Oily Rag Can

[MikeF2316]

A lot of poor families use laundromats. I'd hate to know I had ruined some poor little kid's only clothes.

I agree with this, and while I have done it, it doesn't sit well with me. When the clothes are really dirty/oily they leave a ring inside the machine. I find the best way is to wash them once with a low water level. Then a second time at a higher level. The second wash gets them cleaner and the ring is now below the water level, so it gets cleaned off. You just have to make sure you use enough detergent!

 

[Swingpress]

I wound up buying a cheap used washer and putting it in my shop. Under the threat of blunt force trauma via the nearest handy object.... Bought one at the local re-store for stupid cheap and don't have to travel to the laundromat (ours here offer a rage service, drop off a bag a pick up a bag)

 

[anndel]

My oily rag can is free, courtesy of the city and county of honolulu - gray trash can. Plus the city burns all or most of the trash to generate electricity.

 

[luvit]

im looking at getting this metal can with a lid. are those oily rag cans better sealed?

 

[39CAMC]

So, we don't re-use or wash our rags, but I was always taught to not put the really nasty soaked ones in regular trash for fear of self combustion. We have several of the containers shown in this thread, but my question: What (and when) do you do something with these rags that are put in the container?

DaveW

 

[luvit]

So, we don't re-use or wash our rags, but I was always taught to not put the really nasty soaked ones in regular trash for fear of self combustion. We have several of the containers shown in this thread, but my question: What (and when) do you do something with these rags that are put in the container?

DaveW

i use disposable rags or old clothing.. but i keep my oily rags separate from the garbage until garbage day.
i burn them in my outdoor woodburner in the winter.

 

[Iridium rand]

Wow never knew that about them self combusting, most oils burn at pretty high temps so wouldn’t think they would get that hot on their own. That being said wouldn’t literally any metal container work exactly the same? EDIT: just read saw it was pointed out my B

 

[luvit]

Wow never knew that about them self combusting, most oils burn at pretty high temps so wouldn’t think they would get that hot on their own. That being said wouldn’t literally any metal container work exactly the same? EDIT: just read saw it was pointed out my B

i think if something spontaneously combusted in this yellow can it would smother itself when the oxygen is used up.. but if it blow the lid ajar.. then it's less effective, but pretty contained.
maybe a proper hinged lid is the right answer after all.

 

[Iridium rand]

Well while we’re on this topic, how many others reuse rags? I personally find it more about annoyance than cost as to why I don't just toss and buy more, they get lost more often than too dirty but when they do I just toss em in the wash. Only exception is if it’s completely saturated in grease which in that case I throw em away

 

[cvairwerks]

As an FYI...BLO is notorious for spontaneous combustion. If you use any, rags and cans should be moved out of the shop and kept 15-20 feet minimum from the building or anything else that will burn, until they are completely dry.

 

[Sumboodie]

Well while we’re on this topic, how many others reuse rags? I personally find it more about annoyance than cost as to why I don't just toss and buy more, they get lost more often than too dirty but when they do I just toss em in the wash. Only exception is if it’s completely saturated in grease which in that case I throw em away

I wash the ones that aren't too dirty.

"OMG, the washin machine"

My work clothes are far dirtier.

 

[RTM]

As an FYI...BLO is notorious for spontaneous combustion. If you use any, rags and cans should be moved out of the shop and kept 15-20 feet minimum from the building or anything else that will burn, until they are completely dry.

Yup, this. Hang them or spread out on something nonflammable until dry, then they can safely go into the trash. It is when they are wadded up in pile that they are dangerous. I have a metal trash can with a tightly sealing lid that they go in until trash day. Someone used fancy tape on what used to be the handle holes. I think he used it for ashes tho.

Some great science project videos on the subject on Youtube in the past.


I don't believe a motor oil saturated rag is as dangerous as a BLO soaked rag, but I still don't chance it.

 

[GeoBruin]

I use BLO enough that I have had to develop a strategy to prevent spontaneous combustion but not often enougkh to keep a metal rag bin. I just burn them in a steel pot then douse and dispose of the remnants.

 

[Squankum]

El Jefe Ryan of GJ had a boo boo with boiled linseed oil and got very, very lucky:

http://www.garagejournal.com/2017/04/surviving-my-own-stupidity/

Which kind of oils are involved is important. My shop work continues to be 99% auto and no percent woodworking stain or paint. (I stop after the "assembled" phase, let's say.)

A good piece on which types of oils:

Foil that fire - Popular Mechanics

I happened to notice a disturbing thing in a couple of past photos of the PM workshop. It's a drum of some sort of solvent along the back wall with oily red rags on top of it. Don't you know anything about workshop safety? Those rags should be in a proper container. Also, I understand that you...

www.popularmechanics.co.za

 

[jives]

I realize this is a resurrected thread, but it is an important topic. As others have stated, it is generally the plant based oils that can spontaneously combust, but all oily rags go in the can. I use a Behrens 10 gal metal trash can, but I don't like it. The lid is so tight (good?) that it takes two hands to open it up. One on the lid, the other holding down the can. Ya' can't just toss in the rag. I would prefer a hinged lid with a foot opener.

BTW, rags never get washed. Most start as bed sheets or office clothes, clothes then go to weekend clothes, then to workshop clothes, then to rags. Or paper towels or a tub o' wipes. The can of oily rags (rags may get soaked in water if they are linseed oil or the like) gets put in the trash right before going to the dump, or get burned. Burning is most common.

 

[ATC]

My used rags get thrown in the oil drain pan I use for vehicles. The old rags soak up the risidual oil left in the drain pans, then when the drain pan is full of rags, they get tossed into a random cardboard box that gets burned with the rest of the cardboard every couple weeks. Spotless drain pans with no work involved.

 

[Newt]

I have found local consignment and recovery auctions get a lot of these cans. They can usually be bought used for $10-20 depending on condition.