Field Report : Can you fire proof valuables in drywall mud?

[Pamcake]

In addition to still being moist on the inside, as a possible factor in the survival of the paper, do you have any idea how hot your fire was, vs. how hot house fires get?

Another factor could be length of exposure... house fires last longer than 30 minutes (ours actually burned for days if you count the recurent flame-ups)

I'm not trying to be negative here, but "speaking from experience" I'd like to know the final answer! It sure sounds like a great concept!

(p.s. FWIW, the safe contents in the basement did remarkably well for the heat & firefighting exposures, was a Liberty safe if you want to know)

[Archbishop]

Originally Posted by Pamcake

In addition to still being moist on the inside, as a possible factor in the survival of the paper, do you have any idea how hot your fire was, vs. how hot house fires get?

Another factor could be length of exposure... house fires last longer than 30 minutes (ours actually burned for days if you count the recurent flame-ups)

I'm not trying to be negative here, but "speaking from experience" I'd like to know the final answer! It sure sounds like a great concept!

(p.s. FWIW, the safe contents in the basement did remarkably well for the heat & firefighting exposures, was a Liberty safe if you want to know)

While the moisture probably helped I would doubt that it would effect it too much. I could handle the inside of the brick without getting burned. As for temperatures it was of course a pretty good fire, but without a really good thermometer, who knows? I will probably try this again sometime, but with drywall sheets in a box form. I will see if I can donate an oven thermometer to the experiment for better data. I don't think your comments are negative, but remember this is me in my back yard with less than $5 bucks thrown at this experiment. If you want a better final answer buy one of the safes that has been tested in labs.

[SmileDocHill]

Awesome!
If I am picturing your experiment right the contents are totally embedded in the gypsum. An additional layer of protection that your design has is that this will greatly limit the amount of oxygen in the center that would be needed to burn the contents. I would be interested to see if the less air tight, removable lid design results in some more oxidation if not flame. It may well be deflecting and retarding heat well enough to not get to temp.

[55spartan]

man thanks for taking the time and trouble to do that.

[dave29]

Nice work, thanks for the cool idea!

[Indy_Guy_77]

With the moisture that you found on the inside...

I'd be willing to bet that if the fire were hotter, that the whole thing would've "exploded" due the moisture.

Ever build a huge bonfire on an old silo pad? Or get "river rocks" to build a fire ring with? They 'splode.

-J-

[Archbishop]

There will be a next time as some of the comments have got me thinking further. Next time I'll build a box several layers thick from a sheet of drywall and I will include an oven thermometer in the blaze so we know how hot it actually gets.

[IndyBeerman]

How about a 5 gallon bucket with a drywall plug style top so that it seals when inserted so it can be removed when needed.

Least 4 inches thick, may need a drying time of several weeks to get the moisture out right.

[HICKMAN]

pretty good test idea there, thanks

[redneckmedic]

What about this?