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Arm-R-Seal - iublue - 08-09-2025
Is Arm-R-Seal a spontaneous combustion hazard?
RE: Arm-R-Seal - jteneyck - 08-09-2025
(Yesterday, 11:35 AM)iublue Wrote: Is Arm-R-Seal a spontaneous combustion hazard?
Yes. I've never had an issue, however. Just lay the rags out to dry, or better still, dunk them in a bucket with water.
Just to be clear, there's no concern that an open can or finish applied to an object will spontaneously combust.
John
RE: Arm-R-Seal - fredhargis - 08-09-2025
I hardly ever disagree with John, but on this one I do. While drying oils can combust, ARM R Seal is a varnish, just a very thin one. Once those drying oils are cooked into varnish, they no longer have that exothermic reaction that starts fires. To be sure, they MSDS and other info says the chance is there and my moneys says that just a legal CYA. Here's what Flexner said about in Pop Woodworking (direct quote)
Drying oils, especially linseed oil (raw or boiled), are the only finishing materials that spontaneously combust. Solvents don’t spontaneously combust, paint strippers (including paint or finish residue) don’t spontaneously combust, and no type of varnish spontaneously combusts. It’s not totally clear whether 100% tung oil can spontaneously combust, so treat it like it does.