How do i remove oil from balsa wood?.

In the past I have heated the balsa with covering iron wraping paper towels around it, but this works only partial.

I have an old airplane would like to recover.

Any ideas?.

Thanks

Luis

spray K2r on the place of fluid,let dry brush or vacum the residue,may have to repeat a time or two,I mix corn starch and rubbing alcohol to a paste,then do the same as K2r,also have filled or covered area with cat litter for a week or two,if using K2r ,read directions,can buy at grocery store in cleaning dept,also some discount stores.

The alchohol/cornstarch slurry really does a good job. But after you clean things up you may have to seal the balsa with Balsarite to get the covering to adhere properly.

Dave Segal

The baking soda and Alcohol works great, I tried it a week or so ago.
I found though that I had to apply it about 10 times to remove most of the oil. That can take a long time.

I sped up the process by setting my hair dryer in a stand and placing it over the area that had the paste on it.
Dried up in a few minutes and seemed to pull out more oil.

dbow

I use straight alcohol. Not rubbing alcohol, get the good stuff in a gallon can probably at a pharmacy or machine shop. Can't remember where I got it. My dad used to get it for me from their mill shop.

I use a modification of the KR2 method above. Use the KR2 applied to soak up the oil. But do it in several applications. Between each application use your heat gun to heat the area soaked with oil. This will force more of the oil out of the wood, then use the KR2 to absorb it

hope this helps

Ive used brake cleaner to remove oil, available at any auto parts store. Spray it on, wipe up with some absorbant rags, apply again and repeat. To be sure its dried up, go over it with the wifes hair dryer......works great! Do it in a well ventilated area though, the stuff smells awfull.