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Other topics for members => General Woodworking => Topic started by: shinnlinger on September 07, 2011, 07:19:38 PM

Title: solvent for pine pitch?
Post by: shinnlinger on September 07, 2011, 07:19:38 PM
Hi,

I have some rollers in my planer with pretty heavy pitch buildup.  Tried some paint thinner, but didn't do much.  Thinking oven cleaner but could be stinky.  Any other ideas?  Anything I can put on to help this in the future?

Dave
Title: Re: solvent for pine pitch?
Post by: lynches lumber on September 07, 2011, 07:38:41 PM
 Dave___ does it have all metal rollers? I use acetone on a wrag and wipe. Dont spray it. I did that once and some got on the drive belt and that was the end of that belt. Acetone is some mean stuff.
Title: Re: solvent for pine pitch?
Post by: shinnlinger on September 07, 2011, 07:41:31 PM
Yes they are all metal and I was thinking of stepping up the solvent, but trying to stay "school friendly"   
Title: Re: solvent for pine pitch?
Post by: zopi on September 07, 2011, 09:15:08 PM
Goo gone...or other citrus based cleaners...
Title: Re: solvent for pine pitch?
Post by: red oaks lumber on September 07, 2011, 09:49:30 PM
laqure thinner or acetone on a rag really works good. hang your rag or shop towel up to air dry. by doing this you avoid having spontaneous combustion.
Title: Re: solvent for pine pitch?
Post by: metalspinner on September 08, 2011, 09:11:29 AM
shinnlinger,

The stuff I use came from Woodcraft.  I'm sure the active ingrediant in it is dirt cheap through some other source.

Here is a link...

http://www.woodcraft.com/Product/2000984/3402/Blade-and-Bit-Cleaner-8-Ounce-Pump-Spray.aspx

I ended up using half the bottle on my last planer cleanup.  So I am interested in an alternative.
Title: Re: solvent for pine pitch?
Post by: shinnlinger on September 08, 2011, 09:02:14 PM
THat is spendy....

I tried acetone today and can't say it did much.  Maybe after it soaks in a bit?
Title: Re: solvent for pine pitch?
Post by: Texas Ranger on September 08, 2011, 09:33:23 PM
turpentine?
Title: Re: solvent for pine pitch?
Post by: beenthere on September 08, 2011, 09:47:43 PM
Once cleaned off, then a better plan to keep it from building up will help a lot. ;)
I think turp too, and wouldn't steer away from xylol as a solvent.
Title: Re: solvent for pine pitch?
Post by: woodmills1 on September 08, 2011, 10:57:31 PM
try running some oak after a softwood planer run, sometimes it cleans up the feed rollers
Title: Re: solvent for pine pitch?
Post by: Satamax on September 09, 2011, 04:01:45 PM
I use white spirit or plain old petrol or gas! I think acetone evaporates too fast for this.

May be toluene could do the trick, this is mean stuff.
Title: Re: solvent for pine pitch?
Post by: Dodgy Loner on September 09, 2011, 04:47:15 PM
Quote from: Texas Ranger on September 08, 2011, 09:33:23 PM
turpentine?

This.
Title: Re: solvent for pine pitch?
Post by: ljmathias on September 10, 2011, 05:55:55 AM
Dodgy, that is one of the most parsimonious responses I've seen on the forum... exactly long enough to make your point and no more.  Problem was, I had to read it three times before I figured it out...   :D

Lj
Title: Re: solvent for pine pitch?
Post by: shinnlinger on September 10, 2011, 06:30:30 AM
I'm surprised he punctuated that  response.....
Title: Re: solvent for pine pitch?
Post by: WDH on September 10, 2011, 07:00:53 AM
Sometimes frugality is necessity.
Title: Re: solvent for pine pitch?
Post by: Phorester on September 10, 2011, 08:21:53 AM

Yep
Title: Re: solvent for pine pitch?
Post by: Just Me on October 25, 2011, 07:42:48 PM
 

Turp makes me sick for some reason, so I am hoping to hear a miracle cleaner. My wife gets it off the car with some stuff she gets at the Dollar General called "Awesome" but I am afraid to use it and find out it causes rust. With the independantly suspended infeed it could get down in between and there is no way to get it out.

