Recent content by creep

If it's a commercial application, they are probably due to be taken in and serviced anyway, based on the date you provided. I'd let an extinguisher company look them over. Edit: My experience has been that unless it is very extensive rust, it is probably not hurting anything on an Amerex...

We had to throw a customer's brand new Buckeye extinguisher in the trash today after showing him the bad weld in the cylinder that kept it from holding a charge. It's a piece of life safety equipment folks. You may never have to use it, but if you do, you'll be glad you paid a few more dollars...

I am a professional firefighter. How may I assist you? What questions do you have?

Marketing ploy. It is simply a BC dry chem extinguisher. I have seen a lot made by Kidde, especially in apartments. They are absolute garbage. You are correct in that it is filled with baking soda, since the BC chemical agent is basically just that. It may have a lower pressure, like 100psi...

I'll be at the fire station tomorrow and Monday, so I won't be back at the extinguisher shop until Tuesday to get you a quote. Have you tried anybody local? Shipping might be pretty expensive.

Agreed. Most anyone can lift a 5lb. extinguisher over their head. Very few can lift a 20lb. extinguisher above their waist.

Here is what I recommend: 1. A 5lb. ABC under your sink. 2. Maybe a 5lb. ABC in a hall closet. 3. 10lb. ABC will cover it all. A 2.5 gallon pressurized water extinguisher would be good for the wood working. Maybe a CO2 if you do a lot of work on cars and are worried about damaging them with a...

12 is more than most businesses we do, so if they are brushing you off, they have no business being in the extinguisher business. It's tough to say what they would cost since I don't know what size they are, whether they need to be hydro'd, 6 year maintenance, and what parts they may need to...

I didn't see any other hydro stamps on the cylinder, so I'm worried with the valve being in there for so long plus chrome plating, it may be really difficult to remove. Our guys in the shop use pipe vices with large chains and often use 6' cheater bars to remove valves from cylinders. Sometimes...

There are lots of different sizes and types of extinguishers. Different ones are better for certain applications than others. A Class A pressurized water extinguisher in a concrete block building with nothing but flammable liquids is no good, but a 20lb. CO2 would be. A 20lb. CO2 extinguisher...

Sorry about the delayed reply. I haven't been keeping up with this forum much lately. You should be able to get that hydro'd no problem. We have hydro'd several cylinders that are over 100 years old. The chrome may get damaged though, as you said. Great looking extinguisher though.

One thing we have run into a lot lately at work is Kidde extinguishers that cannot be serviced. Even though they are identical to other Kiddes that can be serviced, some of the labels say they are to be disposed of if the needle on the gauge is no longer in the green for any reason. These...

Monoammonium phosphate in ABCs, sodium bicarbonate in BCs. Halon is a different type of extinguisher all together. The powder is a nuisance dust and is not hazardous when inhaled, although you will likely be coughing.

Great extinguisher you have, even if it is older. If it is older than 1971, you will likely run into trouble getting it serviced. Pressure should be 100psi. The metal band should have this pressure on it somewhere, and the gauge probably has 100 in the green zone. Lots of folks add a little...

In residential use, they are not required to be inspected by anybody, at least in Arkansas, where I am from. That said, I'd recommend checking them once a month to see if they they have leaked down and turn them over to make sure the powder doesn't cake up on you. As far as replacing, that is...