The reason the other ones did not really heat up is because the cloths were too saturated, and the oil itself is the reason this happened. The oversaturation left the oil to cool itself down and the surface area of the fibers in the rag were not getting enough oxygen. The rags not being soaked to the brim is a very realistic test and this is why it was able to catch fire even in not ideal conditions. It'd take days for those super soaked rags to evaporate off enough oil for the surface area of the cloth to come into more contact with the oxygen and heat up enough to catch fire. Which maybe even worse because if you left that in your bin and forgot about it for a few days, imagine the shock.
Yeah I was a bit surprised. 99 percent of the time I've put my rags outside but occasionally Ive forgot. I'll have to make sure they go out 100 percent of the time :-)
Definitely...it's one of those things that I had to see for myself. Took me a few days to see results though haha...but was worth it :-) Im so surprised at how quickly it happened though. Its pretty much possible that someone could oil a piece of furniture, go off for a couple of hours whilst the first coat dries and end up coming back to a workshop full of flames. Ive had a similar experience myself and lost £15k worth of equipment :-(
@@Smugwood yep. One of the few things I’m glad to have a concrete floor in my workshop for. Mostly it’s too cold and hard, but it’s good to be able to lay out an oily cloth on for a day or so before putting it in the big.
It may well be. The materials did seem to dry fairly quickly so perhaps it wasn't given chance to reach a point where it self heated. It also may explain why a lot of so called fires occur in sheds etc...and can take up to 3 days to combust...perhaps as they are kept cool enough to prevent rapid drying of the oil. Quite scary when you think about it though...an innocent looking rag disposed of incorrectly could mean the difference between a workshop and no workshop!
These oils are room-temperature polymerizing oils. They don't dry they cure. Polymerization generates heat and if ball them up you can get a fire. I learned this ni my younger days as a boat builder. Almost got smacked by the master shipwright and then he read me the riot act. Two-part epoxy does the same thing.
That's handy to know. I guess that makes sense then as to why they always say lay them flat to reduce heat build up. I often wonder how many people just screw them up and put them into the bin.
The reason the other ones did not really heat up is because the cloths were too saturated, and the oil itself is the reason this happened. The oversaturation left the oil to cool itself down and the surface area of the fibers in the rag were not getting enough oxygen. The rags not being soaked to the brim is a very realistic test and this is why it was able to catch fire even in not ideal conditions. It'd take days for those super soaked rags to evaporate off enough oil for the surface area of the cloth to come into more contact with the oxygen and heat up enough to catch fire. Which maybe even worse because if you left that in your bin and forgot about it for a few days, imagine the shock.
Ah that makes sense. I was thinking the more oil I put on, the better chance of some action. 😂👍
wow great video Lee, wouldnt have thought that possible at lower outdoor temperatures
Yeah I was a bit surprised. 99 percent of the time I've put my rags outside but occasionally Ive forgot. I'll have to make sure they go out 100 percent of the time :-)
@@Smugwood ya me too from now on!
Good stuff :-) :-)
Nice one Lee, good to be able to have concrete proof!
Definitely...it's one of those things that I had to see for myself. Took me a few days to see results though haha...but was worth it :-) Im so surprised at how quickly it happened though. Its pretty much possible that someone could oil a piece of furniture, go off for a couple of hours whilst the first coat dries and end up coming back to a workshop full of flames. Ive had a similar experience myself and lost £15k worth of equipment :-(
@@Smugwood yep. One of the few things I’m glad to have a concrete floor in my workshop for. Mostly it’s too cold and hard, but it’s good to be able to lay out an oily cloth on for a day or so before putting it in the big.
True. And to think I used to oil my projects in the house! Garage only from now on :-)
Happened to me 5 minutes ago, culprit is a 120 degree Phoenix garage
Gotta be careful with this stuff for sure...
Is it that the hotter days boils the solvents off and retards combustion?
It may well be. The materials did seem to dry fairly quickly so perhaps it wasn't given chance to reach a point where it self heated. It also may explain why a lot of so called fires occur in sheds etc...and can take up to 3 days to combust...perhaps as they are kept cool enough to prevent rapid drying of the oil. Quite scary when you think about it though...an innocent looking rag disposed of incorrectly could mean the difference between a workshop and no workshop!
These oils are room-temperature polymerizing oils. They don't dry they cure. Polymerization generates heat and if ball them up you can get a fire. I learned this ni my younger days as a boat builder. Almost got smacked by the master shipwright and then he read me the riot act. Two-part epoxy does the same thing.
That's handy to know. I guess that makes sense then as to why they always say lay them flat to reduce heat build up. I often wonder how many people just screw them up and put them into the bin.