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General Forums => Air Speed Lounge => Topic started by: owdlvr on October 03, 2011, 09:33:35 AM

Title: OT - removing road tar...from Skin?
Post by: owdlvr on October 03, 2011, 09:33:35 AM

Long story short, I swapped out a fuel pump on an MGB this past weekend. Did it in a parking garage, where the cracks in the concrete were sealed with asphalt seam sealer. The fuel softened the sealer, and I have it all on my right arm. Of course, once it dried the sealer/tar is on my arm permanently.

Any ideas on how to get this stuff off?

I would simply use gasoline, but had a rather strong reaction to it on the weekend. Anywhere that got wet with fuel for the duration of the job has reacted with a sunburn-like condition.

-Dave

Title: Re: OT - removing road tar...from Skin?
Post by: buggal on October 03, 2011, 11:34:03 AM

All I can come up with is massaging in an oil, then wash with sunlight dish liquid. You may have to try a couple of oils but it should work. It probably wont be fast, but will be easier on the skin. Try something like olive oil first, if it works it'll be good for your skin.
Back in the '70s I was apprenticing at a chrysler dealership and had to do lots of undercoating, the thick black tarry crap. Used to wash it out of my hair with varsol.

Good luck,

April

Title: Re: OT - removing road tar...from Skin?
Post by: buddy boy on October 03, 2011, 11:39:17 AM

i got something like that on me once and i just used that bug and tar remover stuff thats made for cleaning /waxinging cars !!

Title: Re: OT - removing road tar...from Skin?
Post by: James Buchan on October 03, 2011, 11:39:28 AM

Hey Dave - this is up my alley as I am on OHS guy...

There are not many epidermally safe solution unfortunatly other than time and natural shedding.

Some items that will remove it are Diesel, WD40 or other similar type of degreaser. You could also try the old scrub it off method with a pumice type soap solution such as fast orange.

The safest method would be to soak a compress with a mineral oil and let it loosen it up and then wash and repeat until it is gone.

Title: Re: OT - removing road tar...from Skin?
Post by: buddy boy on October 03, 2011, 11:41:23 AM

belt sander? lol_hitting... sorry couldn't resest !

Title: Re: OT - removing road tar...from Skin?
Post by: owdlvr on October 03, 2011, 11:58:49 AM

sweeeeeeet.  Well, I guess I'm looking like I have a bad disease for a while :P  Long sleeve shirts it is!

Thanks Guys,

-Dave

Title: Re: OT - removing road tar...from Skin?
Post by: 70's Looker on October 03, 2011, 12:51:31 PM

Amputate your arm, then it'll give you something to fab up inside the car so you can still drive!

Have fun!

Title: Re: OT - removing road tar...from Skin?
Post by: Chris E. on October 03, 2011, 03:22:51 PM

MEK  :o

Title: Re: OT - removing road tar...from Skin?
Post by: blue bus on October 04, 2011, 06:35:38 AM

The company i work for is in the roofing business so we are no strangers to tar on everything.
We use a citrus orange cleaner that works very well and is non allergenic.
I think you can buy it in aerosol form at canadian tire