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Posted: 6/8/2014 5:42:41 PM EDT
[#1]
Any organic oil can decompose and spontaneously ignite cotton rags. To prevent this, always spread the oil soaked rags out over a non-combustible surface (metal. concrete) and allow them to dry before discarding them. Do not put them in a pile or container where heat can build up.
No, the treated wood will not spontaneously combust. |
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Posted: 6/8/2014 5:42:53 PM EDT
[#2]
When you finish w/ the contaminated linseed app rag, place it into an airtight metal trash can w/ lid.
Since I don't have that, I preempt the coming fire by throwing it on an old barbecue and lighting it w/ a match. "Yeah, it's real, and can be a problem." |
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Posted: 6/8/2014 5:44:12 PM EDT
[#3]
NOT on finished wood
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Posted: 6/8/2014 5:46:24 PM EDT
[#4]
TheOx nailed it. I've seen 2 fires started that way.
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Posted: 6/8/2014 5:46:46 PM EDT
[#5]
Lots of old military wood stocks have been treated with a linseed oil mixture over the years. No unusual fire hazard there, but the real danger is in the used rags containing the oil.
Metal container for the used rags as they can ignite. |
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Posted: 6/8/2014 5:47:42 PM EDT
[#6]
Quote HistoryQuoted: Any organic oil can decompose and spontaneously ignite cotton rags. To prevent this, always spread the oil soaked rags out over a non-combustible surface (metal. concrete) and allow them to dry before discarding them. Do not put them in a pile or container where heat can build up. No, the treated wood will not spontaneously combust. FPNI |
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Posted: 6/8/2014 5:48:29 PM EDT
[#7]
Quote HistoryQuoted:
When you finish w/ the contaminated linseed app rag, place it into an airtight metal trash can w/ lid. I shouldn't have laughed at that, but I did. Just don't seal it up, let it breathe while the volatiles evaporate |
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Posted: 6/8/2014 5:50:59 PM EDT
[#8]
Years ago I found a oilsoaked rag smoking after I discarded it improperly. Now I soak them in water and leave them outside overnight.
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Posted: 6/8/2014 5:56:31 PM EDT
[#9]
Any rag that gets any kind of oil on it gets tossed into a steel can, taken outside and burned at the Piccolo residence.
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Posted: 6/8/2014 5:59:23 PM EDT
[#10]
Yes it can. Used a product called "Detail Doctor" on the wifes show truck.
Then proceeded to throw the rags into a plastic bucket, Like we do with all car wax gear. Two hours later we were ready to leave the car show. Thought I would check and make sure the tonneau was latched. Opened the tail gate and was greeted with a cloud of white smoke. Plastic bucket was melted down one side and rags were glowing. Thankfully, no damage to the truck. But yes Linseed oil containing products are nothing to screw with. They will cause spontaneously combustion. P.S. Saw a program on king Tut yesterday. Apparently the skin of the mummy and the first layers of wrappings were burnt. They surmise that his mummification was a rush job and the embalming oils were not dried.He probably cooked for a few days or weeks after they sealed him in the coffin. |
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Posted: 6/8/2014 6:02:50 PM EDT
[#11]
Linseed oil, which is the same as flaxseed, is an oil that produces polymers. That's why it's so nice to put on cutting boards and such (not boiled linseed oil, has chemicals and is not food safe)
This polymerizing is exothermic, and produces heat. At least that's my understanding. It's readily oxidizing. It would be cool to see a chemistry expert write the equation for this. I've been trying to explain the difference between linseed oil and mineral oil and why it protects wood better. |
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Posted: 6/8/2014 6:04:50 PM EDT
[#12]
Thanks guys! Just wanted to make sure it was safe on the wood.
