Gas blew up in m y face today...,

[Coyote machine]

I've been asked to make a reference to the thread I started recently over in TBN's Rural Living forum, titled:

http://www.tractorbynet.com/forums/rural-living/382391-gas-blew-up-my-face-new-post.html

I'm hoping viewers here will visit this thread to read and see evidence of gasoline accidents that happened to me and others, who share survival of disastrous consequences and some of those who were not so fortunate.

It becomes clear, at least to me, that most of these accidents are totally preventable and can easily be prevented when the proper fuel(s) are used to start brush pile fires and similar outdoor fires, rather than the use of gasoline, or mixtures of old or new gas and the wrong set of things gone wrong.

The thread participants tell the story, and it's one compelling story - it could possibly save your or someone else's life.
Please take a moment or two and take a look at this important dialogue of TBN members who have shared some very personal life changing experiences for others to benefit from their experiences.

Thanks for reading,

CM out

 

[3930dave]

Thanks for adding this here CM. That link is a great reminder (vivid pictures alone are a wake-up call) of how fast things can go wrong.

All oil based products can be very dangerous under the right conditions. At my friends commercial shop, one of the guys went back into a car that just had floors replaced and undercoated inside the car. He went to strike an arc to add some bracket, and ignited the vapours off the undercoating - screamed like a banshee and got pulled out of the car fast enough (fireball up high) from the low-down position he was stuck lying in that he was OK. Didn't ask, but it's a pretty sure bet he needed a change of pants.....

Rgds, D.

 

[CobyRupert]

If I'm ever tempted to use gas to start a fire (and I am NOT), I just think about how less than 1/3 of a gallon can blast my 2500 pound car a distance of about 30 miles.

....with the other 2/3 of the gallon turned into heat.

(i.e. my car gets ~30 mpg, and most internal combustion engines are less than 33% efficient)

 

[Soldier415]

Good idea posting in safety forum. I am one of the contributors to the thread linked in the OP that blew his face off

 

[k0ua]

If I'm ever tempted to use gas to start a fire (and I am NOT), I just think about how less than 1/3 of a gallon can blast my 2500 pound car a distance of about 30 miles.

....with the other 2/3 of the gallon turned into heat.

(i.e. my car gets ~30 mpg, and most internal combustion engines are less than 33% efficient)

Thats a good point. Gasoline has one heck of a lot of stored energy in it. We just take it for granted and don't think about it much.

 

[3930dave]

Thats a good point. Gasoline has one heck of a lot of stored energy in it. We just take it for granted and don't think about it much.

I'm pretty sure that if gasoline had been invented in 1980 instead of 1880 (just a guess...), the lawyers would have made sure it never made it to market !

Rgds, D.

 

[CobyRupert]

I'm pretty sure that if gasoline had been invented in 1980 instead of 1880 (just a guess...), the lawyers would have made sure in never made it to market !

Rgds, D.

True.

I've always said the same thing about motorcycles too.

(Then again, why would anybody invent a motorcycle if there's no gas for it!)

 

[k0ua]

True.

I've always said the same thing about motorcycles too.

(Then again, why would anybody invent a motorcycle if there's no gas for it!)

There are some electric ones now that work pretty well.

 

[JamesHW]

Posted this in the original thread:

I'll share my method for starting brush piles that I switched to some years ago...A older acquantice was helping us and wanted to start a large pile with gas but we found we were out, so he went to buy a can and get us some sandwiches up the road. It had started raining earlier and we started to think we may have to wait until the next day. Putting some tools away it occurred to me that I had chunk charcoal and a metal chimney charcoal starter in the shed. So I grabbed an old shovel blade that I had found missing its handle and placed it in an alcove under the large wet pile of brush. Set the chimney on a stump, lit some newspaper under it getting the coals going in a few minutes and dumped it out onto the old shovel tucked into an alcove under the brush. The old guy arrived 15 minutes later to see flames licking out of the top of the wet pile wondering what the **** I had done. The nice thing about this method, other than being dirt cheap, is the red hot charcoal dries out wet and green materials above it and sets a core for the fire to get going. Many burn piles later it remains a never fail, safe way to start brush piles. Worst case is you need a second batch of burning coals to speed things along. I especially like it because we are on all sand with a shallow aquifer which provides out water, so have never been a fan of pour gas or oil around.

 

[oldballs]

Just another true story. But first, "Thanks CM" for this reminder post and the other posters.

As a young man, new home owner, we used to burn our household trash in 55 gallon barrel out back. So when it came time to rake leaves, I stuffed them into the barrel and poured a little lawnmower gas into the barrel. I bent down low and stuck a match through a low hole in the barrel. As you all can imagine it blew a shower of burning leaves all over the neighborhood with a big bang. I wasn't hurt, but sure was embarrassed.

Now, 50 years later, in my rural burn pile that i regularly use..........diesel and old motor oil is my only choice...along with the considerations of wind and ground dryness conditions.