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I got some stuborn stains on my spring steel slats from bending walnut. It
looks like tar. luckily the stains where on the interior of the bent side.
Anyone have a effective method for removing the tar like stains from the
slats? Thanks for your help.

I think that any thinners tough enough to remove the stain will also remove the bluing. Mechanical removal will definitely damage the bluing.
I use spring steel slats & the bluing wore off very quickly. To keep the oxydized metal away from the sides, I wrap the sides in Alum foil. This should also keep the resins off your slats.
By the way... When bending Koa, I wrap the side in parchment paper first because aluminum can turn Koa green. I still use aluminum foil to prevent the slats from staining the wood through the paper.
I don't worry about any stains that collect on the slats.

Thanks for replying Daniel. I used parchment paper, but It seems as if the
resin penetrated the paper and deposited a fair amount of tar like resin on
the interior side of the wood as i mentioned earlier. Maybe I used too much
water. For the second side, 'll use much less. I used a soft steel wool (000)
to remove resin with a little water. I will try thinner next time. Thanks again.

I use Acetone!
Wear gloves and use papertowels or a non-scratch pad made for non-stick cookwear!


Mike Collins

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Mike Collins

Try any pitch/gum remover used on saw blades or Renuzit, a non toxic remover used tool clean sanding belts.

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Hank Mauel

Naptha or kerosene will work. And some extra fine steel wool and some elbow grease.

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Guitars, guitars and more guitars.

Thanks everyone for the great tips. Todd, Your craft paper almost looks like
a carbon copy of the wood. My craft paper stuck to the side on the first
bend. I know I used to much water. I just lightly sprayed the craft paper on
the second side. I'm leaving it in the bender overnight. If It comes out ok,
then I think I've found my formula, for walnut at least.

Easy-Off for those tough stains...

[QUOTE=Rick Turner] Easy-Off for those tough stains...[/QUOTE]

It works great on graffiti too!

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Aoibeann

You have graffiti on your slats?  What kind of wood were you bending?  Musta been Gang Zoot!

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Waddy

Photobucket Build Album Library

Sound Clips of most of my guitars

What can I say, its a tough neighborhood.

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Aoibeann

Rick Turner Wrote: Easy-Off for those tough stains...

For some reason I think that would work.