Hi all,
I’m new to finishing and wanted to make sure I’m being cautious and safe with this. The past few days I worked with oil based stain then poly – I have stored the rags/other soaked materials in metal buckets with the lid shut tight and poured water in them. I’m heading out of town soon for the next week – is it safe/ok to leave the buckets outside while I’m gone? Unfortunately I found out late that the only hazardous waste disposal place near me is closed for the next few days before I leave so I’m not sure what else to do.
Also, if it matters the temperatures here will be dropping below freezing overnight/possibly during the daytime too.
Thanks in advance!
Replies
You can look up 'oily rag can' or 'oily waste can' on Google. They are essentially metal cans with lids. I used to use an empty paint can and secure the lid tightly. I think your solution will be fine. If it makes you feel better, store it away from flammable objects.
The problem with oily rags is that the oil dries or cures by chemical reaction and, when they are all bunched up, they can heat up to the point of combustion. Putting them in a covered can with water is good, but that doesn't help you dispose of them. If you spread them out individually or hang them over something so they can dry, they will then be safe and you can dispose of them normally in the regular trash. Just be sure they are completely dry.
I second bilyo and Mike_H3's comments. Once upon a time I set a wadded up BLO soaked rag in a sunny windowsill while I went in for lunch. It was in flames before I could finish my PB&J.
I did do this on my other project over the summer - but unfortunately it’s just too cold now to dry them out I think. I did try leaving some stuff out to dry yesterday but no luck with the cold… and I don’t want to bring those fumes indoor with the furnace going etc.
I have a can for that but often I just toss oily rags in the driveway until they gas off or I throw them in the woodstove. I figure that if they spontaneously combust in there it is not a problem. Wet or dry they make great fire starters!
I have tried to create a situation where oily rags might combust like that but it never happened. I do know of several burned up buildings where people were too casual with oily rags. A friend of mine who did painting and decorating got blamed for burning down an entire apartment building in NYC! He got a Dunn and Bradsteet rating out of it-- something like : Assets $2500 , liabilities 25,000,000!
If you don't have anyplace to dry them just leave them in the covered can of water. They will be fine that way for quite a while until the weather warms and you can dry them or until you return and can take the can with the rags in it to hazardous waste disposal. Find a place outdoors where you can leave the can away from your house; just in case.
Thanks, feel better about the plan now - will leave them in the buckets till I return. Thanks!!!