clicky-bottom oil can
 

My mom discovered two of these and gave them to me. Yay! Anyway,
one has some extremely old oil inside that's turned pretty much into
tar. What's the recommended way to get that crap out?
It also looks like it had a gasket inside of a lip around the base of
the screw-in spout. What's an acceptable substitute for that? Cereal
box?

--
B.B. --I am not a goat! thegoat4 at airmail dot net
http://web2.airmail.net/thegoat4/

Just use a solvent that can disolve oil. Turpentine? Gasoline? Put some in
and let it sit or swirl it around.

Leather works well as a gasket, try a fabric store for remnants.

-Tom


"B.B." u wrote in message
...
My mom discovered two of these and gave them to me. Yay! Anyway,
one has some extremely old oil inside that's turned pretty much into
tar. What's the recommended way to get that crap out?
It also looks like it had a gasket inside of a lip around the base of
the screw-in spout. What's an acceptable substitute for that? Cereal
box?

--
B.B. --I am not a goat! thegoat4 at airmail dot net
http://web2.airmail.net/thegoat4/

B.B. wrote:

My mom discovered two of these and gave them to me. Yay! Anyway,
one has some extremely old oil inside that's turned pretty much into
tar. What's the recommended way to get that crap out?
It also looks like it had a gasket inside of a lip around the base of
the screw-in spout. What's an acceptable substitute for that? Cereal
box?


Acetone or laquer thinner works well on the congealed oil.

Gary Brady
Austin, TX

(clip) What's the recommended way to get that crap out?(clip)
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
It's possible that if you set it in a pot of boiling water for a while the
sludge will become more liquid. If it becomes pourable, then empty it out.
Finish up with some detergent and water, and shake hell out of it. Possibly
add some coffee grounds or sand to provide scrubbing action.

"B.B." u wrote in message
...
My mom discovered two of these and gave them to me. Yay! Anyway,
one has some extremely old oil inside that's turned pretty much into
tar. What's the recommended way to get that crap out?
It also looks like it had a gasket inside of a lip around the base of
the screw-in spout. What's an acceptable substitute for that? Cereal
box?

Gasoline, use with care.
Cut the gasket out of anything you find that you think will work. Can still
get all kinds of gasket material, check auto parts stores, ask at an old
time outdoor equipement repair place, cut up some old neoprene kitchen
gloves, etc.

"TT" wrote in message
news:MtB9e.3961$H53.3619@lakeread05...

Just use a solvent that can disolve oil. Turpentine? Gasoline? Put some
in and let it sit or swirl it around.


NEVER use gasoline as a cleaning solvent. Dangerous as hell (and full of
nasty chemical additives that your lungs and skin should not be exposed to).

Mineral spirits is a fairly safe solvent and it works well for dissolving
gummy oils, grease, tar, etc.

- Michael

"DeepDiver" wrote in message
...
"TT" wrote in message
news:MtB9e.3961$H53.3619@lakeread05...

Just use a solvent that can disolve oil. Turpentine? Gasoline? Put some
in and let it sit or swirl it around.


NEVER use gasoline as a cleaning solvent. Dangerous as hell (and full of
nasty chemical additives that your lungs and skin should not be exposed
to).

Uh huh! What is it, people never learn? Gasoline is fuel, not solvent,
as is diesel *fuel* and kerosene. There are solvents on the market that are
*solvents*, not fuels. They are generally the best choice for dissolving
hydrocarbons, and often are no more costly than the fuels used in their
stead.

I can't speak for anyone else, but the thoughts of an open container of
gasoline being used as a solvent gives me the willies. How many folks
have met their maker while cleaning their parts in their basements or
garages, next to the gas water heater?

Harold

In article , Harold and Susan Vordos says...

Uh huh! What is it, people never learn? Gasoline is fuel, not solvent,
as is diesel *fuel* and kerosene.

LOL. My dad still maintains that gasoline is the best way to clean
alkyd paint off of brushes and whatnot. I keep trying to cure him
of this habit.

This is, if you recall, the man who tests live circuits with
screwdrivers...

Jim


--
==================================================
please reply to:
JRR(zero) at pkmfgvm4 (dot) vnet (dot) ibm (dot) com
==================================================

"Harold and Susan Vordos" wrote in message
...
Gasoline is fuel, not solvent,
as is diesel *fuel* and kerosene. There are solvents on the market that
are
*solvents*, not fuels. They are generally the best choice for dissolving
hydrocarbons

But Harold, they are *all* hydrocarbons! That's why they work so well...

Okay, gasoline and diesel are mixed for burning specifically in engines, but
AFAIK kerosene and paint thinner, among other petroleum distallates sold as
solvents, come remarkably close, if not already the same.

Tim

--
"California is the breakfast state: fruits, nuts and flakes."
Website: http://webpages.charter.net/dawill/tmoranwms

"Tim Williams" wrote in message
...
"Harold and Susan Vordos" wrote in message
...
Gasoline is fuel, not solvent,
as is diesel *fuel* and kerosene. There are solvents on the market that
are
*solvents*, not fuels. They are generally the best choice for
dissolving
hydrocarbons

But Harold, they are *all* hydrocarbons! That's why they work so well...

Okay, gasoline and diesel are mixed for burning specifically in engines,
but
AFAIK kerosene and paint thinner, among other petroleum distallates sold
as
solvents, come remarkably close, if not already the same.


