Oily rags

   / Oily rags #1  

bigtiller

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Feb 1, 2006
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central Iowa
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John Deere 2720 John Deere 3039R John Deere Z545R
I've always been told bu various wood workers to soak your oily rags in water to prevent them from spontaneous combustion. But nobody ever told me what to do next.

I have about a dozen rags and 2 pair of disposable gloves, all soaked with Boiled Linseed Oil, soaking in 2 gallons of water. All this is in a tin bucket with a fairly tight lid.

Today is garbage-eve and I need to make room for more rags in the tin can.

Is it safe to toss the rags into the trash now that they have been soaking in water? What about the water? I don't think (?) I want to dump it down the floor drain, it dumps into the house sump pump. I don't thing (?) I want it going into my septic tank.

What is the smart thing to do?

oily rags.jpg
 
Last edited:
   / Oily rags #2  
All the official instructions are going to tell you to keep them in a fireproof container and then take them to a licensed hazardous disposal site. About 1% of us are actually going to do this.

I don't even bother with the water. I collect them in a metal container and when I'm done for the day, I burn them, either in a burn pit or my wood stove.
 
   / Oily rags #3  
I've always been told bu various wood workers to soak your oily rags in water to prevent them from spontaneous combustion. But nobody ever told me what to do next.

I have about a dozen rags and 2 pair of disposable gloves, all soaked with Boiled Linseed Oil, soaking in 2 gallons of water. All this is in a tin bucket with a fairly tight lid.

Today is garbage-eve and I need to make room for more rags in the tin can.

Is it safe to toss the rags into the trash now that they have been soaking in water? What about the water? I don't think (?) I want to dump it down the floor drain, it dumps into the house sump pump. I don't thing (?) I want it going into my septic tank.

What is the smart thing to do?

View attachment 474573

Perhaps just spread/lay the rags out on the driveway till morning? They usually only combust when all stacked together and where they can generate internal heat. As to the water, you can just use it to water the weeds you may not want on your drive or walkways...

Good luck and stay safe!
 
   / Oily rags #4  
I usually drape mine around the edge of the trash can. Then throw them in when I take it out to the cul-de-sac.

Ralph
 
   / Oily rags #5  
I have a wire basket that I put my stuff in; the basket remains outside where it eventually off gasses and dries out. After an appropriate time...read "whenever they dry out and I think about it" I put the stuff in the garbage. Fortunately, I never use Linseed oil.
 
   / Oily rags #6  
All the official instructions are going to tell you to keep them in a fireproof container and then take them to a licensed hazardous disposal site. About 1% of us are actually going to do this.

I don't even bother with the water. I collect them in a metal container and when I'm done for the day, I burn them, either in a burn pit or my wood stove.

Totally agree. Just burn them in a metal bucket.
 
   / Oily rags #7  
Yep in the summer in the burn pit, in the winter wood stove.
 
   / Oily rags #8  
I don't want them hot in a can, so I hang them in the open air until they are dry, then into the garbage. It is the drying process that creates heat.

Bruce
 
   / Oily rags #9  
I wrap them inside a plastic fertilizer bag and set them beside the burn pile which is inside a cool, damp part of the back hedge. They will be handy when the pile is ready to burn.
 
   / Oily rags #10  
Yep, cheap fire starters:thumbsup:
 

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