hddennis Posted September 25, 2013 Share Posted September 25, 2013 Just bought a replacement fan for my 1917 Maxwell. It is in really good shape except for surface rust and tar. I'm currently soaking it in molasses and know it will come out rust free. My question is what will completely remove the tar that the molasses has no effect on? Howard Dennis Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Restorer32 Posted September 25, 2013 Share Posted September 25, 2013 A 50/50 mix of kerosene and elbow grease. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bhigdog Posted September 25, 2013 Share Posted September 25, 2013 What works well for me is warming with a propane torch, removing the heavy stuff with a putty knife and then the aforementioned 50/50 mixture.......................Bob Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
39BuickEight Posted September 25, 2013 Share Posted September 25, 2013 yep, propane, a scraper..... and acetone Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JO BO Posted September 26, 2013 Share Posted September 26, 2013 I have always had pretty good success spraying tar with W-D40 . seems to melt it right off. Hope it works for you. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
auburnseeker Posted September 26, 2013 Share Posted September 26, 2013 I have always had pretty good success spraying tar with W-D40 . seems to melt it right off. Hope it works for you.I've had alot of luck with WD40 on cutting any heavy bodied grease or tar as well. Infact when I get grease on my hands tor tools that I can't get off with even tough hand cleaner. I hit it with a little WD 40 first and it comes right off. For rust I know you mentioned Molasses. I have been using Evaporust on a bunch of rusty raw metal parts and can't believe how clean the parts come out in about 12-24 hours. It's under 20.00 a gallon with tax at autozone. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
keiser31 Posted September 26, 2013 Share Posted September 26, 2013 I would maybe try to freeze it and chip it off. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hddennis Posted September 26, 2013 Author Share Posted September 26, 2013 Thanks guys, I'll try all of these ideas. John, although I like your idea I think your wife must be more understanding than mine. If my wife finds that fan in the refrigerator, I'm sleeping in the garage forever!Howard Dennis Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
keiser31 Posted September 26, 2013 Share Posted September 26, 2013 Thanks guys, I'll try all of these ideas. John, although I like your idea I think your wife must be more understanding than mine. If my wife finds that fan in the refrigerator, I'm sleeping in the garage forever!Howard DennisAnd that's a BAD thing?? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ben Bruce aka First Born Posted September 26, 2013 Share Posted September 26, 2013 And that's a BAD thing?? Glad I read your reply, almost wrote the exact thing!! Great minds??? Ben Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
John Posted September 26, 2013 Share Posted September 26, 2013 Thanks guys, I'll try all of these ideas. John, although I like your idea I think your wife must be more understanding than mine. If my wife finds that fan in the refrigerator, I'm sleeping in the garage forever!Howard DennisMaybe she would prefer you run it thu the dishwasher Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dwight Romberger Posted September 26, 2013 Share Posted September 26, 2013 If you want a fun way to do it- buy a few cans of compressed air. (Like the kind nerds use to blow dust out of their computers) Secure the fan on the work bench so it won't move. Wear gloves and safety glasses. turn the can upside and spray one area of tar . It will freeze the tar to -58 F. Chip off the tar with a hammer and old wood chisel. This is a variation of heating a nut with a torch and then quick freezing the bolt. They come apart every time. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
keiser31 Posted September 26, 2013 Share Posted September 26, 2013 Mmmm....freezing......where have I heard that before?? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dwight Romberger Posted September 26, 2013 Share Posted September 26, 2013 From me? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bhigdog Posted September 26, 2013 Share Posted September 26, 2013 Truth is there are any number of ways of simply removing a bit of tar from a piece of steel. All work, all are simple, and all are intuitive.....................Bob Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dwight Romberger Posted September 26, 2013 Share Posted September 26, 2013 Yes, but how many are fun? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bhigdog Posted September 26, 2013 Share Posted September 26, 2013 Yes, but how many are fun?None that I can think of unless maybe attaching the fan to an apparatus capable of a gazzilion RPM and spinning the fan until either the fan or the tar comes from together to apart.............Bob Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dwight Romberger Posted September 26, 2013 Share Posted September 26, 2013 When I was young and dumb, I owned a roofing business. I would soak the tools that would get covered with hot asphalt (that's what is on you fan) in kerosene or gasoline. It will eventually dissolve. I would not recommend heating it with a torch. At about 550 F will will begin to burn. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dwight Romberger Posted September 26, 2013 Share Posted September 26, 2013 I like that Bob. Much more fun than freeze...scrape.....freeze...scrape.....freeze...scrape.....freeze...scrape.....freeze...scrape.....freeze...scrape..... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
D Yaros Posted September 26, 2013 Share Posted September 26, 2013 I know that it is not "environmentally friendly," but would not raw gasoline do the job? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rhb1999 Posted September 26, 2013 Share Posted September 26, 2013 mineral spirits? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
plymouthcranbrook Posted September 27, 2013 Share Posted September 27, 2013 Lacquer Thinner? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hddennis Posted September 28, 2013 Author Share Posted September 28, 2013 After a few days in molasses it looks a lot better. It doesn't remove grease or the tar but the rust is all gone. I plan to use an old wood chisel to get all the heavy tar off and then try the various chemicals you fellows suggested.Howard Dennis Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dwight Romberger Posted September 28, 2013 Share Posted September 28, 2013 Those disposable aluminum oven pans work really well for soaking parts. There is a large selection of sizes. They only cost a few bucks, and no clean up. You just throw them away when you are done. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hddennis Posted September 28, 2013 Author Share Posted September 28, 2013 (edited) As Gomer used to say, Surprise, Surprise! After dreading this tar scraping I find out that there is nothing under it but dry surface rust. Once I got the sharp wood chisel under the tar it just peeled right off like very old chewing gum and left almost no residue. Whole fan cleaned up in about half an hour. Now for another soak in the molasses to get rid of the newly exposed rust and it should be good as new. Thanks to everyone for all the helpful suggestions,Howard Dennis Edited September 30, 2013 by hddennis (see edit history) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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