Correct, all are petroleum distillates, all contain the same components,
lighter fractions with lighter components. Mineral oil is simply a heavier
fraction of the same feedstock. None of the components are especially
hazardous, with the possible exception of benzene.

"bw" wrote in message
...
"Tim Williams" wrote in message
...
"Harold and Susan Vordos" wrote in message
...
Gasoline is fuel, not solvent,
as is diesel *fuel* and kerosene. There are solvents on the market
that
are
*solvents*, not fuels. They are generally the best choice for
dissolving
hydrocarbons

But Harold, they are *all* hydrocarbons! That's why they work so
well...

Okay, gasoline and diesel are mixed for burning specifically in engines,
but
AFAIK kerosene and paint thinner, among other petroleum distallates sold
as
solvents, come remarkably close, if not already the same.


Correct, all are petroleum distillates, all contain the same components,
lighter fractions with lighter components. Mineral oil is simply a heavier
fraction of the same feedstock. None of the components are especially
hazardous, with the possible exception of benzene.

Solvents evaporate cleanly at atmospheric pressure and ambient temperature.
.. Oils tend not to. That's why they aren't promoted as solvents. It's not
uncommon to wash parts in Stoddard solvent and follow with a cold water
spray, then permit the parts to dry. They'll accept paint well. Try that
with ATF or other light oils, including kerosene. I wish you luck.

Harold

Harold.

"Harold and Susan Vordos" wrote in message
...
It's not
uncommon to wash parts in Stoddard solvent and follow with a cold water
spray, then permit the parts to dry. They'll accept paint well. Try that
with ATF or other light oils, including kerosene. I wish you luck.

If it works it works, but isn't WD-40 mostly stoddard solvent? Seems
counter-intuitive that WD-40 (or uh, WD-1? heh) can be displaced itself by
the thing it's supposed to combat...

Tim

--
"California is the breakfast state: fruits, nuts and flakes."
Website: http://webpages.charter.net/dawill/tmoranwms

"Tim Williams" wrote in message
...
"Harold and Susan Vordos" wrote in message
...
It's not
uncommon to wash parts in Stoddard solvent and follow with a cold water
spray, then permit the parts to dry. They'll accept paint well. Try
that
with ATF or other light oils, including kerosene. I wish you luck.

If it works it works, but isn't WD-40 mostly stoddard solvent? Seems
counter-intuitive that WD-40 (or uh, WD-1? heh) can be displaced itself by
the thing it's supposed to combat...

Tim


If you've used WD-40, you realize that while it may be made of Stoddard
solvent (does the product say it is? I don't think so), it also contains
something that is dissolved that remains behind after the solvent has
evaporated. That something appears to me to be paraffin. Again, I don't
think the product admits to what it is. Shades of ATF in solvent.
Makes no sense. I don't usually put dirt in wash water to improve its
cleaning power.

My comments on Stoddard rinsed with cold water are based on experience. It
works, and well. What isn't soluble by the Stoddard is removed by the water
rinse. Surprisingly, the majority of the Stoddard is also washed off.

Harold

"Harold and Susan Vordos" wrote in message
...
snip
My comments on Stoddard rinsed with cold water are based on experience.
It
works, and well. What isn't soluble by the Stoddard is removed by the
water
rinse. Surprisingly, the majority of the Stoddard is also washed off.

Hmm, the primarily active ingredient in WD-40 must not be stoddard then...

Tim

--
"California is the breakfast state: fruits, nuts and flakes."
Website: http://webpages.charter.net/dawill/tmoranwms

On Wed, 20 Apr 2005 18:09:07 -0500, "B.B."
u wrote:

My mom discovered two of these and gave them to me. Yay! Anyway,
one has some extremely old oil inside that's turned pretty much into
tar. What's the recommended way to get that crap out?
It also looks like it had a gasket inside of a lip around the base of
the screw-in spout. What's an acceptable substitute for that? Cereal
box?
It may not be readily available to you (unless you want to look up the
Dr.Pepper method and make your own) but biodiesel fuel is a better
solvent than any of these, has no real harmful components (unless you
don't get all the methoxide out), and is biodegradable (you can drink
it if you want, though I wouldn't). Keep it away from any paint or
other stuff you don't want "solvented".

k

In article ,
Treedweller wrote:

On Wed, 20 Apr 2005 18:09:07 -0500, "B.B."
. ru wrote:

My mom discovered two of these and gave them to me. Yay! Anyway,
one has some extremely old oil inside that's turned pretty much into
tar. What's the recommended way to get that crap out?
It also looks like it had a gasket inside of a lip around the base of
the screw-in spout. What's an acceptable substitute for that? Cereal
box?
It may not be readily available to you (unless you want to look up the
Dr.Pepper method and make your own) but biodiesel fuel is a better
solvent than any of these, has no real harmful components (unless you
don't get all the methoxide out), and is biodegradable (you can drink
it if you want, though I wouldn't). Keep it away from any paint or
other stuff you don't want "solvented".

k

Hmm. If I drank it and peed on some paint, could I put on some
super-impressive demonstration? "Hey, y'all, watch this!"
There's a station a ways north of me on I35 that has a big-assed
banner across the front saying "biodiesel." I guess I'll swing by there
and have a look.

--
B.B. --I am not a goat! thegoat4 at airmail dot net
http://web2.airmail.net/thegoat4/