Fire hazard.

[Uruk-Hai]

Hi Figureteers!

Has anyone thought about the fire hazard when drilling holes in our plinths? Especially the ones made of harder and dencer wood.

The drill has to work hard on high speed causing friction, thus causing heat. Be careful as the glow can hold out for several days once it has been made. And sometimes is so small you cant even see smoke.

Cheers
Janne Nilsson

 

[Mark S]

I must remember to take a couple of plinths to rub together next time I go camping............get my scout plinth badge.

 

[Uruk-Hai]

The principle is the same. Thus the motor drill and still causing more friction than you can ever hope for rubbing two plinths with those old hand of yours.

Is it just me with a high speed motor tool that see the burnt almost glowing pieces coming out of the drilled hole? You do get a burn should they land on a exposed piece of your hand.

Cheers
Janne Nilsson

 

[ChaosCossack]

I get what you are saying... high speed drilling can cause heat. To avoid this, either slow down the rpm on your drill or (better yet) drill only for a few seconds, remove the bit from the wood for a few seconds, go a little deeper, rest again etc etc until you've gone the depth you need.
This does a couple of things... starting and stopping doesn't let the wood or the bit to get too hot... it clears sawdust from the twist of the bit which lets the bit cut better and the dust will ignite long before a solid piece of hardwood... and finally, your (expensive) drill bits will last longer and work much better.

Colin

 

[Helm]

Wot Colin said
Steve

 

[Uruk-Hai]

I was merely giving a heads up, if someone missed this so that they could avoid a fire breaking out. Have not seen it discussed before.
Usually this is not a problem in regular carpenting but given our love for exotic wood and its harder denceity I think it could be brought to attention.

Especially if someone sweeps the hot sawdust in the paperbin.

Cheers
Janne Nilsson

 

[IIICorps]

...The drill has to work hard on high speed causing friction, thus causing heat. Be careful as the glow can hold out for several days once it has been made. And sometimes is so small you cant even see smoke...

Time for a set of new sharp drill bits.

 

[pmfs]

Hi!

At beginning when drilling my wood bases they came out a smoke that I dont like. The last base I watered the drill and decrease the speed of my Proxxon and stuck 3 times in the hole and no smoke appears or I did not notice.

Pedro.

 

[John Bowery]

Just consider how long a wood fire smoulders before it finally goes out. In our fire place it is 3 hours or more.
It is a point to consider. Also the plains Indians when they broke camp, put a hot ember in a container and lit the next camp fire when they stopped for the night with the ember they had traveled with.
Cheers
John

 

[ChaosCossack]

So true John.
The way I was taught, if you take a 2''x2'' chunk of hot charcoal, pack it in ashes, wrapped in a couple of layers of leaves and carry it in a leather bag... it can last the better part of the day. At the end of your portage, just drop the ember in a pile of shavings and kindling and poof!!! Instant campfire!!!
You don't want that on your workbench!

Janne, you brought up and interesting safety issue that probably hadn't occured to most of us... myself included. The main reason I drill in the technique I described above is to make my drillbits last longer... I never thought of potential fire... thanks for bringing it up!
You get to wear the "Smokey the Bear" hat from now on.

Cheers

Colin

 

[brian]

Am I missing something here?I drill the base and check for any flames emitting from the hole.if not proceed as normal.Voila!!!!!
Brian

 

[ChaosCossack]

Not quite flames... more just sawdust that may start smoldering if the drill bit is allowed to get too hot.