Does storage of the container of oil need any special treatment? I live in an apartment and I want to make sure. |
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Posted: 6/8/2014 6:04:54 PM EDT
[#13]
Quote HistoryQuoted:
I shouldn't have laughed at that, but I did. Just don't seal it up, let it breathe while the volatiles evaporate Quote HistoryQuoted:
Quoted:
When you finish w/ the contaminated linseed app rag, place it into an airtight metal trash can w/ lid. I shouldn't have laughed at that, but I did. Just don't seal it up, let it breathe while the volatiles evaporate That is what the safety vid. at school told us to do. I've only run into this issue from refinishing surplus rifle stocks. |
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Posted: 6/8/2014 6:05:03 PM EDT
[#14]
I always soak the used rags in water and lay them out flat on the gravel overnight until dry.
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Posted: 6/8/2014 6:07:02 PM EDT
[#15]
I always spread the rags on the driveway and let them dry before I toss them. They will get hot to the touch if you leave them wadded up.
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Posted: 6/8/2014 6:17:24 PM EDT
[#16]
Quote HistoryQuoted:
But yes Linseed oil containing products are nothing to screw with. They will cause spontaneously combustion. One of the first fires I ever went to was in an Italiante house that they were modeling using "authentic" methods. The guys redoing the floor were used to modern materials and threw all the rags into a pile in a niche. As fate would have it, it was just poorly vented enough to not allow the rags to cool. Heat built and was retained, then built more.... Next thing you know the neighbors are reporting the house is on fire. 
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Posted: 6/8/2014 6:24:10 PM EDT
[#17]
Never seen wood treated with it combust.
The rags are best put in an air tight container with, or without water and disposed of. |
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Posted: 6/8/2014 6:29:24 PM EDT
[#18]
Quote HistoryQuoted: Linseed oil, which is the same as flaxseed, is an oil that produces polymers. That's why it's so nice to put on cutting boards and such (not boiled linseed oil, has chemicals and is not food safe) This polymerizing is exothermic, and produces heat. At least that's my understanding. It's readily oxidizing. It would be cool to see a chemistry expert write the equation for this. I've been trying to explain the difference between linseed oil and mineral oil and why it protects wood better. www.firesciencereviews.com/content/pdf/2193-0414-1-3.pdf 36-page paper describing the chemistry  |
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Posted: 6/8/2014 6:33:12 PM EDT
[#19]
As has been stated.
Just drape the rags over something outside away from any structure (as you would a towel). Can be on metal, garbage can, etc... I personally use a plastic garbage can and spread the rags around the rim (none on top of each other). Give them a week and they will be dry and hardened and no danger, then I dispose of them in the trash. No need to put them in a can, burn them, or anything else. |
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Posted: 6/8/2014 6:43:29 PM EDT
[#20]
Don't use linseed oil on your project, you'll be disappointed with the time to dry.
A real simple finish is clear Minwax polyurethane from a (oh, my God) aerosol can. But I violate the directions by wiping the finish after spraying to drive it into the wood. The result will be soft with the look of a traditional hand rubbed oil finish with light years less work, plus it will be waterproof. |
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Posted: 6/8/2014 6:45:51 PM EDT
[#21]
Quote HistoryQuoted:
Thanks guys! Just wanted to make sure it was safe on the wood. Does storage of the container of oil need any special treatment? I live in an apartment and I want to make sure. Not a problem. Store it in the original container. Have you noticed the hardware and paint stores burning down? |
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Posted: 6/8/2014 6:48:49 PM EDT
[#22]
It's real. A few yrs ago my sister was wiping down some outdoor furniture with boiled linseed oil and left a bunch of saturated rags in a bucket inside the attached garage. It didn't burn the house down, but she got a real smoky fire that forced them out of the home for a month while a fire restoration crew cleaned the mess.
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Posted: 6/19/2014 8:57:29 PM EDT
[#23]
Quote HistoryQuoted:
Any organic oil can decompose and spontaneously ignite cotton rags. To prevent this, always spread the oil soaked rags out over a non-combustible surface (metal. concrete) and allow them to dry before discarding them. Do not put them in a pile or container where heat can build up. No, the treated wood will not spontaneously combust. This is all correct |
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Posted: 6/19/2014 9:00:02 PM EDT
[#24]
I have been on a few fires over the years from this.
