Is my garage going to spontaneously combust?

[sixstringsteve]

I've got some wicked fumes in my garage. Between herculiner, brake cleaner, metal-etching primer and rustoleum paint, I'm afraid it's going to blow up while I'm asleep. Do vapors spontaneously combust, or do they need to be on a rag or something? Should I worry?

I opened both doors to the garage, but today is the one day it isn't windy here and I can't get a breeze through it.

 

[jeep-N-montero]

Some chemicals can react with one another and ignite, and keep in mind concentrated vapors ignite easily.

 

[RogueJeepr]

I use a regular house fan to get the fumes outta my garage .

 

[STAG]

I think with the doors open youd be good. And even shut I don't think anything would happen but I have seen wood-stain soaked rags combust before.

 

[sixstringsteve]

I threw away all the rags and paintbrushes, and I've left both garage doors open for 30 min. Hopefully that helps. If you read about me on the news that my house burned down, you'll know why.

 

[STAG]

Plus if the vapors did combust, wouldn't it be more of a "poof" flash rather than sustained flames/burned house?

 

[sixstringsteve]

I dunno, that's why I'm asking.

I do have other flamable stuff in there that could catch if there was a localized "poof."

 

[Kevin B.]

Rags combust because of oxidization. It releases heat, and if they're in a pile in the corner or whatever, the heat is trapped and builds to the combustion point of the chemical on them that is oxidizing. Your vapors won't spontaneously combust.

Probably best if you didn't spark a doob in there, though.

 

[STAG]

Did you live Steve?

 

[mesha]

Rags combust because of oxidization. It releases heat, and if they're in a pile in the corner or whatever, the heat is trapped and builds to the combustion point of the chemical on them that is oxidizing. Your vapors won't spontaneously combust.

Probably best if you didn't spark a doob in there, though.

Nice job on the spontaneous combustion explanation.

 

[sixstringsteve]

Did you live Steve?

Yup, I made it through the night. Thanks guys.

 

[airmanwilliams]

Oh man I was worried about Carlos! Hows Carlos?

 

[Kevin B.]

Oh man I was worried about Carlos! Hows Carlos?

High.

 

[Bart]

He was high, now he's hung over and missing some PCM cells.

 

[sixstringsteve]

He was high, now he's hung over and missing some PCM cells.

He's not the only one...

 

[frieed]

If you hadn't spent all that time on painting, wiring, and lighting you could have had it done while the weather was warm...

 

[sixstringsteve]

If I hadn't spent all that time on wiring and painting, then I would have done it to the 4runner by now and have wasted all that time. So in hindsight, you saved my bacon, plus I have a well-lit garage.

 

[pELYgroso]

Is your water heater in there? I wouldn't worry about that sort of thing too much unless you have something in there with a pilot light. Then I'd worry....

 

[sixstringsteve]

no water heater in there thank goodness.