On 11/20/2018 10:37 AM, Erik Levin via OldTools wrote:
>
> An accessible paper that gets deep into the subject is: https://fires
ciencereviews.springeropen.com/articles/10.1186/2193-0414-1-3">https://firescien
cereviews.springeropen.com/articles/10.1186/2193-0414-1-3
Wowsers! I didn't mean to cause a firestorm (bad pun intended)!
Seriously, the information and experiences shared here are great. I
tend to err on the side of caution just as I tend to over engineer
everything if there is any doubt.
I used my blo/beeswax/thinner emulsion yesterday to clean up and treat
my router plane. (Turns out it's a Millers Falls No. 67 with black
enamel dating it to the '40-50's?) I used ATF to attack a tiny bit of
rust, 3 grades of steel wool, and scotchbrite to get rid of it. I also
used paper towels to wipe up the ATF residue . . . several as you might
imagine, but no cloth. Although I've seen steel wool used to start
fires, I wasn't too concerned about spontaneous combustion. Scotchbrite
is non-combustible which leaves paper towels where some had ATF residue
an some had magic elixir residue.
A saved glass pickle jar (yes, I'm a galoot like that) that had been
through the dishwasher became my receptacle for disposal. I'd guess its
capacity at about a pint. I stuffed the bits of used steel wool and
paper towel and scotchbrite into the jar and screwed the lid down
tight. Kentucky windage told me that the total volume of air to
materials was about 40-60%. A short debate with myself told me that
there was insufficient exothermic BLO n the mix and insufficient ATF
(don't know if it is exothermic) and insufficient oxygen to support a
blaze even if there might be enough to support spontaneous combustion;
so I didn't fill the jar with water. Perhaps I should have. At any
rate, the jar and waste is now in the garbage bin (dustbin, Jeff). It
won't be collected until Monday of next week. If anything untoward
happens in the meanwhile, I'll report.
FWIW, I have used BLO for decades, going back to the '50s. I have
ALWAYS treated any waste rags or paper or even wood shavings that were
exposed to it by putting them into an airtight container - usually and
empty gallon paint can - covering with water and sealing with the lid
tamped firmly in place. If I needed to reuse the can, I'd wait several
days before emptying out the sludge then spread the combustible out to
dry outside with plenty of air and space between multiple pieces. I've
not had a spontaneous combustion yet, but that might be down to good luck.
I'd like to thank everyone for reading my questions and to especially
thank all of you who responded relating your experiences and offering
sage advice. Special thanks to Erik for the link. I found the
information a bit overwhelming but useful nonetheless.
Bob Hutchins
Temple, TX
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