GRANT ED

A few weeks ago when packing up my cloud dancer after a days flying I found that the fuel tank had been leaking. How do I get the fuel out the balsa? The area that is soaked is not very accessable. I have searched and found that most people suggest using a spot remover called KR2 or something. Unfortunatly I'm in Australia and can not find this remover anywhere.
What else could I use? Would talcum powder work?

Ugo Ferrari

My Feedback: (1)

I too have filled up a few engine compartments with fuel !! []
I use CAT LITTER ! Just fill up the affected area and set it aside for a day or two and it will be dry as a bone ! It is very absorbent as you can imagine. You do have cats in Aussie Land ? LOL !
Another method is to use the oil absorbent stuff mechanics use to suck up the oil spills under the vehicles they've worked on. I think it's called "Ever Dry" over here. Comes in bags and is relatively cheap. Apply in the same way, Just pour it in and shake it out !
Hope this helps....

fun2fly

Small amounts of ether will work too. Just keep it in a well ventilated area and no smoking or spark sources

blvdbuzzard

If yu can find 100% denatured acohol and put it in a spray bottle. Flush it out and let it dry. Do this a few times and the oil will be gone. Do this OUTSIDE or you may turn your plane it to a very fast burning candle.

Dru.

BigBird1

My Feedback: (4)

Talcum Powder will work... corn starch is better...
If it's really bad...mix corn starch with a little alcohol and make a paste..rub it on the area and let it dry the flake off the dried corn starch.

GRANT ED

Thanks for the replies guys I will give the cat litter thing a go , got some lying around.

Geistware

My Feedback: (16)

I have used Cat Litter and corn meal to soak up spilled fuel in a plane.

Terror Dactyl

I have used the K2R remover in the past and it was very good, as the fuel was soaked deeply into the wood. I am not able to find it now and would like to know if you think the corn starch and alcohol slurry will be able to draw out very well.

BTW So that others can learn from my mistake.

Make sure that if you store a YS powered plane on its nose, that you depressurize the tank before you stand it up on end. I now have about 8-10oz of fuel in the nose of a PT-19, oh well.

famousdave

My Feedback: (61)

I find that lighting a match and touching it to the wood does just the best job of eliminating the fuel. Works a lot faster than starch or litter.

Nyuk Nyuk..

DP

tonystro

My Feedback: (1)

K2R Spot Remover 56610 $4.99 -- http://www.jensco.com/k2rspotremover.html

I have used the alcohol-corn starch slurry with reasonable success, almost as good as K2R just more difficult to apply. Improved results were obtained by 'warming' the oil soaked areas with a heat gun after brushing on the slurry.

tonystro

My Feedback: (1)

I used your method once. While all the oily fuel seemed to have been removed, I still couldn't get the new covering to stick.[] Do you think I missed a step??[sm=confused.gif][sm=lol.gif]

pt19 flyer

My Feedback: (1)

hi

treating the wood with balsarite will do wonders in restoring strength to the wood. I use this as fuel proofing area around engine and fuel tank.

happy flying

joe

Wing-Ding

I hope the Kitty Litter thing works:

Wing-Ding

This might also be useful/interesting. It lists K2R ingredients (among others):

[link=http://householdproducts.nlm.nih.gov/cgi-bin/household/brands?tbl=brands&id=19005003]Household Products Database[/link]