Spontaneous Combustion

[sleepydoc]

This isn't reefing or fish related, but it's definitely DIY-related, and there are a lot of people here who build and finish their own stands, so I thought I'd post it.

If you use oil finishes on any of your projects, make sure to dispose of your rags properly! Linseed and other oils generate heat as they dry and will spontaneously ignite. (I found one test online where they put some rags in a can with a temp probe. The temperature rose to over 500º and ignited the rags in 12 minutes!)

Below are some pictures of a neighbor's house. They finished their deck, then poured water on the rags and threw them in the trash. A short while later, the heat generated had evaporated the water and ignited the rags. Their house is likely a total loss. Fortunately no one was home when the fire occurred, and there were no injuries.

If you have rags like these to dispose of, either lay them flat outside or in a well ventilated area so any heat generated can dissipate, or put them in an airtight metal container.

 

[gone fishin]

Thanks for posting. A good reminder for any stripping or finish job.

 

[davocean]

Paint thinner is one of the most notorious for this as well, one pile of rags, all it takes.
I found it interesting that a new stain I was about to use did come w/ a warning, and advised to wet rags before disposing of them, probably same as those poor folks did.
I am fanatical about letting each rag dry out, usually on prop sticks, NEVER stacked or piled up, no matter what they are.
Good heads up post

 

[gone fishin]

My wife used to laugh at my little clothes line in the shop until I gave her a demonstration.

 

[Misled]

FWIW, don't put the rags in a dryer either.

 

[sleepydoc]

LOL -I hope that advice isn't from personal experience!

 

[billdogg]

My dad gave me a demo years ago that stuck with me quite well. Used rags get spread out flat on the concrete patio for at least 24 hours. Generally, unless the wife complains, I just leave them until trash day.

I've also switched to primarily water based finishes.

 

[ca1ore]

My wife used to laugh at my little clothes line in the shop until I gave her a demonstration.

:lol: I do the same. Make sure they're good and dry before throwing them out.

 

[Rx79394]

I don't really work with linseed oil, but I have heard about how bad this is. I still always end up forgetting to do something with my oily rags in general.

The additional bummer thing about this, your neighbors were being DIYs and it comes to bite them in the butt, so I'm speculating that they will become more hesitant in the future to do something themselves. I can see something like this happening to my wife and I.

 

[bapicella]

That is crazy.