It seems that we used to learn in school not to keep oily rags in a pile in the garage because that could lead to sponaneous combustion. I think the oils give off a small amount of heat as they sit (can’t think of why), and eventually they can get to an ignition point. Now, as I think about it, I wonder if we’re in any danger with the wooden box of fatwood we keep to the side of the fireplace. The stuff is made of small strips of wood, impregnated, I believe, with a flamable resin. It’s a great help in starting fires, but is there any danger of leaving 10-20 pounds of the stuff in a closed box? I mean, danger of spontaneous combustion? xo, C.
Oil polymerizes (forms chemical chains) while drying and gives off heat in the process. Reduce air flow enough so that the heat can build up to ignition temperatures and you have yourself a bonfire.
While resin is very flammable, I don’t think it undergoes the same oxidation/polymerization process that oil does.
The vapors that the fatwood gives off smell so much like other volatiles…is there a chance that it could be oxidizing the same way?