Let's Be Careful Out There

Downeaster

Downeaster

Everything in XS
Top Contributor
Messages
3,006
Reaction score
18,702
Points
513
Location
Downeast Maine
Neighbor/Acquaintance/Sorta Friend has a garage just up the road from me. Wheeler-Dealer Horse Trader and Shade Tree Mechanic. Always has a couple of projects going on, old cars and trucks (30's to 60's) etc.

He was grinding on something a couple-three weeks ago and the sparks got into a pile of greasy/oily rags and POOF! Dumb shit tried to put it out and wound up with 2nd degree burns over 25% of his body, spent a couple weeks in the hospital.

Garage and two vehicles are a total loss. He just called me and asked me to go through the remains and see if any of his tools are salvageable.

I have a covered metal can my rags go in, and I empty it every week on trash pick-up day.

I understand the urge to try and save your stuff, but stuff is replaceable. You...not so much.
 
"I have a covered metal can my rags go in, and I empty it every week on trash pick-up day."
Spontaneous combustion of oily rags is real. I saw a pile of rags in the floor along the wall in a garage smoking for no other possible reason.
 
Good advice DE! As a former welder I’ve sure caught my share of things on fire. Fire extinguishers are inexpensive and I consider them to be a necessity in your garage. :thumbsup:
 
I don't attempt to weld very often and do have an extinguisher in garage. But hope this story reminds me to move it over next to where I'm working and not leave it at the other end of the garage!
 
I don't think motor oil is much of a problem regarding spontaneous combustion. If you do a little research, linseed oil is the real culprit. Linseed oil soaked rags are the most likely to combust and especially if they're in a closed container or just piled up in confinement. It has to do with heat generated as the rags dry. Regardless, that nearby UP TO DATE fire extinguisher might save your shop and your ass one day, keep it close to the door.
 
hovel said:
I don't think motor oil is much of a problem regarding spontaneous combustion. If you do a little research, linseed oil is the real culprit. Linseed oil soaked rags are the most likely to combust and especially if they're in a closed container or just piled up in confinement. It has to do with heat generated as the rags dry. Regardless, that nearby UP TO DATE fire extinguisher might save your shop and your ass one day, keep it close to the door.
Click to expand...
Thanks for that! I soaked rags with linseed oil over the weekend. Outside, they go!
 
I'll usually let my rags hang on the clothes line for a few days and maybe a rain or 2
 
686F43E0-AAF1-4FC8-8EAC-38942CB6E942.jpeg
 
Speaking of spontaneous combustion....my neighbor for years would empty his grass clippings from mowing the lawn behind his metal barn. It piled up to probably over a foot high across an area probably 12 feet by 24 feet. I happened to be working behind my house and saw smoke just billowing from his grass pile. It was a hot summer day. My neighbor wasn't home at the time. Ran over grabbed his hose from the house and stretched it to reach where the clippings had caught fire. Raked out the burning area and watered it down. Another 20 minutes and his barn would have been toast. He didn't believe me when I told him his grass pile spontaneously combusted.
 
I use a lot of mineral spirts and try to let the rags evaporate outside. It's always on my mind about them catching on fire through spontaneous combustion. Not sure if mineral spirits fall into the same category as linseed oil or varnish.
 
There was this local farmer / entrepreneur here that decided he was going to go into the mulch business, he had this giant pit located on the edge of town in farmland ( near me ). Into this giant pit he had been dumping all sorts of ground up plant matter, it was said to be several acres and 8-10’ deep and just about full , when it caught fire.
Good grief did that pile of crap smoke! It would bury entire neighborhoods in thick smoke you couldn’t hardly see through. They poured water on it for weeks before it was extinguished!
 
2XSive said:
Speaking of spontaneous combustion....my neighbor for years would empty his grass clippings from mowing the lawn behind his metal barn. It piled up to probably over a foot high across an area probably 12 feet by 24 feet. I happened to be working behind my house and saw smoke just billowing from his grass pile. It was a hot summer day. My neighbor wasn't home at the time. Ran over grabbed his hose from the house and stretched it to reach where the clippings had caught fire. Raked out the burning area and watered it down. Another 20 minutes and his barn would have been toast. He didn't believe me when I told him his grass pile spontaneously combusted.
Click to expand...

That's called "composting"...

There may be a chore I hate worse than raking but it doesn't immediately come to mind. However, I'm a HUGE fan of composting so from time to time when my compost pile isn't working properly, I'll rake after mowing and add a bunch of fresh clippings to the pile. That usually wakes things up.

One goal of composting is to get the interior of the pile up to around 160°F for 3-4 days. That kills the weed seeds. Conversely, much hotter than that kills the process. When I have a fresh pile working, I have a probe thermometer I use to keep track of it. Add green juicy fuel if it cools off, bust it open and remix if it gets too hot.

Don't tell ME I don't know shit...
 
Fire is a scary thing, but it isn’t the only way to get hurt, or worse….

check out this very sad story from ST Owners.com (Honda ST1100 / ST1300 forum):


Yesterday at 3:51 PM
I am sad to report our very good friend Jay has passed. Last Wednesday he was riding his BMW along a street in Elmira, Ontario, and collided at slow speed (15 km/hr) with a horse and buggy travelling in the opposite direction. While we don't have a lot of detail, the horse may have turned in front of him and we believe he was struck in the torso by one of the tug poles, causing a serious injury. The horse and 18 year old female driver were uninjured and damage to the motorycle was minimal. Jay was rushed to hospital but did not survive his injuries.

Jay was very well liked and respected by all who knew him, passionate about his motorcycles and family. He was always a very positive and entertaining personna to anyone around him. We will miss him dearly. RIP Jay.

Details of the memorial service.... Saturday, August 7 beginning at noon. Details in the link below.

https://www.grahamgiddyfh.com/memorials/jean-pierre-lalonde/4682099/obituary.php
 

Similar threads

ssjody
1981 XS650 Special - Build Thread
4 5 6
Replies
114
Views
5K
ssjody
ssjody
GLJ
81 Special
4 5 6
Replies
109
Views
4K
Wingedwheel
Wingedwheel
Vincenthdfan
Sigh...the hunt continues for the 75
Replies
16
Views
859
Vincenthdfan
Vincenthdfan
gantzcb
'76 Standard to Street Tracker project revived
2 3 4
Replies
72
Views
6K
gantzcb
gantzcb
Jim
'68 BSA Victor Build..... Bloody 'el mate... You 'effin daft or sommat?!?
20 21 22
Replies
423
Views
27K
Adamc
Adamc
Back
Top