I’ve read comments about the potential for spontaneous combustion of oil soaked rags, and the instructions on the can say to put them into a “sealed metal container with water”. I don’t happen to have any sealable metal containers around for that … . Obviously outside is better than inside, in terms of fire risk, but I don’t exactly want a fire in my outside garbage area either. So, I’m curious what you all do with those rags. I’ve generated two so far, and the first I laid out flat on a cement path outside the house, on the theory that it will dry thoroughly there and cannot generate heat, not being balled up (my assumption is that the heat would be disbursed if the rag is flat – anybody disagree with that?). The other rag I rinsed in the sink and put into a zip lock baggy with a little water (and no air). I checked that it did not leak, and then into the garbage, where hopefully it will not get squashed and leak.
Ideas? Is the danger passed once the rags dries, in which case hanging or laying it out will be safe?
Replies
Jimbo,
They aren't kidding,oily rags will spontaneously ignite. I personally know of two instances where that happened. A friend was finishing a set of windsor chairs, and tossing the rags outside his shop door as they got saturated from wiping down the chairs. Bright sunny day, and the sun was bearing down on the side of his shop. Before he gotr the chairs wiped off, the rags were smoldering.
I, like you, spread them out flat, on a non-combustable surface (concrete) outside, in the shade, till they dry. Then dispose. Alternatively, I toss them in my woodstove, and let them dry there. (Don't care if they ignite there!)
Be safe,
Ray
Just either hang them on a line or spread them out on the ground. Once dry, they are non-toxic and can be disposed of in the normal trash.
IMO putting them in water is not solving the problem. The water is now saturated with chemicals that are toxic and the water must be disposed of properly. My local waste site will not accept rags inside water containers. They must go to an approved, licenced hazardous waste handler.
Thanks - as long as spreading them out to dry on a non-flamable surface (the sidewalk) renders them harmless, that is certainly the easiest solution. Now I can stop looking for sealable metal containers to fill with water.
I agree with the approach to lay the rags out flat on an open area of concrete to dry. I do use, however, a temporary storage method you may consider... the metal popcorn tins sold around the holidays seal nicely. They are about 18 " tall and 12" radius. They are not watertight, but I would never want to add water!
BTW -- Spontaneous combustion is a real concern. The drying process causes an exothermic (releases energy) chemical reaction. Energy is released in the form of heat. This heat, in a concentrated area with flammable material, is enough to ignite.
Hi,
I made a wooden towel holder: it is a simple rectangle that has feet so it stands up, and has two rows. I use paper towels when applying Linceed Oil, and when I am done using a square or two, I open them up and hang them. Because the hang over a wooden bar, air circulates over the entire front and back of the towell. They dry fast. I recommend paper towells as they are way thinner than cloth and the drying time is a day or so, after that they are hard and dry. If I use a lot -I burn them up immediately.
Works for me.
Jim
Hanging them up to dry is the way to go, packing them in water just makes more of a mess and the rags are still hazardous if the water should drain off.
Set up a clothes line, out of the sun if possible, using clothes pins so the rags can't fall off, and let the rags dry for several days until they are stiff. Once they are fully dry, they aren't a hazard, and can be thrown into an outdoor trash can.
For absolute safety, use a metal trash can, with a lid, and keep it away from any building. A fire in a metal can will stay contained and usually go out from lack of oxygen, plastic cans will melt and help to spread the fire. Any trash cans in a shop should be metal with lids that are kept on at all times.
In case you do need airtight cans for any reason, paint stores, hardware stores, and Home Depot all sell clean, empty quart and gallon paint cans. The cans are useful for storing rags you want to keep between steps of finishing.
John W.
Edited 8/30/2004 3:08 pm ET by JohnW
I lay them flat on my floor or drape them over the side of my trash can. As long as they are flat they won't get hot. If I want to store a rag soaked with oil or stain, I fold it as few times as I can & put it in a Ziploc. I squeeze the air out before I seal it & lay the bag flat. There's so little air it can't oxidize fast enough to generate any heat, but it will skin over in a few days. Because I'm kind of anal, I actually monitored the temperature of a BLO soaked rag in a bag & found it never got over room temp, at least to the resolution of my thermocouple indicator - a few degrees.
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