how do I remove fuel from balsa
#1
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how do I remove fuel from balsa
I recently noticed that some covering had loosened on the wing of my Goldberg Tiger 60. The balsa under the covering is saturated with oil. About 5 or 6 inches of the leading edge is affected as well as the trailing edge and aileron. Is there a way to get the oil out or do I need to replace the balsa before recovering?
#2
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RE: how do I remove fuel from balsa
Strip off the covering. Then get some Kitty Litter ...and completely covered the affected areas. Kitty Litter will soak the oil from the balsa...but it will take several days.
Cover it for a couple days, then move the litter around to get some fresh stuff on the oily parts!!!
Cover it for a couple days, then move the litter around to get some fresh stuff on the oily parts!!!
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RE: how do I remove fuel from balsa
A product called K2R works very well. You should be able to get it in a grocery store. You want to get the powder version. Google K2R.
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RE: how do I remove fuel from balsa
I agree with Birman about the K2R. Just ordered some last night myself. The only place I could find it was Amazon, but it also available at:
ACE Hardware
True Value Hardware
Do It Best Hardware
Winn Dixie Supermarkets (Southeast Region)
Demoula’s Supermarkets (Boston Area)
Items Galore Stores
Discount Drug Marts
ACE Hardware
True Value Hardware
Do It Best Hardware
Winn Dixie Supermarkets (Southeast Region)
Demoula’s Supermarkets (Boston Area)
Items Galore Stores
Discount Drug Marts
#6
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RE: how do I remove fuel from balsa
A caution - if the balsa or ply has been saturated consider cutting out the old stuff and fab some new pieces. My experience was based on repairing a friend's The World Model Super Sportster. The wood was green and K2R did some good but it did not eradicate it all. You could use your fingers to "test" the structure and it was rubbery-bendy. In some cases the ply layers had separated. Just sayin' ...
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RE: how do I remove fuel from balsa
You will never get all the oil out [:@] no matter what any one say's. Ether replace or live with it You can waste a lot of time on a lost cause.
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RE: how do I remove fuel from balsa
K2R, Kitty litter, Baby Powder, talcum Powder, work great to. I'm not brave enough to try the wife's fancy powder, but bet it would work and leave a nice scent, but the wonderful glow smell will cover that stink up quick
#9
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RE: how do I remove fuel from balsa
Something else that would help is to hit the affected area with a heat gun (ala Monokote heat gun). YOu'll see a lot of the oil come to the surface and you can blot it up with a paper towel. It won't get it all, but it will give you a head start.
Bob
Bob
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RE: how do I remove fuel from balsa
Here is 2 more cents worth:
The K2R covers the surface of the wood being treated with a white pasty-looking textured material that you then scrape free from the base wood surface. You can then put on another coat of K2R and repeat the process. (Over and over, if need be) The white powdered material is a result of chemical process that attacks the oil in the wood.
K2R is the best solution that I have found, but it is not fool proof. If you really want to get everything super clean, start over with new wood.
Russ V.
The K2R covers the surface of the wood being treated with a white pasty-looking textured material that you then scrape free from the base wood surface. You can then put on another coat of K2R and repeat the process. (Over and over, if need be) The white powdered material is a result of chemical process that attacks the oil in the wood.
K2R is the best solution that I have found, but it is not fool proof. If you really want to get everything super clean, start over with new wood.
Russ V.
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RE: how do I remove fuel from balsa
Sir Live Wire, I had never thought about that,catching plane on fire like that. I guess keep the heat gun moving. I've had good results taking a brush and using thinned epoxy in as much of the fuel area as I can. Then if you do have a fuel spill, or busted tank, you have a little insurance.
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RE: how do I remove fuel from balsa
hi, I've used a lot of thinner and alcohol to help get the oil out of the balsa. leave it some time and then can use paper towels to clean... a lot of paper towels. make this while using the heat gun or use the iron to heat the balsa,with the paper towel to keep clean the iron.
any way, never will be the same, you'll see you can't glue anything to that piece or even it'll get loose.
The best is to prevent covering all the front of the plane with thinned epoxy, don't let the oil or gas on it: clean thouroghly afte each flyng sesion and in case of get oily balsa change the piece.
happy flying.
any way, never will be the same, you'll see you can't glue anything to that piece or even it'll get loose.
The best is to prevent covering all the front of the plane with thinned epoxy, don't let the oil or gas on it: clean thouroghly afte each flyng sesion and in case of get oily balsa change the piece.
happy flying.
#15
RE: how do I remove fuel from balsa
I just got a Big Stick 40 last week that has the same problem. I have in the past done the heat gun meathod and was able to dry the wood enough to get monocoat to stick to it again but had to epoxy it down on the edges. I just finished replacing the oily wood on the Big Stick as I still was not happy with the results when tried the heat gun meathod before.
#16
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RE: how do I remove fuel from balsa
For the record, I didn't mean to infer in my last post that the heat gun method was the only method that I used to get the oil out. I used that to get a goodly portion of the oil out.
I also used the K2R. It's hard to find, but I found mine at a local Ace Hardware Store. I haven't tried the trick with sticking it into kitty litter, but it's cheap enough to give a try... just a little dusty.
Bob
I also used the K2R. It's hard to find, but I found mine at a local Ace Hardware Store. I haven't tried the trick with sticking it into kitty litter, but it's cheap enough to give a try... just a little dusty.
Bob
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RE: how do I remove fuel from balsa
use alcahol let it soak in to the wood and the used a heat gun and a rag the heat and alcahol will pull out the oil . then just wipe it off.
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RE: how do I remove fuel from balsa
Hi
I have had quite good results just srcaping it off with a flat ended knife, seems to get most of it off then to reapply new covering use cover grip to assist adhesion.
Simon
I have had quite good results just srcaping it off with a flat ended knife, seems to get most of it off then to reapply new covering use cover grip to assist adhesion.
Simon
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RE: how do I remove fuel from balsa
I have used alcohol and pour talcum on the affected area letting the stuff do their work for at least one day. At the second day you will note that talcum is some kind of wet, it means that it is working by bringing out the oil. This task should be done for at least a couple times, depending on the quantity of oil that the affected area has on it. I bet that the cat litter will work the same, they both are kind od dust particles that absorb grease and moisture.
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RE: how do I remove fuel from balsa
I use rubbing alcohol mixed in with corn starch to form a thin or thick paste depending upon the need. It will take several applications before you can get the oil out, brush off the paste in about an hour or so between applications. You know when you have got the oil out, is when paste dries white and looks like powder. If it looks oily when dry you will need to do it again. Use an old tooth brush to remove the dried paste.