Fireproof cabinets and bins

[flexysteve]

Hi gang,
I wanted to see how many of you stored your flammable things in a fireproof cabinet. I have to store 4 gallon gas and kerosene containers in the garage along with all the usual paint thinners and such. Should I invest in one of these cabinets (the small ones run about $400) or is it overkill for a homeowner. Also is the oily rag can a good idea or overkill as well? I don't do alot of wood staining and such but every once in a while.

Heres pics for reference.

Thanks
Steve

 

[972500]

i have one of the rag cans but only because i got it for free because we got a bunch of new ones at school and htey were giving away the olds. its probly saved me a few times cause before they were just in the trash or a bucket and i would alwasy forget where they were and start grinding on somthing. not a bad thing to have but not worth the gosh knows how much tehre askin for it probly
Mark

 

[flexysteve]

For those interested. the 6 gallon trash can runs around $60

 

[russlaferrera]

If you have a lot of hi flammable auto paint I would go with the cabinet. Should you do a lot of painting /staining get the can also, or you can use a metal can w/lid. If you read the directions on those cans, it states "Empty every night" IMO if you separate the rags into regular garbage they should not self ignite, because compressing them together causes the heat build up (spontaneous combustion)

Todays insurance company's look for ways to get out of paying for a loss, plus local laws may apply

I am lucky that I am in a area that I burn most everything.

 

[rodnok1]

I don't keep gas in the garage anymore, I have a steel wall locker outside(paint to match house) that I keep gas/kerosene/thinners in. Whenever I do projects with stains or thinners I make sure to throw the rags out every night with the house trash.

 

[imported_banzaitoyota]

I have an unused fridge, vented thru the wall

 

[Flathead Youngin']

if you have the extra money, it's probably a good idea...

EDIT: wasn't a good suggestion

in my garage here at the house, it used to not bother me to keep gas cans sitting around, as i'm getting older and have things to lose, it bothers me and i think about it every time i go out there to get gas......i keep 2-3 five gallon cans of gas, one for 50:1, one for 32:1 and 3 five gallons cans of kerosene (emergency heat)........

i'd say the old vented refer is a good idea........

edit: i don't know where you live but i have seen these cabinets before on craigslist.org at a much reduced rate.......if you're not in a hurry.......i passed on one but if another comes available in my area, i'll not pass up the second one...

 

[erda]

There is another alternative that is much cheaper. Build a box out of 2x4s and line both the inside and outside with 5/8 fire rated drywall. Your lid can either hinge on one side or be a lift off type, secured with some type of latch. The major downside is that this type of storage is not spill proof.
erda

 

[fefarms]

I had always heard about oil soaked rags and spontaneous combustion. Over the years I tried to be somewhat careful about it, even though it was hard to imagine the oil generating enough heat all by itself.

But the point wasn't driven home until I almost burned down an outbuilding. You see, I used some of those blue paper towels to apply a "wipe on" linseed oil based stain to a piece of furniture. When I was done , I gathered the towels into a pile, "intending" to come back right away with a metal can to dispose of them.

Three hours later, having forgotten about the clean-up, I noticed a light flickering through the window of the outbuilding. I went to investigate, and found the building filled with smoke. The blue towels had caught fire all by themselves -- no source of ignition other than the linseed oil. I put the fire out, but it left a big charred spot on the floor.

Linseed oil is evidently much worse for this than motor oil, but still, I now consider a non-combustible metal can absolutely essential for oily rags and paper towels.

 

[1320stang]

One of our local fire stations caught fire when a rag bucket spontaneously combusted. I was in college then, I don;t recall if anyone lost their job or got in hot water over it, they ended up adding another bay onto the fire station.....

FY, I don't think I'd put a bucket in the cabinet with the combustibles, sounds about like putting a lit flare in there.

 

[Flathead Youngin']

You know, you're probably right. The large cabinet is for storage of items that are flammable. The rag can is for something that doesn't need an ignition source. I should probably remove that.....thanks for calling me out....

One of our local fire stations caught fire when a rag bucket spontaneously combusted. I was in college then, I don;t recall if anyone lost their job or got in hot water over it, they ended up adding another bay onto the fire station.....

FY, I don't think I'd put a bucket in the cabinet with the combustibles, sounds about like putting a lit flare in there.

 

[1320stang]

Shoot, I just want you to be able to hang around here more.

I called the pharmiscist at the Walgreen's after I picked up a perscription for my wife Wed. night. As I was walking out the door, I smelled smoke from someone smoking. Got in my truck and was driving off and noticed a girl that worked at the store stand up off the sidewalk, put her cigarette out on the sidewalk and walk into the building. She had been hiding behind the Blue Rhino propane cage outside the building!!!! I told the pharmiscist I didn't want her to get fired, but in her case, smoking could cause the death of others that didn't even inhale her second hand smoke. Besides, my sister works at the orthodontist next door.

BTW, what flathead do you have? I've got a '37 or '38 24 stud 221 I picked up off Ebay locally for $5. Still have to get the pistons unstuck and the pan off, but I can't find any deck cracks.