Pine tar removal

[Mark S]

We are just home from a great 10 week trip, which I'll get into in another post, and the clean up begins.

While parked in a Laconia, NH. campground we were under a stand of really pretty pine trees. It was raining when we left so I didn't notice all the pine tar. I removed most of it from the hood and lower portion of cap but could not get to the top of the front cap.

I am working on a 10 foot step ladder and cannot reach very far into the center and I think even laying on my belly on the roof I won't reach it all. I may need to build a scaffold system just to clean.

Also, I have tried alcohol, hand sanitizer and WD-40 with no luck on the month old sun dried spots. And who is the genius who decided we needed a black roof cap? Ugggggg!

Looking for suggestions on reaching and what products to use.

Needless to say that right now I am NOT a tree lover and parking lots are looking better

[pconroy]

We've got our fair share of pine trees up here. I've not tried some of the home remedies but instead, usually used a commercial product -- bug and tar remover. They've worked for me.

[repacs0103]

I have a ton of pines at home. I just scrape very carefully with a razor blade once it's dried.


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[JFlightRisk]

We use Goo Gone. It takes a little longer to work, but it's safe for the finish. Pour some on a soft cotton cloth, put it on the sap and let it sit and work a little. Just don't rub the finish hard, or the friction may dull the paint.

[skipbly]

I use denatured alcohol on a soft cloth.You can purchase in most any hardware or paint store. dab it and let it set for a minute or two.[note denatured alcohol is not rubbing alcohol] Living in N.H. I see a lot of pine pitch.

[3'senough]

70% Iso Rubbing alcohol works great for me. I use it on my TV, awnings and hard sides. I do not touch the roof as that usually bakes off over time and I do not know if it will soften the material.

[bankr63]

I use vegetable oil. Old gardeners trick for pine tar on your hands, works on hard surfaces too. Rub a bit of oil on the spot, it will dissolve the tar into the much more easily removed oil. Then just clean off the oil with soap and water.

[Mark S]

And the winner is...............Denatured Alcohol. Nothing else touched the very dried on pine tar.

I sprayed the alcohol on and with a long handled truck wash brush covered in a microfiber cloth I got the hard to reach spots, mostly. I then got on the roof and washed the area. Now I need to figure out how to wax the area.

This was not a fun job and I now hate pine trees.

[Robbbyr]

Originally Posted by Mark S

Now I need to figure out how to wax the area.

I use two Little Giant ladders and a telescoping scaffold plank to get up high enough to clean and wax my Seneca. I can tilt the hood and set it up so the plank is over top of the engine. Then I can get all the way to the top of the front cap. Use the same system to go down the sides and around the back.

Yes, the neighbors (and my wife) think I am nuts!

[Kim Gass]

I don't think anyone is discussing pine tar. Pine sap is not pine tar. You can remove pine sap with hand sanitizer that has alcohol.

Pine tar is nasty smelly stuff we used to use on cross country skis.. Its nearly black
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pine_tar

Pine sap is our current bane.. Its all over everything and this year its particularly nasty at home ( yes we have a lot of white pines)..
Make sure you clean around the antenna so it still rotates.. Don't ask how we know this.

[memphis02]

Detailer's Clay.

[Mark S]

Originally Posted by Robbbyr

I use two Little Giant ladders and a telescoping scaffold plank to get up high enough to clean and wax my Seneca. I can tilt the hood and set it up so the plank is over top of the engine. Then I can get all the way to the top of the front cap. Use the same system to go down the sides and around the back.

Yes, the neighbors (and my wife) think I am nuts!

Last evening I climbed on the roof, layed on my belly and hoped I didn't slip forward as I waxed the cap. As I did this, it occurred to me that had I fallen forward I would have met 2 or 3 trauma alert criteria. 😂

I will be setting up a scaffold as you describe next time.

[Mark S]

Originally Posted by memphis02

Detailer's Clay.

Ordered a kit on Amazon.

[Robbbyr]

Originally Posted by Mark S

I will be setting up a scaffold as you describe next time.

Safety first Mark!

[Mark S]

Originally Posted by Robbbyr

Safety first Mark!

We had a saying on our department Rob. "If your going to be dumb, you better be tough". Sometimes I seem to live by that. But I am not sure about the tough part anymore.

[GScott]

Try goo gone. Works pretty good!

[Mark S]

Originally Posted by GScott

Try goo gone. Works pretty good!

Tried it, but it was stuff was so dried on it didn't work 😕

[Kim Gass]

Originally Posted by Mark S

Tried it, but it was stuff was so dried on it didn't work 😕

That happens to us all the time in Maine.. Razor blade.. carefully;