Cleaning Pine Sap

Ziggy2305 · Jul 18, 2006

In my business, I have the need to keep methanol around. I use it for racing engine fuel. I have ended my mowing chores feeling like a giant fly catching strip, with my clothes stuck to me and my new 2305 actually striped with the cursed sap. I have tried several things but have found that straight methanol works the best on all surfaces, porous and non porous, and leaves no residue or odor. No paint damage, outside of removing all the wax,and on a hot day, the cool feeeling it gives while evaporating is welcome.

knute_m · Jul 18, 2006

I haven't tried it on my tractor, but Crisco shortening works great for getting pine sap off my hands.

Knute

dbdartman · Jul 20, 2006

jd110 said:
Yikes! I'd be a little careful with brake cleaner. I have seen that stuff eat right through paint.

I'm sorry, but I've NEVER had brake cleaner remove paint (or powder coat, or attack plastic or rubber) as it's usually the first thing I spray on something to clean it before working on it if it's greasy/dirty. Used it to clean the stop solenoid on the fuel pump of my 4400, this spring, before removing it. I'm sure I got some on the plastic panels in the process, & it didn't remove the paint on the pump, or discolor the plastic panels. (that I could see). Even using it for cleaning brakes (gasp!) it won't take paint off backing plates, caliper mounts, or the body where it gets sprayed (notably on door hinges prior to lubricating with anti-seize compound). It's also the only thing I ever found that will remove anti-seize compound plus it'll CLEAN sand-blasted glass (this amazed the guy I was working for at the time, as he'd been in the glass biz most of his life & his "method" was lots of water & glass cleaner 3-4 times if not more to remove the streaking... the brake cleaner turned the glass about 70% translucent on contact, water won't do that, & cleaned it completely in one pass leaving no streaks).

jd110 · Jul 20, 2006

dbdartman said:
I'm sorry, but I've NEVER had brake cleaner remove paint (or powder coat, or attack plastic or rubber) as it's usually the first thing I spray on something to clean it before working on it if it's greasy/dirty. Used it to clean the stop solenoid on the fuel pump of my 4400, this spring, before removing it. I'm sure I got some on the plastic panels in the process, & it didn't remove the paint on the pump, or discolor the plastic panels. (that I could see). Even using it for cleaning brakes (gasp!) it won't take paint off backing plates, caliper mounts, or the body where it gets sprayed (notably on door hinges prior to lubricating with anti-seize compound). It's also the only thing I ever found that will remove anti-seize compound plus it'll CLEAN sand-blasted glass (this amazed the guy I was working for at the time, as he'd been in the glass biz most of his life & his "method" was lots of water & glass cleaner 3-4 times if not more to remove the streaking... the brake cleaner turned the glass about 70% translucent on contact, water won't do that, & cleaned it completely in one pass leaving no streaks).

Hey, whatever works is great. I have found that some brands can damage paint and I never remember which ones. So I am afraid to try it on paint since i usually buy the cheapest brake cleaner I can find. What brand do you use that you find safe on paint?

Rob52 · Jul 22, 2006

I think a lot of people mix up the Brake Cleaner and Brake Fluid thing about paint damage! I'll start with the Goo Gone first, maybe even a new can of tar remover, then move up to the brake clean. Methenol, I really don't have on hand!
Thanks