Rags Spontaneously Combusting.

[paul cottingham]

I am seriously considering using a rag like the Schwarz does for wiping down planes after use. He calls his the "woobie." It is somewhat soaked in lubricant from being used to wipe excess lube off planes.

I use waxlit and now tallow to protect and lubricate my planes. I am wondering if I need to worry about spontaneous combustion of the rag I use to wipe them down.

Any opinions?

[John Sanford]

I am wondering if I need to worry about spontaneous combustion of the rag I use to wipe them down.

Any opinions?

No, you don't. Neither waxlit nor tallow will cure. The "oily soaked rags" is sorta misleading. The oils in question are drying oils, such as boiled linseed oil, the worst culprit. Lubricating oils present no risk of spontaneous combustion. (A lubricating oil soaked rag does make great fuel for a fire though....)

[Jim Matthews]

I would keep it in a ziploc bag, with the air squeezed out.

That way, you won't oil anything else when you're done.
I use a Japanese Abura Tsubo, which is a sealed bottle with a rag stuffed innit.

http://www.fine-tools.com/G-applikationsflasche.html

[Myk Rian]

It has more to do with greasy, and oily rags of the petroleum variety.
I also use Waxilit. Great stuff.

[Prashun Patel]

Most synthetic waxes, mineral spirits, and mineral oil are all petroleum derived. It's not the source that determines their likelihood of combustion but whether they'll react with oxygen to produce heat. Contrary to popular belief, petroleum derived oils and waxes are usually fairly non-reactive with oxygen.

The key is to watch out for things that dry or cure, regardless of how Kentucky-fried-finger-licking oily or greasy they are.

[John Coloccia]

Most synthetic waxes, mineral spirits, and mineral oil are all petroleum derived. It's not the source that determines their likelihood of combustion but whether they'll react with oxygen to produce heat. Contrary to popular belief, petroleum derived oils and waxes are usually fairly non-reactive with oxygen.

The key is to watch out for things that dry or cure, regardless of how Kentucky-fried-finger-licking oily or greasy they are.

Are you saying you don't think Roy has to worry about the his saw spontaneously combusting?

[paul cottingham]

Z

Are you saying you don't think Roy has to worry about the his saw spontaneously combusting?

You're killing me!