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Posted: 6/19/2014 9:05:55 PM EDT
[#25]
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Posted: 6/19/2014 9:11:37 PM EDT
[#26]
It darn near burnt down my uncles house. It was a minor miracle that we happened to be in the area. Put it out right quick before it got going real good.
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Posted: 6/19/2014 9:14:08 PM EDT
[#27]
I would like to add a eye opener that I had at my house. Stained a crib, and I used a couple microfiber cloths to wipe off the excess. Placed them in a plastic bag, and set left it on the garage floor. I left the house to go offshore. When I came home, the bag of rags was a burnt like of ashes where I had left it. Nearly burned my house to the ground, as it was less than 2 feet from a monstrous pile of sawdust and wood shavings.
Microfiber towels + wood stain = fire. Bad. 
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Posted: 6/19/2014 9:18:50 PM EDT
[#28]
Neighbor growing up BBQ'd their house with a blo rag fire. They had a monte carlo parked in front of the garage, back half was fine, melted the engine and wheels off the front half.
Do you have a spare ammo can around? they work perfect for tossing the rags in a sealing it up. |
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Posted: 6/19/2014 9:27:51 PM EDT
[#29]
Many years ago when oil based paint was still readily available and common (at least in CA) we used it to paint the kitchen and bathroom. I threw a bunch of paint and paint thinner soaked rags into the trash can outside (plastic, hot summer day). My dad came home from work and he almost shit a brick when he saw me throwing in the last of the rags and other painting supplies into the trash. Yelled at me good, demanded I pick all of them out of the trash, and turned the hose on the trash can to soak the rest of the stuff in water. To say he was pissed was an understatement. I don't think he slept well that night worrying about the trash bursting into flames.
Of course, I knew I shouldn't have done any of that but was just being lazy. After that, I now always lay oily rags of any kind on the driveway to dry out overnight and throw them out when they're dry and crusty. OP- BLO will have an odor for a good while as it dries and cures. It might suck in an apartment. Might want to try shellac. It's alcohol based and dries fast, doesn't really smell, and is non toxic when dry. You can get it in cans to brush and spray cans also. If you're feeling ambitious you can even make your own with denatured alcohol and shellac flakes. There's a clear and amber shellac, the amber will give the wood the "warm glow" that oil does. |
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Posted: 6/19/2014 9:34:49 PM EDT
[#30]
Quote HistoryQuoted:
OP- BLO will have an odor for a good while as it dries and cures. It might suck in an apartment. Might want to try shellac. It's alcohol based and dries fast, doesn't really smell, and is non toxic when dry. You can get it in cans to brush and spray cans also. If you're feeling ambitious you can even make your own with denatured alcohol and shellac flakes. There's a clear and amber shellac, the amber will give the wood the "warm glow" that oil does. Why not get both? |
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Posted: 6/19/2014 9:51:54 PM EDT
[#31]
I investigated a fire at a cannery that turned to have been caused by spilled fish oil that had been wiped up with absorbent pads and improperly disposed of .The problem is usually that the rags are put in a refuse container and then covered with other stuff that insulates it and keeps the produced heat from dissipating .Heat builds up ,trouble!
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Posted: 6/19/2014 10:21:54 PM EDT
[#32]
My wife's uncle lost a shop and a boat to BLO rags a few years back. Did some furniture work in the morning, tossed them in a bucket next to their detached shop, and several hours later after baking in the central Oregon summer sun, he walked outside to see the whole side of the shop up in flames.
He was able to pull out an ATV and some other things out but couldn't move the truck around in time to pull out the boat. He got a nice aluminum river boat out of the payout I always lay them out flat at the end of the driveway, anchored down with a rock or something. Once most of the BLO has dried you can clean them. |
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Posted: 6/19/2014 10:59:12 PM EDT
[#33]
The oil oxidizes when exposed to oxygen in the air. Normally not a problem. Put it on a rag and you increase the surface area exposed to oxygen many times, it now becomes a problem.
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