Yes that's right my compressor caught on fire. I was painting a couple nights ago and my wife said something smelled like it was burning. So I unplugged the compressor and quit painting. Yesterday I took it apart. I cleaned and oiled all moving parts that I could see. I used contact cleaner and air to clean it. Any way I luckily left the cover off, plugged it in and turned it on. It ran for about a minute all seemed well. No burning odors. Then all of a sudden it was on fire. I tried to blow it out but even though some say I am full of hot air not enough hot air to blow it out. I drug it out of my shed where I was working on it (not in the house luckily) into the rain where it was extinguished by the rain. The only thing I can figure is some contact cleaner was still in it and something sparked. Needless to say I now have a new compressor.
Yikes Les! Hmmmm, I wonder what the first burning smell was? Maybe whatever was causing that problem at first ultimately ignited later? Glad you were able to catch it fast and take advantage of the rain! Enjoy your new compressor. You bought the "non-smoking" version this time around, right?
Ralph
The original was non smoking. My son got me the new one today it was a surprise for me. I used to get my boys happy Saturday gifts as children. I guess now its his turn. By the way it is same brand as the original one, Campbell Hausfelt spelling probably wrong.
Lester Perry Wrote:The original was non smoking. My son got me the new one today it was a surprise for me. I used to get my boys happy Saturday gifts as children. I guess now its his turn. By the way it is same brand as the original one, Campbell Hausfelt spelling probably wrong.
I wondered what that smell was!!
Glad it all worked out in the end for ya....
ngauger Wrote:I wondered what that smell was!! Glad it all worked out in the end for ya....
Oh come on man it wasn't that bad. By the way I was in your neighborhood yesterday. Just loafing, Wife and I went over del mem br to Nj loafed our way to comm barry and got off first exit, nice area. We finally found nicer area. Guess where that was. Then jumped on 95s to 322w to 1 and loafed our way home. Nice day of doing nothing. when got home set a compressor on fire.
Les what brand of contact cleaner was that Conoco or shell ?
people think I'm paranoid because i have three fire extingers in my shop .
I have a fire extinguisher in my shop but the door was closer. Also why waste an extinguisher on a burned up compressor? A quick yank on the cord and it was in the rain, the door was open.
That's neat you were loafing
I do that in Chester County - even nicer area
Most spray type cleaners are flammable. The solvents that are designed to evaporate rapidly to leave everything dry are generally some sort of petroleum distilate. The safest way to do it is once you have used any sort of spray cleaner on an electrical component, leave it unplugged for a few hours to allow all of the solvents to dissipate.
Russ Bellinis Wrote:Most spray type cleaners are flammable. The solvents that are designed to evaporate rapidly to leave everything dry are generally some sort of petroleum distilate. The safest way to do it is once you have used any sort of spray cleaner on an electrical component, leave it unplugged for a few hours to allow all of the solvents to dissipate.
Russ the electrical contact cleaner i use is a CRC product and it is non flammable. as you said flammable and electronics are not a good combination, but most spray cleaners are so check your cans and get one that is for electronic use. other than that use Russes advice.
Jim
ezdays Wrote:ngauger Wrote:That's neat you were loafing I do that in Chester County - even nicer area
Uh, gee Mikey, I thought you loafed in more than than just one county. 
Les, with what you've been through in the past few years, I'm very glad that didn't end up being worse. Glad you didn't lose anymore than a compressor.
I'm with Micheal. Glad it was just a compressor.
Hey... Are you willing to testify that the fire was, in fact, accidental? I see clear motive, and opportunity.
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