I know I can't do this with linseed oil, but I want to make sure it's
ok to store
(motor-) oily paper towels and cardboard flats in a plastic trash bag
until I have enough
to take up to the city for proper disposal (?).
Thanks,
Dar

Dar wrote:
I know I can't do this with linseed oil, but I want to make sure it's
ok to store
(motor-) oily paper towels and cardboard flats in a plastic trash bag
until I have enough
to take up to the city for proper disposal (?).
Thanks,
Dar

In a metal trash can outdoors?

On Mon, 9 Feb 2009 05:54:27 -0800 (PST), Dar
wrote:

I know I can't do this with linseed oil, but I want to make sure it's
ok to store (motor-) oily paper towels and cardboard flats in a
plastic trash bag until I have enough to take up to the city for
proper disposal (?)

With Linseed Oil and cotton or paper towels, hell no! You know, but
for those that haven't heard (or read the MSDS) it will auto oxidize
enough to self combust... Add water.

Or better yet, **** off the Smog Nazi's and make a little Burn
Barrel to safely dispose of it in a controlled manner. (Which beats
the hell out of an UNcontrolled manner...) Keep on hand: Garden
hoses, dry chem extinguishers, additional help and a hot phone line to
dial 911.

For other oily wastes, I'd still put the plastic bag in a steel
trash can or dedicated steel "Oily Waste" shop can or a loose-top
steel drum, just in case.

Inside or out, a steel container with a tight lid will contain a
fire and snuff it from oxygen depletion. Just don't open the lid if
it's still hot, or it's "Off to the races" again.

-- Bruce --

Dar wrote:
... I want to make sure it's ok to store
(motor-) oily paper towels and cardboard flats in a plastic trash bag
...

It is safe. Motor oil does not polymerize, which is the process that
gives off heat by some oils (e.g., linseed). Or ... something like that.

Also, I have often stored oily rags without any indication that they
were about to go ablaze.

Bob

On Mon, 9 Feb 2009 16:58:59 +0000 (UTC), Cydrome Leader
wrote:

Dar wrote:
I know I can't do this with linseed oil, but I want to make sure it's
ok to store
(motor-) oily paper towels and cardboard flats in a plastic trash bag
until I have enough
to take up to the city for proper disposal (?).
Thanks,
Dar

In a metal trash can outdoors?


With a tightly closed metal cover.


"If the personal freedoms guaranteed by the Constitution inhibit the government's ability to govern the people,
we should look to limit those guarantees."

Bill Clinton 1993-08-12

Bob Engelhardt wrote:
Dar wrote:
... I want to make sure it's ok to store
(motor-) oily paper towels and cardboard flats in a plastic trash bag
...

It is safe. Motor oil does not polymerize, which is the process that
gives off heat by some oils (e.g., linseed). Or ... something like that.

Also, I have often stored oily rags without any indication that they
were about to go ablaze.

Trying to put out a plastic bag full of oily scraps would be very hard to
put out, if anything did catch it on fire.

On Mon, 09 Feb 2009 12:59:55 -0500, Bob Engelhardt
wrote:

Dar wrote:
... I want to make sure it's ok to store
(motor-) oily paper towels and cardboard flats in a plastic trash bag
...

It is safe. Motor oil does not polymerize, which is the process that
gives off heat by some oils (e.g., linseed). Or ... something like that.

Also, I have often stored oily rags without any indication that they
were about to go ablaze.

Bob


Seconded.


It's the oils that harden that are the problem. Motor and way oils etc don't
undergo any significant reaction with air at room temperature, or they aren't
useful for their job.


Mark Rand
RTFM