Small woodchuckery safety reminder

I haven't spilled that much at any one time, but I keep some of the saw dust from the table saw around just for this kind of situation. It soaks it up pretty well and then a little grease remover handles things fairly well. The oily saw dust can go on my trash pile. the one that I use to shoot at.
 
Small reminder that could prevent a BIG problem.

Sometimes the "spontaneous" combustion stuff can get pretty amazing. I remember when I was a kid, many of the lumber mills had huge piles of sawdust and bark chips that had smoldering fires in the center that were impossible to put out, but didn't have enough air to take off. It was said that the slowly-built up heat of composting in the center was responsible. There were stories of people climbing on the piles and stepping over an interior void so created to be lost and buried.
 
I recall some of the old grain elevators going up in a bang when conditions got just right. Anything suspect I always store outside just to play it safe.

Thanks for reminder.
 
grain elevators going up in a bang
Click to expand...
Which points to another problem.
In addition to internal heat buildup, dust is a potential hazard.

As I understand it, dust in silos can act just like
military aerosal bombs.
Spread a combustible finely through the air in just
the right density for the oxygen present,
then ignite through any means.

BigBOOM.
 
I've read that grain elevator explosions were what gave folks the idea for fuel-air bombs.

S.
 
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