Pine Tar Removal

[Bob_Young]

Spent 3 days using my L4300 hauling white pine boughs to a burn pile. Ice stripped them off the trees last winter. Now the controls, fender tops, and about anywhere else I touched is smeared with pine tar.

Does anyone have a trick or procedure for cleaning off the stuff? Seems like I saw one posted here before.

Thanks.
Bob

 

[Willl]

WD-40

 

[zeuspaul]

I would give turpentine a try. It's made from pine.

Zeuspaul

 

[SFish]

Bob:

If it were me, I would think of the pitch as protective coating.

Steve

 

[LBrown59]

WD-40

Engine degreaser works great for anything gummy or sticky.
Excellent for removing sales tags and labels.
Makes what once was a frustrating chore a snap.
I get better results with it than I do with WD - 40.

50 chevy 60 chevy Bx23
MY FIRST CAR http://chevy.tocmp.com/chevyscrapbook/files/kamp50.jpg 1950 Chevy
OUR FIRST CAR http://www.hubcapcafe.com/i/2001/storycty/chev6001.JPG 60 Chevy Impala Convertible front http://www.hubcapcafe.com/i/2001/storycty/chev6001a.JPG rear view
MY TRACTOR http://www.jenningsequipment.com/storepics/ksBX22.jpg BX23

 

[Bob_Young]

Thanks, guys. There's WD40 and maybe some degreaser around here. I'll try those first.

SFish: Can't leave it on. Picked the branches and limbs out of an area that was loaded with poison ivy. Made it through first contact OK by showering each night with laundry soap. Got into trouble a week or so later when I tried to re-use the tar coated work gloves.
Bob

 

[jjmarotz]

Don't laugh but try baby oil, it works to take pitch off your skin, might work on other surfaces too.

 

[ragkar]

try goo-gone. It's sold in the paint section of walmart.
home depot and Lowes also sell it.

 

[ragkar]

Also try raiding the medicine cabinet and the garage for rubbing alcohol, lighter fluid, acetone, paint remover, gasoline etc.

 

[LBrown59]

try goo-gone. It's sold in the paint section of walmart.
home depot and Lowes also sell it.

I tried goo-gone but I went back to engine degreaser because it works as good or better than goo - gone and you get a lot more ounces of degreeser for less money than goo-gone.

 

[LBrown59]

Also try raiding the medicine cabinet and the garage for rubbing alcohol, lighter fluid, acetone, paint remover, gasoline etc.

I've tried all these an engine degreaser came out the hands down winner.

 

[studor]

As someone else mentioned, turpentine will work for sure and will leave less residue than the other stuff (and smell nicer too Maybe you should read the thread on 2-4-D -- it kills poison ivy (and a lot of broad leaf weeds)

 

[Albi]

Try rubbing alcohol.

 

[ray66v]

Any solvent based product, i.e. mineral spirits, paint thinner, turpentine, lacquer thinner, lighter fluid, goo gone, bug and tar remover, wax and grease remover, mechanics hand cleaner, or acetone will remove pine tar. Test a small area for each type of surface your removing it from to see if it softens or discolors the material. The last two products are the safest, and the strongest in that order.

 

[Shmudda]

Use what you use to power your tractor....Diesel Fuel

Work Great and leaves a nice shine at the same time!

Craig

 

[Treemonkey1000]

As far as pitch on the skin I use margarine. Then liquid soap to get the margarine..

 

[ccsial]

I have lots of pines. I use mineral spirits. Laquer thinner or acetone can take paint off.

 

[jimainiac]

I don't think anyone mentioned waterless hand cleaner, like GoJo. I've used it when the horses got pitch on their coats. Disolves the pitch and it's mild.

 

[ray66v]

I don't think anyone mentioned waterless hand cleaner, like GoJo. I've used it when the horses got pitch on their coats. Disolves the pitch and it's mild.

Yes I did.

 

[djradz]

Spent 3 days using my L4300 hauling white pine boughs to a burn pile. Ice stripped them off the trees last winter. Now the controls, fender tops, and about anywhere else I touched is smeared with pine tar.

Does anyone have a trick or procedure for cleaning off the stuff? Seems like I saw one posted here before.

Thanks.
Bob

Bob, please let us know what YOU find works. I've tried all of these proposed solutions over the years and found the results marginal at best. Pine sap is tough stuff! The only thing that I've had any luck with working really well was Lacquer Thinner, but as others have mentioned, it's pretty harsh stuff and will dull the paint if used much. Maybe I'll have to try some of these other suggestions again.