If or when a fire strikes - what to do

[Kev Williams]

As I said, I can't imagine anything I would put inside my laser ...

[Rich Harman]

As I said, I can't imagine anything I would put inside my laser ...

I'm having trouble imagining what you could put in your laser that could catch fire but easily be put out with a damp towel - but not turn into a bigger fire if left unattended.

[Dave Sheldrake]

there was a good reason for it being 999 in the UK, doesnt apply anymore since the advent of push button phones

something like to prevent accidentally miss-dialling wasn't it Matt?

[Dave Sheldrake]

I'm having trouble imagining what you could put in your laser that could catch fire but easily be put out with a damp towel - but not turn into a bigger fire if left unattended.

Same Rich, no fire ever starts big...they just get that way quickly

[Bert Kemp]

Well see that's the thing, to prevent the bigger fires you have to be there when the small fire starts. (and they will)
When I had my first laser I had a fire due to I wasn't watching it. It was less then 3 feet away on my left as I was sitting at the computer doing something and glancing over at the laser every now and then. I had a piece of 1/4 BB that caught fire on the bottom side and of course the exhaust was sucking the smoke and flame down and out so I didn't think anything was wrong at a glance. Till the wood burned thru to the top of the sheet and now the whole sheets on fire and the belts, and plastic wheels on the carriage and poof major rebuild job. OH Kev it was a small sheet of BB 9x12)
I was lucky I was in the room and not out cooking breakfast or something as I had done in the past. I was a newbie and didn't realize how quickly things can get out of control. I could have burned down the house real easy.
So now I stand there and watch it and have a spray bottle right there. I also have a Co2 in the Kitchen which is about 10 feet from the laser.

[Mark Ross]

Last step...

Empty underwear.

[Graham Taylor]

So in people's experience, the most fire susceptable material is paper/card (?) down to anodised aluminium (?) and I assume that engraving or just cutting also has an effect on the materials position in this list.

So, in people's experience, what is the list from most to best fire resistant material with regards to what people put in their lasers?

[Rich Harman]

So, in people's experience, what is the list from most to best fire resistant material with regards to what people put in their lasers?

There is nothing that can burn but can't develop into a fire. If you can cut it, it can probably start a fire. Not much point in ranking them since they are all equally capable of burning down your shop/house.

I use a strong air assist and never get a flare up. At least as long as everything works as intended. Many things could happen to change that, doesn't matter what the material is.

[Ed Maloney]

A couple of years ago a new customer called me and said he needed a new person to do laser engraving of some awards. I asked him what happened to the guy that was doing the work before. Turns out the guy had 2 lasers in his house and while running a job on both lasers he decided to go out to lunch. When he returned he had no lasers or a house either.

[Keith Winter]

Bert forgive my ignorance, but what's BB? Baltic Birch?

Well see that's the thing, to prevent the bigger fires you have to be there when the small fire starts. (and they will)
When I had my first laser I had a fire due to I wasn't watching it. It was less then 3 feet away on my left as I was sitting at the computer doing something and glancing over at the laser every now and then. I had a piece of 1/4 BB that caught fire on the bottom side and of course the exhaust was sucking the smoke and flame down and out so I didn't think anything was wrong at a glance. Till the wood burned thru to the top of the sheet and now the whole sheets on fire and the belts, and plastic wheels on the carriage and poof major rebuild job. OH Kev it was a small sheet of BB 9x12)
I was lucky I was in the room and not out cooking breakfast or something as I had done in the past. I was a newbie and didn't realize how quickly things can get out of control. I could have burned down the house real easy.
So now I stand there and watch it and have a spray bottle right there. I also have a Co2 in the Kitchen which is about 10 feet from the laser.

[Keith Winter]

WOW that's terrible.

A couple of years ago a new customer called me and said he needed a new person to do laser engraving of some awards. I asked him what happened to the guy that was doing the work before. Turns out the guy had 2 lasers in his house and while running a job on both lasers he decided to go out to lunch. When he returned he had no lasers or a house either.

[Bert Kemp]

Bert forgive my ignorance, but what's BB? Baltic Birch?

yes Baltic Birch

[Kev Williams]

I'm having trouble imagining what you could put in your laser that could catch fire but easily be put out with a damp towel - but not turn into a bigger fire if left unattended.

I've started transfer tape on fire a few times. I've caught a sheet of paper on fire a couple of times. Towels put those out. Most of my fires are of stuff in the laser I'm not even engraving, started by the beam before it gets to the lens-boxes taller than the beam path, gloves that I laid on the edge of the cabinet that hung over... Bad habit I have, leaving stuff in or around the cabinet, but I'm working on it...

I've never caught Rowmark or plex on fire. Or wood. And I do a lot of stainless and aluminum.