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Old Air tools -- need help

braddd123

Member
Joined
Feb 8, 2012
Messages
15
Hi guys I'm on this forum quite regularly and I've never really posted but now I definitely could use some help. I picked up some air tools a while back through buying a tool box with these in it. I like the tools from yesterday better than anything I can buy today so I'm willing to do the work for these I'm just kind of stuck on the best way to clean these. When I bough the box it had a weird old tar like substance on the top that had ran down the front to the bottom drawer where these tools were stored. So I was trying to brainstorm ideas of what the best thing to use to dissolve this stuff off the tools to use them again.
 

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Scsmith42

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Nov 20, 2014
Messages
132
Location
New Hill, NC
You might want to be careful in case the tar is some type of transformer oil with pcb's. I would try soaking the entire tool in either diesel or kerosene to see if it would loosen up the tar, and then use a disposable parts washer brush and gloves to clean the external goop off.

After the outside is clean fully dismantle and clean the parts in fresh solvent and reassemble. Dispose of the diesel-tar mix at a hazmat drop off site


Scott
 

Herod

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Sep 27, 2014
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My mother's basement
It's true....diesel is a mighty fine solvent. Even has lubricating properties. Reasonably priced, as far as solvents go. Good stuff....if you can get over the smell.
 
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Scsmith42

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Nov 20, 2014
Messages
132
Location
New Hill, NC
The issue is not so much diesel and tar as it is the unknown source of the "tar". Years ago some really bad stuff could be purchased by anyone (creosote, transformer oil, etc). Not knowing what is in the tar like substance that is on the tools, it would be wise to err on the side of caution when it comes to disposal.


Scott
 

pepi

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Joined
Mar 27, 2013
Messages
2,883
Location
Woodstock, GA
I would NOT disassemble them unless necessary, people take stuff apart all the time for no real reason and render the tool or whatever useless.

The saying applies: " If it ain't broke do not fix it"

With that being said, the goop is on the outside of the tool, highly unlikely it is internal.

I would suggest you get that off, lube the tool via the air port and fire it up. See how it operates, unless it leaks air or has no power, no need to disassemble them.

Be careful if you plan on soaking,submerging the tool, do not want to use any solvent that could cause any damage to the internals like O rings or seals.

If tar a good safe chemical that removes it Mineral spirits, and will not effect the seals or O rings, cannot offer any insight on the diesel never used it.

If you got the tool box try your goop removal on it first. PCBs some common sense, unless you are working with it daily. Thinking you are not going to have a problem, for me I would not think twice about it.

Glove up the PSBs are not air born, they are absorb thru the skin, unless they a being sprayed that would lend to airborne ..
 
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