Howdy,I need to dissolve some asphalt potting tar off of a transformer (metal content). In the past when I have done this, I have used gasoline, which does work. The usual technique is to put the unit in a bucket of the solvent and let it sit for a few days, brush off whatever is soft enough, and repeat until a sufficient amount of tar is removed to allow access to the innards.Now, however, being somewhat more cautious, I am entertaining thoughts of using a less volatile solvent, in the interest of safety. Ideally, I won't be giving up too much solubility in the processI have narrowed it down to a few choices, diesel, kerosene, naptha (Coleman fuel), or paint thinner (mineral spirits). Diesel would be about as cheap as gas, which is a plus, but I am unsure as to it's ability to dissolve tar.Any thoughts on which would be the best solvent for dissolving asphalt tar?Thanks,Jon

In order of decreasing speed (i.e., fastest first):napthapaint thinnerkerosene, dieselNot all that much difference, though. Go with the cheapest.BobPS acetone would be faster than any of these, but way more expensive. And just as volatile/dangerous as gas.

Solvent for dissolving asphalt tar?

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Larry Jaques 18 years ago

On Wed, 5 Sep 2007 15:40:32 -0700, with neither quill nor qualm, "Carl McIver" quickly quoth:

Verily. I learned that with water. I spray it on dirty items and walk away. Five or ten minutes later, the water-soluble dirt wipes right off. I then spray with solvent, walk away, and wipe the rest of the water-insoluble goo off in a few minutes. It sure beats scrubbing for half an hour, doesn't it?

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John 18 years ago

That is the basic priciple of many paint strippers. You apply the jelly like stripper to the surface and it forms a skin over it and holds the stripper to the surface so it doesn't evaprate. That is why they instruct you not to disturb the surface once you apply it.

John

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pyotr filipivich 18 years ago

After a Computer crash and the demise of civilization, it was learned "William Noble" wrote on Tue, 4 Sep 2007 21:19:46

-0700 in rec.crafts.metalworking :

Umm, have you priced N2 in liquid form? I've heard "it is cheap as beer" but they never say what kind of beer: Sludgwillers or a microbrew. But it was real neat when I poured the excess into my travel mug - sent a plume of fog out the opening. Cool enough I'm almost willing to go back over to assembly. Almost.

But the freezer trick is a cool alternative.

pyotr

-- pyotr filipivich "Quemadmoeum gladuis neminem occidit, occidentis telum est. " Lucius Annaeus Seneca, circa 45 AD (A sword is never a killer, it is a tool in the killer's hands.)

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Dell 6 years ago

replying to Jon Danniken, Dell wrote: Hello can anyone tell me what chemicals could have burnt this tarmac of the path my dog died after getting whatever it was help i thought it was some sort of acid the council say its not acid i do

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Dell 6 years ago

replying to Jon Danniken, Dell wrote: Hello can anyone tell me what chemicals could have burnt this tarmac of the path my dog died after getting whatever it was help i thought it was some sort of acid the council say its not acid i do

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Solvent for dissolving asphalt tar?

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