Storage of flammable liquids - using a dead fridge?

[MFalkinham]

In my 30' x 60' shop I want to put my gas cans, etc inside a storage cabinet in the far corner to decrease the chances of fire or explosion while welding, plasma cutting, etc.

Sealed cabinets designed for this purpose cost around $500 on up new. Used ones are hard to find, which got me to thinking. Would an antique refrigerator or freezer work for this purpose if I gutted the electrical components? Older ones were built like tanks out of good steel, and they have a seal on the door plus a latch. I could also add a hasp for ensuring the door stays closed.

Any thoughts on this, or other ideas for safely storing flammables in a shop? Thanks!

 

[kenny61]

I dont like that cause you are now concentrating it. How much stuff you got a 5gallon jug 20 feet away from the welder wont cause any trouble, Paint thinner and such is fine in the sealed containers they come in. Diesel I dont even worry about. You would have to have alot of open conatiners lying around in a 30x60 shop to have the fumes concentrated enough to cause a hazard

 

[MFalkinham]

Thanks for the feedback.

I don't have a ton of flammables; a 5-gallon can or two of gas for the snowblower/lawnmower, another smaller can of gas for the weedwhacker, cans of mineral spirits/thinners/paint, stuff like that. Just typical homeowner flammables.

Having a storage cabinet would help me to discipline myself and always put the flammables in a safe, designated place. Sometimes I set a gas can down right where I'm filling something and don't remember to put it safely aside. That could be bad if I were grinding or welding nearby later on.

Most of the cabinets I've looked at are sealed tight and not vented, although they could be vented outside if needed.

Any other ideas?

 

[JLEONARD]

How about outside the shop in some kind of container eg a plastic "rubbermaid" tub with a cover??

 

[kenny61]

I would just leave them in closed containers. designate a shelf or floor spot for them and keep them in one place. Putting them in a closed place will allow the fumes to build up if the containers allow them to escape. Concentrated fumes in a confined space are not good.

 

[WCPoe]

I ended up with a steel cabinet from Sam's. I added some 1/2" plywood to sturdy up the shelves a bit and put a flamable sticker on the outside for those other than myself. It sits in the back corner of my shop.

I was under the understanding that the cabinet didn't require a seal but was mainly to store and protect items from being knocked off shelves and such.

All comments are appreciated.

Thanks, Bill.

 

[opjohnny]

My welding book says seperated by a 5' high wall with a 1/2 hr burn rating or 20' seperation. I like the idea of using an old fridge. I think that would be fine, but I am no firefighter. Ck the door gasket with a dollar bill to see if it is good.



John

 

[rbattelle]

I agree with John - I think this would be an excellent use for an old fridge. I'd suggest gutting anything plastic inside it.

But I think you might want to vent it, rather than leaving it sealed. If it's sealed, any tiny leakage will really concentrate over time, resulting in possible explosion hazard! If possible, consider putting a small metal vent (like a gas water heater) somewhere on it that discharges outside.

If you can't do that, then just be sure not to seal it up so fumes can escape. As others have said, in a shop that large it's highly unlikely fumes would concentrate enough to be dangerous.

Ryan

 

[Skydiver]

Good idea MFalkinham. What I like is the fact that you are "thinking safety".

Rig up some kind of dryer vent allowing the fumes to escape outside. Use the aluminum vent hose as well.

Being a volunteer fire fighter I hate the unknown fact that once inside a burning building that I may knock over a container of fuel. We worked a trailer fire 2 years ago in the bedroom. On the other end of the trailer the owner had 2 gallons of gas under the kitchen sink. The fire was contained to only the bedroom and adj. bathroom.



Tip for the day: Check your electric dryer plug after the unit has ran for 30 minutes. If it is warm to the touch replace it along with the rect. While you are back there remove any lint. Electric dryer plugs use a ton of current and become weak with age. They start to get red hot igniting the lint that is always there which ignites the socks or other items that have fallen behind there. I have worked 3 electric dryer fires. All started the same way. I use a gas dryer.

 

[opjohnny]

I could not decide if the fridge should be vented or not. Does the shop have good ventilation with makeup air? I think the whole point of the fridge is to keep the sparks away from the plastic cans and contain the fumes. Common sense says not to open the door while you are welding nearby. If you open the fridge and smell fumes it is time to replace gaskets on the gas cans. In an ideal situation the shop would have welding hoods and you could tie in the storage cabinet and ventilate it.

 

[MFalkinham]

Thanks, guys. I have made arrangements for a free antique Westinghouse fridge from craigslist that I'll hopefully pick up this weekend. I think it will do the trick, and I can use the door storage shelfs for cans of spray paint, etc.

Like Ryan & Skydiver suggested, I'm going to gut it and cut a hole in the top to vent it outside and prevent fumes from building up. Currently my shop has plenty of "ventilation" due to leaky garage doors. I plan on replacing those doors next year which will seal out the drafts much better. Ultimately as John said I mainly want to prevent stray sparks from landing near cans of flammables, and I think this will do the trick.

When I finish the project I'll post some pics of how it turned out.

 

[kenny61]

I would do two vents. gas vapor is heavier than air so a vent on the top would not let out the buildup so to speak. your top vent would be the inlet and a bottom vent would be the outlet and dont hook it up so the interior light works

 

[Skydiver]

Kenny is correct, vent it at the bottom or bottom side. Just drill some holes in the top for fresh air. You do not want to contain any vapors.

Remember gasoline is not flameable, but the fumes will kill you.