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A disaster that was nearly a catastophy
splitrivet - 5/4/09 at 08:46 PM

While working on the car today I slipped and fell against my mig welder, unfortunately the chain holding the gas bottle hadnt caught properly sending the 6ft bottle toppling towards the car. It fell on my nice chrome exhaust heatshield and dented it and broke a exhaust bobbin. But it could have been much worse if it fell at a slightly different angle it would have landed right on top of the scuttle and bonnet.

Got to try and get the ding out of the shield now, all I need 2 weeks from SVA.
Cheers,
Bob


David Jenkins - 5/4/09 at 08:49 PM

I feel your pain! (see my post about dropping the bonnet...)

It would have been even more exciting if you'd knocked the valve off the bottle - almost impossible to do, thankfully!


ashg - 5/4/09 at 09:02 PM

forget the car your lucky that you didnt knock the valve off and take a wall out


clairetoo - 5/4/09 at 09:04 PM

quote:
Originally posted by David Jenkins

It would have been even more exciting if you'd knocked the valve off the bottle - almost impossible to do, thankfully!

I've managed to knock over a cylinder and snap the regulator off
Luckily it wasnt turned on............


splitrivet - 5/4/09 at 09:08 PM

I was the valve guard that landed on the exhaust, thinking about it It was only the gas line being in place that pulled the bottle away from the car, so someone up there likes me...but not much.
Cheers,
Bob


handyandy - 5/4/09 at 10:02 PM

as said, just be glad the regulator didn,t get snapped off & hope that you are ok after your slip/fall ?
i spent day in garage tack welding / building my chassis, ended up with couple of stitches in top of my head
bent down to unplug angry grinder as don,t like too many things plugged in whilst i,m welding, banged my head on a shelf as i was standing back up, ouch was the word i used!! (not), thing is i avoid that shelf at least 50 times a day???? but it got me in the end, time to remove the bl@@dy thing, laughs.
andy


James - 5/4/09 at 10:15 PM

quote:
Originally posted by clairetoo
quote:
Originally posted by David Jenkins

It would have been even more exciting if you'd knocked the valve off the bottle - almost impossible to do, thankfully!

I've managed to knock over a cylinder and snap the regulator off
Luckily it wasnt turned on............


I've done it too!

I was going to move the welder and bottle so unchained it.
Then I picked up the welder and walked away with it still attached to the bottle.

Pulled the bottle over which snapped off the regulator.

I'd only *just* turned the main tap off... as a safety precaution as I was moving it.

Ned turned up just after that... I was still shaking with fear at what could have happened it I'd not turned the tap off! lol!


Cheers,
James

[Edited on 5/4/09 by James]


mad4x4 - 6/4/09 at 06:55 AM

****TOP TIP *****


My big bottle sits chained to the wall, I went onto ebay and 2x bought 10m Air hose and some couplers and ran that from the bottle to the Welder. I then use the 2nd hose if I need to get the welder out down the drive to work on the back of the landrover etc.

Now I can move my welder round with out fear of a a "big" bottle tipping the welder. Also make welder easier to move.


splitrivet - 6/4/09 at 08:54 AM

quote:
Originally posted by mad4x4
****TOP TIP *****


My big bottle sits chained to the wall, I went onto ebay and 2x bought 10m Air hose and some couplers and ran that from the bottle to the Welder. I then use the 2nd hose if I need to get the welder out down the drive to work on the back of the landrover etc.

Now I can move my welder round with out fear of a a "big" bottle tipping the welder. Also make welder easier to move.


What a cracking idea.
Cheers,
Bob


Fred W B - 6/4/09 at 05:51 PM

quote:

My big bottle sits chained to the wall,



Exactly what I have done, as said a long hose makes moving the welder so much easier

Cheers

Fred W B