bluedog225
Well-known member
Are the oily metal shaving from the press a fire hazard? Or can I just toss them in a bucket? I’d hate to find out the hard way.
Thanks
Thanks
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Drill press waste
- Thread starter bluedog225
- Start date
Packard V8
Well-known member
Just steel shaving waste hasn't caused a fire for me in sixty years. Just don't mix in oily rags or other chemical waste.
jack vines
jack vines
RedneckWelder
Well-known member
Shouldn’t be a problem unless you have unusual flammability risks in your shop.
keep them separate from rags & combustible stuff( spontaneous combustion) , you'll be OK.
Renegade1LI
Well-known member
I've been sucking them up with a shop vac forever, gets the table clean, than wipe down with some brake cleaner.
Lorydr
Well-known member
A shop I worked at kept brass chips, from the countless holes we drilled. They could be used to scour the inside of a tank. Or just to melt down to a slabby chunk. Maybe possible as blast media???
anndel
Well-known member
No issues drilling and using cutting oil, even WD-40 as cutting fluid. It just smokes a bit but no fires in over 40 years.
rlitman
Well-known member
You're not drilling magnesium, right?
OP
bluedog225
Well-known member
I am curious. Can I drill magnesium? The shavings make great fire starter.
Ole Slewfoot
Well-known member
Machine swarf makes roses nice n red.
fatfillup
Well-known member
OP, great question, glad you are thinking about fire safety.
oil needs wick to get started . a rag soaked in oil is the wick.
also an oily rag can spontaneously combust . Linseed oil is pretty much guaranteed to spontaneous combust
Add aluminum to that list, at least for very fine shavings.
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dustsafetyscience.com
If you're making powdered aluminum on a drill press, you're doing something very wrong!Add aluminum to that list, at least for very fine shavings.
Causes, Examples, and Preventions of Metal Dust Explosion - Dust Safety Science
This guest post from Denise Duncan at A T Industrial Products explores combustible metal dust explosions, their causes, and prevention strategies.
I dump all my steel shaving in a stainless steel dog dish by the drill press. I've never had an issue nor really thought about it. They get dumped in the scrap bucket before a scrap run.
tominboise
Well-known member
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I am not sure just any oily rag will spontaneously combust. Linseed oil soaked rags can spontaneous combust, because the oil gets hot as it cures. Petroleum based oils do not cure, so far as I know. Oily rags are certainly a fire hazard from external combustion (sparks from grinding or welding, for example) and should be treated as such.
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All of the above, but if you are really worried you should use oil/water emulsion type of coolant - as is done on heavier machines. I use it by filling a bunch of spray bottles, and leave one with each lathe, one with each mill, one with each saw and one with each drill. It also goes into systems with pumped and circulating coolant as well as total loss.
I agree. However, at work many years ago, there was a major explosion (like took out a building) from Al shavings at the IBM plant where I worked. This was from disks used in large disk drives (14"), and at a stage in the processing the AL substrate was turned on a diamond lathe that made very thin shavings. The shavings were collected, and in this case they caught fire and boom. I think it'd be hard to make similar shavings on a DP, but just in case...
Bubba Fett
Well-known member
This is the most recent thread I could find regarding such a topic, and I wasn't sure if it needed its own thread.
Anyway, it seems that spontaneous combustion of oily rags (particularly linseed oil) is hotly debated among certain Youtube personalities. One grumpy Canuckistanian seems to believe it is nearly impossible, and is even calling out other youtubers, going so far as to accuse them of falsifying experiments. I have not watched all associated videos, as that seems to be a rabbit hole that may not have a bottom.
So has anyone observed the spontaneous combustion of oily rags? I feel like the mere possibility of a fire is enough of a reason to take all necessary precautions. I'm just wondering if anyone has had any first hand experience that they would like to share.
Anyway, it seems that spontaneous combustion of oily rags (particularly linseed oil) is hotly debated among certain Youtube personalities. One grumpy Canuckistanian seems to believe it is nearly impossible, and is even calling out other youtubers, going so far as to accuse them of falsifying experiments. I have not watched all associated videos, as that seems to be a rabbit hole that may not have a bottom.
So has anyone observed the spontaneous combustion of oily rags? I feel like the mere possibility of a fire is enough of a reason to take all necessary precautions. I'm just wondering if anyone has had any first hand experience that they would like to share.
Funny, I've been watching Mr BumbleF*ck's (I say Mr cause he ain't my uncle
) videos on the subject lately. The alleged staged video also popped up in my feed prior but I never had the interest in watching it.I've never had it happen to me but I pretty much never use BLO. Only oily rags I ever have are from cutting fluid or grease. I do have one of those metal oily rag containers but only cause I found it at a swap meet & I just use it as a regular trash can in my garage.
