Oil-soaked? Can't find any K2R?

Try your local Ace Hardware store, stock # 10190.

While not all Ace stores carry the same things (most being individually franchised), K2R is usually in stock at the store I work at: $3.79 for a 5-oz can.

(For the newcomers: 'K2R' is an aerosol-driven spot lifter. When applied to oil-soaked balsa it leaches the oil from the wood and is simply brushed off when dry.)

mk

Not long ago, I went on a "shopping crusade" for K2R. None available anywhere. So I got creative and purloined some of our kitty litter. Filled the tank cavity with the stuff and waited. After a couple days, I vacuumed it out, and the oil was mostly gone. I don't know if it actually "lifted" the oil from the pores of the balsa, but it was the best I could do.

Floyd in OR

DO MOT USE K2R ON YOUR AIRPLANE! They changed the formula 2-3 years ago to include acetone. See previous posts on this subject. You can guess how I know. Fortunately, I only sprayed a small area of my T-Bird with it. I sure wish I could find some of the old stuff.

Mark Gerber

Mikey,

Try this stuff. CRC Lectra-Motive, Electric Parts Cleaner
Just rub on some baking soda, spray with this stuff, brush off.
Better than new!
You can find it at almost any auto supply store. Same active ingreadient as the old K2R.

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Is this an informative forum or WHAT?

Thanx, Mark and Phil!!!

Mike Keville

Make up a slurry of talcum powder and methanol or isopropanol.

Brush it on all the oil soaked areas and let it dry.

Then, with a stiff brush, just brush it off and most if not all of the oil is drawn out. You may have to repeat a few times but it really works.

I've used it on balsa, plywood and hardwood.

Bob Z.

I've found corn starch more absorbent than talcum powder, btw...

Either one is a bit of a mess to get completely off the oil-soaked area after it's done it's job. Sometimes takes several applications to draw oil out of bare wood. 70% isopropyl rubbing alcohol works as the liquid for the slurry. ...doesn't evaporate as fast as 90+% rubbing alcohols...

Yes, I discovered, sadly, that K2R isn't what people tell me it used to be. Glad to know there's a substitute, though it's too late to use on my current refinishing nightmare.

John Thompson

http://flyinglines.org
Flying Lines — News of Northwest Control-Line Model Aviation

Hi, Lou. Good advice on the corn starch - I will try it.

I tried a number of different alcohols and the only problem I found with the 70% isopropyl was that it tended to leave a bit of moisture behind. The one that worked best was plain old denatured alcohol from the local hardware store.

I really lay it on thick and that slows the drying - overnight. I try and let it be for at least 12 hours to maximize the absorbtion of the oil into the powder.

To make it less messy, I hold the nozzle of my shop-vac near as I'm brushing off the dried residue.

Bob Z.

Diatomaceous earth or Fullers earth works extremely well too. Apply your favorite solvent and cover with the fullers earth and let it sit overnight and it will draw out a lot of the oil.

I believe that Kitty Litter is mostly diatamaceous earth. D-Earth just costs a lot more for the fancy name. It's also swimming pool filter medium.

don Burke
Menifee, CA
Life should NOT be a journey to the grave with the intention of arriving safely in an attractive and well preserved body, but rather to skid in sideways - body thoroughly used up, totally worn out and screaming, WOO HOO, What a Ride!

Yep - good old kitty litter should also work well if it's in a fine powder.

We used to use it to draw oil out of concrete garage floors. Spread about a half inch thick layer over the stain and then pour on kerosene or gasoline. When the liquid evaporated, the litter was swept up and the floor was ready for painting.

Bob Z.

...then pour on kerosene or gasoline...
=======================================

Of course anyone neglecting to extinguish all pilot lights in the area may qualify for a Darwin Award.

Mike Keville

Mike - you're right!!!

I should have prefaced my comment with "Before applying gasoline, apply good judgement and common sense!!!"

Unfortunately sadly lacking in many people.

Bob Z.

No more Darwin handles or tanks for awards. They folded long ago.