Need advice... Fire in shop!!!!

[MikeF2316]

I've never seen this type of fire, but my dad was always a little paranoid about them. He was always giving us **** for leaving rags in a pile. As a result, I've always hung up my dirty/oily rags outside. Currently I have an old garden hose reel behind my garage where nothing grows that I hang such rags on. With all the talk on here recently, I've put in an order for a proper can for my birthday next month. If I don't get it then, I'll be buying one soon after.

 

[brownbagg]

rags are prohibition in my shop, there has never been a rag in the doors

 

[ALinCarolina]

Chemical engineers can explain this better than me and are welcome to correct me but this is my understanding:
The only oils that are subject to spontaneous combustion are drying oils like boiled linseed, tung oil, oil based varnishes, etc. The oils combine with oxygen in the air to cure. The chemical reaction produces heat. This is why oil based paint and varnishes get a dried skim on top in partially full cans. Bloxygen and similar products replace the oxygen in the can so the top doesn't cure. Lubricating oils will not do this. They will certainly burn but won't spontaneously combust. So adding adding motor oil soaked rags to the metal bucket where you put your drying oil rags just adds fuel to a possible fire.

Having a metal bucket to put the curing rags in will confine the fire in a non-combustible medium. I generally spread them out on the concrete driveway outside the shop. If they are wadded up that concentrates the heat to dangerous levels. I think spreading them out on concrete so heat dissipates away from any combustible material even inside is just as safe or safer than wadding them up in a metal can so nothing catches fire in the first place.

 

[rburke65]

Get a metal trash can with a tight fitting lid for rags like this.

 

[LS6 Tommy]

Even though I mostly use paper towels, the risk is still there so I don't like just tossing them in the garbage can. After reading some of the recent oily rag combustion posts I started looking for an inexpensive oily rag can. I just got a freebie they were going to throw out at work and it makes me feel more comfortable when I toss them in there. It's a worthwhile addition to any garage or shop.

Still needs some cleaning:




Tommy

 

[kwschumm]

Even though I mostly use paper towels, the risk is still there so I don't like just tossing them in the garbage can. After reading some of the recent oily rag combustion posts I started looking for an inexpensive oily rag can. I just got a freebie they were going to throw out at work and it makes me feel more comfortable when I toss them in there. It's a worthwhile addition to any garage or shop.

Still needs some cleaning:



Tommy

Empty Every Night. Really?

This is why I hang things up to dry.

 

[ItsNemo]

Does anyone have a complete list of products that are actually unsafe? Linseed oil is always mentioned but what about things like brake clean? grease? motor oil? penetrating fluid? paint thinner? mineral spirits? wd40? silicone sprays? graphite sprays? degreaser? etc.

 

[larry_g]

Even though I mostly use paper towels, the risk is still there so I don't like just tossing them in the garbage can. After reading some of the recent oily rag combustion posts I started looking for an inexpensive oily rag can. I just got a freebie they were going to throw out at work and it makes me feel more comfortable when I toss them in there. It's a worthwhile addition to any garage or shop.

Still needs some cleaning:




Tommy

We had many of those at work. I once asked one of the janitors what they did with the contents. "Just throw it in with the rest of the trash." Nothing special to them'

lg
no neat sig line

 

[PFSard]

Does anyone have a complete list of products that are actually unsafe? Linseed oil is always mentioned but what about things like brake clean? grease? motor oil? penetrating fluid? paint thinner? mineral spirits? wd40? silicone sprays? graphite sprays? degreaser? etc.

I don't have a list per se. IIRC, the self-ignitors are chemicals that cure by oxidation. Tung oil is another (besides linseed oil).

I'm cautious with anything flammable. Usually, listed on container but MSDSs are available online. Any rags with such chemicals end up outside spread out on rocks or hanging away from the house/garage to dry. The link below has some decent articles that are worth a few minutes.

Preventing Home and Workshop Fires Caused by Spontaneous Combustion
https://www.thespruce.com/preventing-home-and-workshop-fires-1398180

 

[fsae0607]

^^ Justrite cans are great. I have one in my garage. A great investment.

 

[LS6 Tommy]

Empty Every Night. Really?

This is why I hang things up to dry.

And that's when they spontaneously combust...

Tommy

 

[kwschumm]

And that's when they spontaneously combust...

Tommy

Not even close to true. Somebody posted a link a few posts back that also said the best thing to do is hang rags up to dry. By hanging rags up one by one very little heat will build up, thus removing one component necessary to start a fire. Now if you hang them up on top of each other then, yes, they can ignite.

But if people like to spend money on cans more power to 'em.

 

[LS6 Tommy]

Not even close to true. Somebody posted a link a few posts back that also said the best thing to do is hang rags up to dry. By hanging rags up one by one very little heat will build up, thus removing one component necessary to start a fire. Now if you hang them up on top of each other then, yes, they can ignite.

But if people like to spend money on cans more power to 'em.

You did see the "" in my post, right?

Tommy

 

[1redTA]

I think you need to be aware of the properties of what you are using, I'm not suggesting every garage get a MSDS binder, but have a general knowledge of what to do with garage supplies when it comes to storage and disposal. The spontaneous combustion of rags and linseed oil, grease and chlorine are more common knowledge, just be aware that not all things are safe to mix or toss in the garage

 

[BlackLS2]

Good, very good.

BTW, there was a product (Neverdull sp?)for polishing brass we used extensively in the Navy that was linked to a number of fires. I think it was cheese cloth soaked with some sort of petroleum product. Banned by the Navy not long after I was discharged. Brasso on the other hand is typically considered safe.

Yikes. Thanks for that info! I use Neverdull wadding polish all the time on exhaust tips, and don't take very good care of the used ones.

 

[ALinCarolina]

Here is a link to help explain but there are many out there:
http://www.tcforensic.com.au/docs/uts/essay6.pdf

My experience on other forums is that some garage and shop owners have difficulty understanding the concept of drying oils or polymerization so just put all rags with any type of oil, even motor oil, on them in their container. Shouldn't be a problem if the container is safe but that would be like adding some wood chips to it. Just adding more possible fuel. I would rather not have any fire in my shop even in the metal can so my first preference is to spread them out on a concrete floor until cured, next would be in a metal container.