oily rags and spontaneous combustion

[lph]

Oak: Hehe. Growing up with my mother after my parents divorced when I was 10 or so, I was designated the handy one. Didn't take much but I changed lightbulbs and fuses, sawed down trees and even started using a chain saw at some point. I had no idea what I was doing, but then, neither did she. Not many tools around there either. Now we have enough to build a helicopter with.

I had heard vaguely that rags could self-combust, but I seriously didn't think they'd do anything but smoulder a little, and even then I thought other stuff like terpentine was the most dangerous. It turns out linseed oil is insanely inflammable, and oil-soaked rags cause fires every year. Luckily for my BIL this is something most people don't know much about, so his insurance company was understanding. He had made an effort, after all, and not just stuffed them in the garbage or left them lying around.

Poor guy. Not much fun having to go move in with your parents for months on end instead of a lovely new apartment, at age 40.

[malkin]

Years ago my MIL created a fire in her washing machine in this way.
At least the damage was contained.

[Artista]

LPH, I give up and have to ask - how do you know English so well? I've been curious about your excellent command of the language for quite some time, and now your use of the term "shebang" makes me think that either English is your first language or you've spent A LOT of time with Americans

[lph]

LPH, I give up and have to ask - how do you know English so well? I've been curious about your excellent command of the language for quite some time, and now your use of the term "shebang" makes me think that either English is your first language or you've spent A LOT of time with Americans

Thanks, Artista :-)

English is my first language - sorta. My mother is American, but has lived in Norway since she was 18. I guess my father's English was better than her Norwegian, for whatever reason I spoke only English until age 7. We lived in various places, but moved here for good then. I remember struggling to learn Norwegian before I became truly bilingual.

Now I read a lot of English and often "think in English", but I almost only speak Norwegian, so for many purposes I feel more fluent in Norwegian than English. My English may well be a bit dated at times, since I don't get the everyday feedback.

[Artista]

Thanks, Artista :-)

English is my first language - sorta. My mother is American, but has lived in Norway since she was 18. I guess my father's English was better than her Norwegian, for whatever reason I spoke only English until age 7. We lived in various places, but moved here for good then. I remember struggling to learn Norwegian before I became truly bilingual.

Now I read a lot of English and often "think in English", but I almost only speak Norwegian, so for many purposes I feel more fluent in Norwegian than English. My English may well be a bit dated at times, since I don't get the everyday feedback.

That's an even better story than I was hoping for! I've never noticed that your English is dated, although now that you mention it, you could substitute "whole enchilada" for "entire shebang"

Bummer about your BIL. Thanks for the testimonial that spontaneous combustion isn't just an urban legend. We always wet our oily paper towels but I worry that they'll dry out before the garbage gets picked up. We're going to start sealing the wet, oily, paper towels in those ultra-lightweight, produce bags that we bring home from the grocery store.

[Susan]

I'm sorry this happened to your brother!

A trick I use to keep oily rags safe: Wet the rag/towel and put it in an old Pickle jar, screw the lid on tightly.

[Becky]

LPH, thanks for the warning! I'm curious about something, if you don't mind.....was there a lid on the metal bucket?