I've never had any friends who have experienced it either. I've always assumed it could/does happen though, just never experienced it personally. A bit of heat yes, but never combustion. So I am mindful of it when I feel it's needed.
Bubba Fett
Well-known member
Upon further research, it appears that the Canuckistanian was questioning the lack of smoke in a particular video, as other incidents seem to produce a lot of smoke before a full ignition. Interesting.
I don't do much woodworking at all, so I've never really thought about this. But a year or two ago, I got burned pretty bad by accidentally throwing a can of spray paint in a burn pile. It was with a bunch of yard trash and I didn't notice it until it was too late. So I have a newfound respect for all things flammable and inflammable.
I don't do much woodworking at all, so I've never really thought about this. But a year or two ago, I got burned pretty bad by accidentally throwing a can of spray paint in a burn pile. It was with a bunch of yard trash and I didn't notice it until it was too late. So I have a newfound respect for all things flammable and inflammable.
Ole Slewfoot
Well-known member
Ryan made a blog post on his combustion event awhile back, think he staged it?
In today's video he's saying that guy was using firestarting cubes or whatever to stage the spontaneous combustion. Unless I missed something I think bumblef*ck was really only calling out that one guy & his video? Claiming he staged the video just for his sponsor to help get sales & affiliate money for them cans, & of course the views. Not the 1st time he's called someone out. But whatever, I don't care, I really only watch YT for entertainment.
Yup, I don't work with wood very much either, mostly metal. But I am much more cautious about fire ever since my buddy got burned yrs ago by accident. But we were doing stupid ****, Corona Bombs, and my buddy made a bad choice that night.
Funny, just last week I was helping another friend reorganize his shop. He was grinding some brackets off the back of a metal bench. We heard crackles, pops, & then a ball, more like a wall of flame.
Turns out there used to be fireworks in one of the drawers but the rats got to them. There was still powder left in the drawer obviously. 3 of us jumped & ran instantly. Was funny as hell!
Yup, I don't work with wood very much either, mostly metal. But I am much more cautious about fire ever since my buddy got burned yrs ago by accident. But we were doing stupid ****, Corona Bombs, and my buddy made a bad choice that night.
Funny, just last week I was helping another friend reorganize his shop. He was grinding some brackets off the back of a metal bench. We heard crackles, pops, & then a ball, more like a wall of flame.
Turns out there used to be fireworks in one of the drawers but the rats got to them. There was still powder left in the drawer obviously. 3 of us jumped & ran instantly. Was funny as hell!
RTM
Well-known member
I have been warned since an early age about spontaneous combustion, seen a video a friend's son made for a school science project on the topic, heard of Internet acquaintances who lost a shop, seen other videos, know of a family who has their freshly redone floors ruined by fire, but have no personal experience.
Oops, new information provided:
The smoke in some videos is thin and wispy, one I recall seemed really thick. There is usually some, but I suspect if you crawl thru YT, you may find differences.
I will continue to hang BLO rags to dry, or spread on the driveway
Oops, new information provided:
The smoke in some videos is thin and wispy, one I recall seemed really thick. There is usually some, but I suspect if you crawl thru YT, you may find differences.
I will continue to hang BLO rags to dry, or spread on the driveway
Boogerman
Well-known member
Two incidents, my experience. I had employee staining cedar siding of apartment building, he put down rag in a wad on cement steps to eat lunch. By time he came back, it was smouldering. He didn't believe in spontaneous combustion until then.
Another incident, contractor staining siding on commercial office building, workers left at end of day and left rags wadded up, caught fire and burned down building. Took three years in court to get that one settled.
I take no chances linseed oil, or varnishes, or stains. When done, I put rag in driveway and light it on fire. Never leave for re-use.
Another incident, contractor staining siding on commercial office building, workers left at end of day and left rags wadded up, caught fire and burned down building. Took three years in court to get that one settled.
I take no chances linseed oil, or varnishes, or stains. When done, I put rag in driveway and light it on fire. Never leave for re-use.
Bubba Fett
Well-known member
I'm thinking the rag composition may make a difference. Cotton vs poly blends, etc. Thicker weaves might even be a factor. Stumpy Nubs did a video on the subject, and recommended handing them on a bucket edge or something like a clothes line so that the thermal energy from the curing oils can dissipate. Otherwise, keeping them in a sealed container with water would also prevent combustion.