Great way to apply BLO

[iringtwice]

As I was talking(cussing) to myself the other night about how a small rag was a hard way to apply BLO to my Enfield my wife said that she had what I needed and came back with a wedged shaped makeup sponge that works like a charm! It is about 2 in long and 3/4 of an high at the tall end and made of tight celled foam. It allows you to place BLO exactly where you need it and how much you need it. They sell them at all drug stores, WalMart etc. If your hesitant to buy them your self ask your wife to get you some, they are really cheap!

Information

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[A. F Medic]

I use textured round cosmetic pads that our women use to remove make up, nail polish, etc. Some stores list them as cotton pads.

Good shotgun pad too, for cleaning the barrel.

[limpetmine]

You should store your rags and sponges with BLO and other cleaning agents in a metal tin, sealed from air. Rags have been known to spontaneously combust (catch on fire) from the chemical heat generated. Quite unlike the Lee Enfield action coming apart from some rain..... what a load of nonsense.....

[Donzi]

[QUOTE=limpetmine;105364]You should store your rags and sponges with BLO and other cleaning agents in a metal tin, sealed from air. Rags have been known to spontaneously combust (catch on fire) from the chemical heat generated. QUOTE]

This is a real danger. Last summer my brother, having used BLO f/the 1st time, threw the rags in a metal waste container in his shop, which was, fortunately not attached to his house. The result was that, shortly after midnight, he was awakened by a neighbor who informed him that the shop building was ablaze. It was a total loss, amounting to just under $100,000 US. Be VERY careful.
Donzi

[duggaboy]

don't store anything that can flame up, gas or BLO or cowdung. when you are done with the application and rag, put it in the garage sink, water it down, and put some soap on it or in the water at first, this will allow the rag to be safe.

[rayg]

Almost the same happened to me. I was using fine steel wool on a stock in the basement that apparently had been coated in BLO. I left the steel wool in an old large open wooden carpenters tool box when I was done.
About an hour later I was up stairs and remembered I forgot something in the basement and went down to get it and the there was a flame about two feet high in the tool box. I was able to put it out quickly but had I not gone downstairs when I did, I'm sure it would have resulted in a major fire, Ray

[iringtwice]

I use a large can half filled with water that has a tight lid on it. When ever I use any sort of cloth with any sort of solvent, oil, what ever, I drop it in and swish it around a few times to soak it down. Donzi, Limpetmine was talking about a sealed can which will starve the fire out. You can buy these at industrial supply stores, they are not cheap but they do the job. But just dropping it in an open waste can is asking for trouble!

[villiers]

It is a well known fact that the Burgomaster of Stockholm suffered from spontaneous combustion in the spring of 1785 after personal usage of BLO.

[Son]

Personally I take no chances. I'd advise you to burn your rags immediately after using BLO for any reason! Even if they have a Burgomaster in them!

[Alan de Enfield]

It is a well known fact that the Burgomaster of Stockholm suffered from spontaneous combustion in the spring of 1785 after personal usage of BLO.

I thought it was Pinnochio who spontaneously ignited after a vigourous bout of 'rubbing'