none of the usual fabrication and repairs. Doesn't mean I'll try to do it that way for my own interest, as always it's down to what is best for the customer.

 

[the snooper]

I think that would be quite a task. It's very, very thick and includes awkward things such as pipes. Going in with any kind of airline would be rather interesting, and getting it to actually leave through the door - well, it would be a long day!
Sealing it may actually be quicker, easier and cheaper than welding it anyway. I just hope it works well and is permanent. My comment about it being a good job was because it would be easy as it would all be welding, none of the usual fabrication and repairs. Doesn't mean I'll try to do it that way for my own interest, as always it's down to what is best for the customer.

vacuum where you are blowing

 

[Bill Edwards]

It would need a decent industrial one, not something from the shelf at Sainsbury's.

 

[the snooper]

It would need a decent industrial one, not something from the shelf at Sainsbury's.

defeatist

 

[Paul.]

Be aware that under the right conditions the smallest spark can start a flash fire, so be aware of static and consider using proper industrial vacuums with sealed or flashproof motors, the accident I referred to earlier was caused by the chap fault finding on a machine, all he did was push a contactor in manually with a screwdriver to run a motor, the cabinet with the switchgear was normally sealed shut so wasn't normally exposed to dust, he was badly burned and took a lungful of hot air.

 

[the snooper]

Be aware that under the right conditions the smallest spark can start a flash fire, so be aware of static and consider using proper industrial vacuums with sealed or flashproof motors, the accident I referred to earlier was caused by the chap fault finding on a machine, all he did was push a contactor in manually with a screwdriver to run a motor, the cabinet with the switchgear was normally sealed shut so wasn't normally exposed to dust, he was badly burned and took a lungful of hot air.

wood working machine shops had the same risks as do flour mills and any environment with fine dust

 

[500e]

The second Lord product is HARD Clean metal rough up & get it in there has a working life of about 15 min. sanding or filing is a waste of time a grinder is tool of choice

 

[Bill Edwards]

Oops, sorry everyone I forgot to update this - I've passed on that I can't weld it and to seal it instead, so it won't be my job.

 

[Kent]

I'm looking at a job which is welding a wood pellet hopper where it has been stitch welded and every time more is blown in dust blows out from all the gaps making a big mess, hence looking to weld it all up into a continuous bead.

My only concern is regarding whether the pellets or dust could catch fire? It could be done with it full or empty, but when I say empty there would still be some in the bottom, i.e not completely empty, and obviously dust would remain.

Thoughts?

Very likely to explode. Blow deliveries without proper proceedures are very dangerous. No way would I spark up in a store end of and your insurance will almost deffo be void if you do

 

[500e]

Do I remember correctly a long time ago Birds having an explosion or fire due to spark & custard powder

 

[Maker]

Do I remember correctly a long time ago Birds having an explosion or fire due to spark & custard powder

Yes, in the 80s I think.
Firemen made a lot of custard that day

 

[brightspark]

 

[Kent]

i used to work with biomass and wood pellets as an importer distributor. under no circumstance weld in the delivery room, its not like a joiners shop people should be aware of that the dust is very much finer and its the air-born stuff you often cant see that creates the issue
these stores have been known to blow up during deliveries and I haven't ever heard of that occuring in a joiners shop