Warning About Sealers!
 

I am always hesitant to recommend boiled linseed oil and mineral spirits to some of the new builders here only because if they do not know what they are doing, or gloss over our warnings.....they could easily burn their homes down. It has almost happened to a couple of folks on here! So to those of you who are new to this and you try this method of sealing.......HEED THIS WARNING!

DISPOSE OF ALL OIL SOAKED RAGS PROPERLY AND DO NOT LEAVE THEM LAYING AROUND AS THEY COULD SPONTANEOUSLY COMBUST AND CAUSE A FIRE! DISPOSE OF THEM IN A COVERED 1 GALLON PAINT CAN WITH SOME WATER IN IT!

I just don't want to see anyone get hurt!:kewl:

is there any danger with the mixture in a sealed plastic container?i have 2 qts. mixed for sealing the plugs i make

Crumpled rags generate heat. I wouldnt trust plastic.
Best bet is spread them out to dry, then dispose. If they are spread out, they cant get hot enough to ignite. It's when they are crumpled up in a ball that the center of the rag is insulated and can get very hot potentially causing spontanious combustion.

I store my mixture in 1 gallon aluminum/tin paint cans.....or a glass container would do.......the can would be better as it will not break. Also keep another tin paint can with a lid handy and when you are finished with the rags, put them in the can with enough water to soak the rags and close the lid tight.;)

If you want to do an interesting experiment, wipe up a little BLO with a paper towel, just enough to dampen it, not soak it, crumple it up and hold it in your hand for several minutes....you will heed the warnings from that time foreward.

You got that right Roc! I just get worried everytime someone asks about sealers and someone replies BLO and Mins........I want folks to realize what can happen.....so hopefully we have saved someone alot of trouble with this thread!:uhuh:

Larry,,, I will not use BLO since the garage in Texas gets to 100 deg,,, I just cant trust it when I am gone,,,,

what are some other good sealer recommendations besides BLO

I've been happy using Minwax Helmsman Spar Urethane cut with mineral spirits. Dries fast, seals well, low fire hazard!

If I have been waiting 3 days for plugs to dry with BLO, how long are you waiting for your plugs to dry?

for a quick and dirty seal try regular sanding sealer. Dries quick and gives pretty good protection. Heed the warnings. no matter what the label says I always put them in a metal paint can with water. better safe than sorry.

I should say that I have been pleased with BLO in my limited plug making - and it appears that this is some pretty good sealing - but always interested in what others (far more experienced than I) are doing.

Sealers
 

Beware!

Woody... as bad as that picture looks,,,, I like it,,,,:hidin:

19 to 24 hours and your good to go. Usually I seal one night and prime the next night after work. Might even be able to go to the next step in 9 to 12 hours - they seem dry the next morning - but I have not tried it.

hey woody and woodbuster you guys are here too? hi you doing'
i'm surfflyfish4stripers...hahaha:pats2:

I use CPES ... I am starting to resemble the Toxic Avenger ..

Good reminder Larry -- I am partial to Val Oil 60-40 but all the precautions apply with that mixture. :uhuh:

quick question; I used cardboard to protect floor, will the cardboard with BLO/MIN spots(spill marks) ignite ???

Good question...I drip dry over a piece of MDF...I have the same concerns.... Anyone?

I think as long as you don't have a situation where the stuff can't ventilate as in a crumpled up rag soaked it it, you'll be ok with drippings on cardboard or MDF. those will have enough air to allow drying to occur. It's the heat building up in a crumpled up rag that cause combustion with BLO

~
 

Having a fire is MORE than allot of trouble...

it .......is...........HELL.....>> trust me, i know

this thread and it's advice should be a sticky :uhuh:

Thx, Those are pretty much my thoughts as well......

TOXIC AVENGER....That's a classic!!!!

Eddie, i thought you knew how to hold your breath. :huh: :D

i just switched to spar urethane thinned with m/s. blo takes too darn long to dry.i do 2 coats of spar ure.. and the plug is hard like a rock.:jump:

Dave, are you soaking them or just brushing it on. Huge difference.

Anyone use Propionate Wood Sealer

Is there a safer sealer one that beginners can use?

Helsman spar urethane satin finish cut 70/30 with mineral spirits. About as safe as your going to get and readily available.