Boiled linseed oil

[Minnesota Man]

Hello knife knuts, I am a young dude that lives in apartment. I want to apply some BLO to a few tools. Namely my CS Trail hawk, CS trail boss, CRKT woods chogan and that other woods hawk. After reading and watching videos I learned that BLO can spontaneously combust. Any way to be 100% safe in an apartment? I was thinking rubber gloves than rinsing in water?? Please Help.

 

[serotina]

Rags soaked in it can spontaneously combust, such as the rags used for application or wiping off excess oil.

Spread them out somewhere to dry, or hang them like laundry and you will be fine. Once the rags are "dry" to the touch (squeezing them produces no oil on your hands) then they can be tossed in the trash.

What happens is that the polymerization (the "drying") of the oil is an oxidation process, so it generates heat. If the rags are wadded up the heat cannot always radiate away effectively, and the rag starts to smolder. Any drying oil, like tung oil, or the modified soy oil in many inexpensive finishes will do this as well.

 

[Minnesota Man]

Thank you kind sir!

 

[phantomknives]

just dont spill

 

[Square_peg]

Serotina gave a good answer.

If you can lay them out on a concrete surface to dry for 24 hours you will be fine.

 

[Canadian Mojo]

I usually toss my used rags on the BBQ to let them dry out since it is conveniently located by the door.

 

[serotina]

I usually toss my used rags on the BBQ to let them dry out since it is conveniently located by the door.

If you timed it right, you could use them to start the charcoal!

Unless it's gas, of course.