Thread: Please, everyone watch this for your own safety

Yeah, Ive been aware of the danger for a while now and its been pointed out a few times on this forum, even from that benevolent dictator bloke No harm in raising the issue again though for those not in the know. I make sure I wash out linseed oil rags thoroughly with soap and water then hide it in the washing machine

Yep, well aware of the potential. Quite a few renovated homes have been lost to fires generated from "oily rags."

Best solution is to remove them to dry out in the open, or alternatively soak them fully immersed in a metal bucket full of water.

It is a very well done demonstration on how easy it can happen.
As shown it happens when least expected and at any time.

We should also consider the fact that there are other processes and products that we commonly use that create an exothermic (energy/heat is given off) reaction. When the "right" circumstances / ambient conditions / sufficient materials / poor housekeeping / etc exist it can result in a runaway with the potential to create a fire.

"Epoxy cures through an exothermic (heat generating) reaction. If left to cure in a contained mass, (e.g., a mixing pot) it can generate enough heat to melt the plastic and burn your skin. It can also ignite any combustible materials nearby."

Any polymerization reaction (mixing part A & B) typically generates heat. Typically, we rely only upon the natural convection of air (movement) around the mix to cool it, and portioning quantities to manage the heat. That is why suppliers recommend mixing epoxy resins in small batches, spread the mix to extend working time etc as one large "glob" of epoxy generates heat that is not as easily released to the surrounding air, and hastens the polymerization reaction.

There are others such as a CA spill which has the potential to reach a runaway exothermic reaction, especially if bulk cotton rags are used to mop up the spill, or someone decides to give it a good squirt of accelerator.

Any runaway exothermic reaction can be hazardous!

This is interesting reading. It also indicates how effective fire sprinklers can be in containing a fire.
One Meridian Plaza - Wikipedia

Oily rags: spontaneous insurance scam? (Part: 1) - YouTube

Originally Posted by Handyjack

This is interesting reading. It also indicates how effective fire sprinklers can be in containing a fire.
One Meridian Plaza - Wikipedia

I used to install & service sprinkler systems to a lot of different structures/buildings around Sydney

a lot of things that were organic based were suspect, ie cotton dust in the ceiling space at industrial dry cleaners, residue build up around machinery at kelloggs, but the most volitile was grain silos at st mary's, we got called out there after the sprinklers had activated in a silo full of seed on a hot day,
we reset it all,but it had reactivated before we were 25 minutes away due to the now wet seeds germinating in the silo and creating more heat

most of the furniture factories had rules governing storage and disposal of varnish/oil soaked rags

Thanks for posting this. A very good reminder. In my space all oily rags go in a metal tin of water, outside the building, and stay there until hard. Always and every time. I use a 10 litre paint tin and have been using the same one for many years.

stay safe. We all have far too much capital tied up in tools, equipment and materials to be even the x slightest bit complacent.

best always
b