Oily Rag Safety - A Reminder

[EvilDogBeast]

Careful with those oil-based finishes.  This guy did a test with different finishes on rags left in different configurations to see if anything would happen.  He gets a few fires, but the timing of each is a bit unsettling.  The video is pretty long, but worth a watch.

[wood carver 2]

Thanks for posting this video. I don’t take chances with oily rags. I hang them to dry before throwing them away.
It’s good to see how easily they can actually catch fire though. Pretty sobering.
Dave.

[Mad Max]

I use lacquer thinner every now and then but always un fold the rag and lay flat on concrete until dry, only 1 layer deep.

I'm guessing most people know if you bale hay before it's dry it can smoke and burn.

[kennym]

Same as Mark, or on gravel outside

[Jeff Freeman]

I never leave any thinner rags, used paint strainers or mixing cups in the garage. They all go outside,air out and into the garage can, right away. JF 

[Longcruise]

It was a jolt for me!  However,  I don't typically use anything containing linseed oil.  Just tru oil and it never involves rags but it's something I'll not be forgetting!

[Kirkll]

That was kind of a long drawn out experiment, but a lesson learned about linseed oil…. Never touch the stuff myself.

But stain rags and lacquer thinner rags all get hung up to dry.

Certain types of epoxy will heat up if left in a cup. I’ve seen them smoke before, but never spontaneously combust.

Another substance that creates a serious amount of heat when curing is super glue. I’ve cleaned up a spill with a rag and actually burned my fingers before. So be careful with that stuff too.

[Bowjunkie]

Another thing to be careful with is phone chargers. The end that plugs into your phone can start a fire it it gets up against something metallic, or steel wool. If you keep one on the workbench, best to unplug it from the wall when not in use.

[Longcruise]

Another thing to be careful with is phone chargers. The end that plugs into your phone can start a fire it it gets up against something metallic, or steel wool. If you keep one on the workbench, best to unplug it from the wall when not in use.

My plug for a rechargeable drill fired up some fine steel wool on the bench.  Lucky i was there.   I probably instigated it by shuffling the mess around!