I use lacquer thinner or acetone right now, but sure would like to hear a better way.

Blade cleaners cause rust by the way if not cleaned up.

Oven cleaner?

Avoid pine?

Later, Larry
Title: Re: solvent for pine pitch?
Post by: Ironwood on October 25, 2011, 07:49:34 PM
TURPENTINE.

Just like the other two said, it is extract of pine and SHOULD cut it immeadiately.


On that note I used to be able to get it in one gallon steel cans, not anymore, at least not from LOWES, and HOME DEPOT.  Any ideas.

        Ironwood
Title: Re: solvent for pine pitch?
Post by: bill m on October 25, 2011, 07:54:27 PM
I use WD-40 on my pruning saws. Takes the pitch off and keeps them from rusting.
Title: Re: solvent for pine pitch?
Post by: zopi on October 25, 2011, 08:09:37 PM
Goo gone..
Was asked on another forum what was used to take pine pitch off of chainsaw bars...my reply....the groundie...
Title: Re: solvent for pine pitch?
Post by: Just Me on October 26, 2011, 05:56:24 AM
Quote from: Ironwood on October 25, 2011, 07:49:34 PM
TURPENTINE.


On that note I used to be able to get it in one gallon steel cans, not anymore, at least not from LOWES, and HOME DEPOT.  Any ideas.

        Ironwood

They still carry it at real paint stores. Wish it didn't make me sick because it does work well and does not start rust.
Title: Re: solvent for pine pitch?
Post by: Phorester on October 26, 2011, 01:06:32 PM

I think turpentine would be the best.  But I once used Go-Jo, the hand cleaner, to get a heavy buildup of road tar off my pickup.  Took a lot of rubbing, but it took off the tar with no damage or blemish to the paint.

I'd also suggest putting on whatever cleaner you decide to use, then scraping the rollers lengthwise with a putty knife, then following up with wiping off the excess. If you don't want to use a metal putty knife, make a wedge-shaped scraper out of a scrap of hard wood like oak, etc.
Title: Re: solvent for pine pitch?
Post by: Dodgy Loner on October 26, 2011, 03:14:26 PM
Quote from: ljmathias on September 10, 2011, 05:55:55 AM
Dodgy, that is one of the most parsimonious responses I've seen on the forum... exactly long enough to make your point and no more. 

Off-topic, but I remember when I took the GRE as a senior in college in 2004 - the word parsimony was on the analogies section three times (3!) in one form or another, and I had no clue what it meant. I looked it up as soon as I got out of the testing room and it has stuck with me ever since :D
Title: Re: solvent for pine pitch?
Post by: Ironwood on October 26, 2011, 06:32:24 PM
Well, called Sherwin Williams this afternoon and found it that due to EPA regulations on VOC's, turpentine will/is no longer be available in gallon and likely not at all soon. The law was called OTC or some such thing, so like all good things Dursban, lead tooth paste tubes, DDT, lead paint, NON Etyhanol gasoline, 5 gallon flushing toilets (got two new ones before that one went into effect ;)) Sulfer enriched diesel, Turpentine will soon also be a thing of the past.  >:(

Ironwood
Title: Re: solvent for pine pitch?
Post by: Reddog on October 26, 2011, 09:02:48 PM
Blue creeper cleaner.
Title: Re: solvent for pine pitch?
Post by: Coon on October 28, 2011, 02:23:03 PM
Soak the blades in canola oil.  Then after a good soaking wash them down with a good soapy water solution.  Works great for the spruce pitch we have around here.  I have used it on several skill saw blades, bandsaw blades and my jeans.   ;D 
Title: Re: solvent for pine pitch?
Post by: DanG on October 30, 2011, 10:34:47 AM
Plain old rubbing alcohol will cut pine pitch too, and leaves no residue.