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Thread: PSA/Reminder for everyone

  1. #1
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    Default PSA/Reminder for everyone

    Now this is something I've always known, and have always taken caution with, for decades, except this past weekend. I even thought about it while I was doing it, but figured "fuck it, I'm hungry, and supper is ready"

    ALWAYS SOAK OILY RAGS IN WATER, AND NEVER BUNCH THEM TOGETHER.

    I restained my fence last weekend (see the "what did you do today thread" from a week ago) and it's the type of oil-based where you apply it, then wipe off the excess. So a have a large mittful of these oily rags. Like I said, I was hungry, and hadn't heard of anyone having a fire this way for years, and wrongly assumed the oils we use now are less volatile. So I chucked them all into my (detached) garage garbage can.

    I was in and out of the garage all week going to work. Even threw a few coffee cups in there. Then today, just an hour ago, my wife and I were too hungover to cook supper, so we ordered take-out. As I'm approaching my garage, I can smell something funny, and when I opened the door, the garage was FILLED with smoke.

    Turns out, oil stain is no less volatile than it was back in the day. Good thing we were hungover, otherwise my garage, tools, Merc, and my wife's 72 goat would all be gone.

    Literally a week for that shit to start fire too. Fucking crazy.

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    Yupp, linseed oil covered rags are even more dangerous - crazy how fast they'll heat up. Like 24-48 hours.

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    Dumb question: could you smell the oil in the garage as you went about your business?

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    Not really but I was absolutely gob smacked on how little time it took for those linseed oil soaked rags to get ridiculously hot in a metal garbage can. Another hour or so and I would've had a garbage can fire in my garage. Or worse.
    Last edited by speedog; 06-01-2020 at 12:39 AM.

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    Quote Originally Posted by revelations View Post
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    Dumb question: could you smell the oil in the garage as you went about your business?
    The odor was lightly present through the week if you were close to the can, but didn't get any stronger with time. Until it was smoldering anyways. I was in and out of the garage all day Saturday, and was putting tools away at 10pm, and there wasn't a hint of anything wrong. Sunday I didn't go in there until 6pm when I discovered it.

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    Is it a chemical reaction of some sort?

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    Quote Originally Posted by rx7boi View Post
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    Is it a chemical reaction of some sort?
    Physical reaction, as the volatile compounds evaporate they generate heat. More heat leads to more evaporation, causing the heat to build up faster than it can dissipate. Bonus points for the compounds being combustible.
    Originally posted by Thales of Miletus

    If you think I have been trying to present myself as intellectually superior, then you truly are a dimwit.
    Originally posted by Toma
    fact.
    Quote Originally Posted by Yolobimmer View Post
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    guessing who I might be, psychologizing me with your non existent degree.

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    No shit. This is all news to me. But I've never had to touch "oily rags". ew.

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    Thanks for the reminder/lesson and I'm glad it didn't end in disaster.

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    Quote Originally Posted by Tik-Tok View Post
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    The odor was lightly present through the week if you were close to the can, but didn't get any stronger with time. Until it was smoldering anyways. I was in and out of the garage all day Saturday, and was putting tools away at 10pm, and there wasn't a hint of anything wrong. Sunday I didn't go in there until 6pm when I discovered it.
    Lid on can?

    Reason I ask is that in many of these cases the oil rags were in a sealed container which a) prevent the smell from permeating (and not giving off enough warning) and b) increase the heat in the local environment

    - - - Updated - - -

    Quote Originally Posted by Buster View Post
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    No shit. This is all news to me. But I've never had to touch "oily rags". ew.
    When you do some basic maintenance on your Lambo, you will understand ... haha

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