I took my roadster to a local car gathering but didn't stay long. When I got home I smelled something burning but couldn't figure out what it was at first. A few minutes later I see some oily rags smoldering on top of a towel and some cardboard boxes. It also melted a camera case nearby. I scooped up everything and set it on the gr*** behind my shop. Before I could get a hose the towel started on fire. I was able to quickly put it out and nothing major was harmed. Had I stayed at the car gathering another hour my shop might have burned down. It was all my fault since earlier in the day I gave my wife some rags and boiled linseed oil to wipe down some wooden tables and when she was done I set the rags on a work bench. DUMB IDEA!!! I was very lucky and post this so others (who probably already know better) don't save oily rags. Thanks to other posts I now protect my hands, eyes, lungs etc better and now I'll be more fire safe.
wait so the oily rag caught on fire by itself? what am i missing something? why is this the first time ive ever heard about this?
just a heads up along the ame line ......... a bale of hay thats damp in the middle will do the same , we use alot for animal bedding and for clean up around the farm and shops ...... spread those rags out before you toss them
I have fought more that one garage/house fire caused by this, any refinishing chemicals, be it stain, or the oil based protectants, such as linseed oil or tung oil are possible candidates. Engine oil, especially used oil with some gasoline in it is also very capable of it. If you use a rag for anything in the shop, it is best to place it in a metal can with a tight lid, this prevents oxygen from entering the equation, and causing it not to combust. This is a major factor in the development of the disposable shop towels, but if you just throw them in the uncovered trash can, it can still happen. Be safe.
Wow, someone was looking out for you today ! That could have been really bad. I never knew that about linseed oil. Don
Glad to hear a happy ending to your story and the worst of it is just a simple lesson. Thanks for sharing.
*********************************************** Big....was this posted tongue-in-cheek, or is it a genuine question? (I know......you found a ****er, and now you can set the hook. ) Roger
I was warned about it when I was a kid working with my dad. He was a master woodworker and the rags always went out in his safety can, which was left outside. I use it for pin striping and the rags go in the trash after they sit outside for a while to let most of it dissipate. Bob
Greetings! Learned about this a long time ago in high-school wood shop, whenever I stain, linseed oil or tongue-oil anything and need to apply another coat I throw the rag in a plastic bag and put it in the freezer, kind of hard to have spontanious combustion a**** the popcicles. If I'm done with the project the rag goes out on the concrete to dry, or in the fire. The lesson here is to always read the can before you use the product.
I refinish wood floors as a living and have heard nightmares about oil based stain with piles of rags, most do not end up good. Yes they will combust on their own. Glad you caught it in time. Makes you think someone up above is looking out for ya. I drove my off topic truck to the mail only to find no brakes and rusted out rear brake line, wife and kids were planning a 100+ mile trip the next day with that vehicle.
Or... you could just take it outside & light it! Just speed the combustion process up a little! I believe Reggie Jackson (I think that's his name - some famous baseball player) had a whole car collection/museum lost due to this phenomenon in the 80's. I think it had at least one original Cobra lost in the fire.
genuine! i remember taking wood shop in school, you think they would have said something about this? or maybe they did and i dont remember? stupid beer and girls got in the way of remembering important things like, getting to cl*** on time, my books, homework! you know..........but really i didnt know at all. i learned something new today! rad!
I've known about this for years, but got careless. I'm going out this morning to look for other things that can cause problems.
you here about this alot. linseed oil is known for this. people do projects in the ba*****t, leave the rags in a pile and next thing the house is gone. crazy to think things can catch on fire all by itself.
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