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Fire Safety issue, not really off topic

One of the things we all do, or at least I assume so, is apply finish to a piece. Some of us use oils and in particular products that are mainly or partially linseed oil, either boiled or raw. Linseed oil in particular cures with an exothermic reaction, that is it gives off heat as it dries. On a piece of wood this is not a problem, not is it on a rag. However, if a pile of rags damp with linseed oil are piled high, they become a fire starter as one heats the other which heats the other and so on until they catch fire. This is why we are incouraged to prevent oily rags from sitting around the shop. I am not sure of the reacion types of other oils, but why take chances? Dispose of them wisely.

Reply to
Darrell Feltmate
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Just pitched mine into the woodstove where they can do some good. Fair's fair, after all, I turned a piece of firewood today....

Matter of fact, made another Feltmate wing. Still haven't sold one, though.

Reply to
George

If the oil hardens as it cures then it is subject to spontaneous combustion. Boiled Linseed and Tung oils are the most common of the hazardous wadded-up rags - along with alkyd paints and varnishes which usually use one or both of these oils in the formula.

Oils derived from petroleum and animals don't cure and thus don't self-combust but are fire hazards in proximity to heat and flames.

To be safe you should do one or more of the following:

1) Not use any product containing a hardening oil. 2) Spread the rag out flat on a non-combustible surface until stiff. 3) Drop the rag into a metal container with a tight fitting lid. 4) Submerge the rag into a container full of water. 5) Place the rag into a fireplace or woodstove and burn it intentionally.

Worst thing to do is place it on, under or near other combustible materials.

Reply to
Owen Lowe

"Owen Lowe" wrote: (clip) Oils derived from petroleum and animals don't cure and thus don't self-combust (clip) ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^ Curing oils like linseed and tung oil, especially with driers added, are the most susceptible to spontaneous combustion. But petroleum oils and other non-curing oils do react with oxygen, so it is possible for them to heat up if improperly handled, i.e., piles of oily rags with poor air circulation. If you Google on accidental spontaneous combustion, you will find that even coal is subject to this phenomenon--and it certainly is not a "curing" oil.

Reply to
Leo Lichtman

I pick door number 4!

I've found that if I'm using an oil that "hardens", the rag is NOT going to ever be soft again if I allow it to dry...

Since I have most of a 5 my 5 gallon can of LDD left, I keep a 5 gallon bucket with a LDD/water mix next to the washer, (which unfortunately is in the shop), and throw all the used rags in it... when It's full, they get dumped into the washer and laundered... works pretty well and might use up this @)*$@*$* LDD some day.. Mac

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Reply to
mac davis

----- Original Message ----- From: "mac davis" Newsgroups: rec.crafts.woodturning Sent: Tuesday, January 24, 2006 12:13 PM Subject: Re: Fire Safety issue, not really off topic

Lyndell

Reply to
Lyndell Thompson

I tried a lot of different methods with the LDD, with the help of our local LDD wizard and Ron Kent's web site, but wasn't happy with the results... color, texture and appearance of the wood just wasn't the same...

I go more with robohippy's method now... turn it thin, sand as much as possible and let um warp...

Mac

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Reply to
mac davis

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