Replies

1. 
   DANL | Aug 05, 2005 03:22pm | #1

   There are products sold for removing tar from automobiles--seems like if it wouldn't harm car paint it wouldn't harm leather, but I'd test it on a pair of old shoes first!

   Also thought that since tar is disolved by oil, get something like salad oil or mineral oil and try that first. Neetsfoot oil for leather might also work, if you have some around from oiling your old ball glove.

   
   

   ---

   Edited 8/5/2005 8:25 am ET by Danno

2. 
   hammer1 | Aug 05, 2005 03:58pm | #2

   Mineral spirits, also called paint thinner. Cleans tools easily, dampen a rag, don't soak the leather.

   Beat it to fit / Paint it to match

1. 
   FastEddie1 | Aug 05, 2005 06:48pm | #3

   Mineral spiritrs and paint thinner are not the same ... they're closely related though.  Both do the same thing, but the mineral spirits are more refined, and usually a little more money.

    I'm sorry, I thought you wanted it done the right way.

1. 
   hammer1 | Aug 06, 2005 01:14am | #8

   "Mineral spiritrs and paint thinner are not the same"Wouldn't you know it, Ed, my containers are incorrectly labeled.
   Beat it to fit / Paint it to match

1. 
   FastEddie1 | Aug 06, 2005 06:08am | #11

   I'll take your word for it ... I'm not going to open a file that large.

   It's like buying studs, and saying that syp is the same as spf.  Yes, they both are trees, and they boith work well as studs, but there is a difference.  Just trying to further your education and knowledge.

    I'm sorry, I thought you wanted it done the right way.

1. 
   hammer1 | Aug 06, 2005 04:33pm | #12

   I'm sure there may be refined mineral spirits available but any paint shop, I've been in, from Maine to Oregon sells paint thinner that is 100% mineral spirits. The terms seem interchangeable, although there are other paint additives, they don't say paint thinner. The Brits used to call it Paraffin oil. Comes in handy for all types of things in the shop from cleaning cosmoline, grease and tar to checking the the prep work on your wood surfaces. I've been waiting to see someone suggest peanut butter, of course you would be hungry all day and dogs might follow you around.
   Beat it to fit / Paint it to match

   
2. 
   FastEddie1 | Aug 06, 2005 06:26pm | #13

   One container says "High grade paint thinner" and the other says "Premium paint thinner" as opposed to plain paint thinner.

    I'm sorry, I thought you wanted it done the right way.

3. 
   hammer1 | Aug 06, 2005 08:16pm | #15

   We don't get any of the plain old thinner around here, Ed. They must ship it all down your way. Ain't marketing great, none of the other guy's trucks at the lumber yard ever say "Plain old Carpenter" it's always,"Fine", "Quality", "Top Notch", etc. I know some of them aren't telling the truth.Beat it to fit / Paint it to match

4. 
   DANL | Aug 06, 2005 07:30pm | #14

   Peanut butter would probably work, as would mayonnaise.

   Edited 8/6/2005 12:30 pm ET by Danno

5. 
   Sphere | Aug 06, 2005 08:22pm | #16

   I like whale oil, all the fun is gone these days, so ijust wipe every thing down with sashshimi, or sushi...wasabi will act as a exfolient too..for that nasty hairy paint and tar feathers.

    

    

    

    

   WD40 is about the best. Follow w/ gojo and mineral oil.  Spheramid Enterprises Architectural Woodworks

6. 
   DANL | Aug 06, 2005 09:46pm | #17

   I like snake oil, but also hard to get these days. Gets the tar and feathers off after they ride me outa town on a rail.

7. 
   Sphere | Aug 06, 2005 09:48pm | #18

   I got gallons of it, how much you want?

   Turpentine for the "piney smell"

   or Lysol, what ever is on hand at the time..LOL  Spheramid Enterprises Architectural Woodworks

8. 
   DonfromUtah | Aug 06, 2005 09:50pm | #19

   We should be gearing up for the 2006 mid-term elections shortly so snake oil should be much more plentiful.

    

9. 
   FNbenthayer | Aug 08, 2005 02:55am | #20

   I do have a small bottle of sperm whale oil, it's only purpose is lubricating 2 old shotguns - 100 & 125 years old :>) 

    

    

    

   The awful thing is that beauty is mysterious as well as terrible. God and the devil are fighting there, and the battlefield is the heart of man.- Fyodor Dostoyevski

3. 
   DonfromUtah | Aug 05, 2005 06:56pm | #4

   Toss 'em in the freezer!  Unless the tar soaked in, it should just flake off as you flex the leather.

    

4. 
   andybuildz | Aug 05, 2005 10:04pm | #5

   baby oil

   The secret of Zen in two words is, "Not always so"!

   When we meet, we say, Namaste'..it means..

     I honor the place in you where the entire universe resides,

   I honor the place in you of love, of light, of truth, of peace.

   I honor the place within you where if you are in that place in you

   and I am in that place in me, there is only one of us.

    

    

   
    

    

1. 
   brownbagg | Aug 05, 2005 10:33pm | #6

   butter or margine

1. 
   FNbenthayer | Aug 06, 2005 12:26am | #7

   Thanks, you  guys are great. 

    

    

    

   The awful thing is that beauty is mysterious as well as terrible. God and the devil are fighting there, and the battlefield is the heart of man.- Fyodor Dostoyevski

5. 
   cynwyd | Aug 06, 2005 01:32am | #9

   The freezer idea is well,,,, cool.

   Waterless hand soaps like Goop, Go-Jo etc. work well with tar.

6. 
   Piffin | Aug 06, 2005 04:48am | #10

   When roofing, we used a product called "Tar-X" to clean spots left on siding. Spirits can thin the tar and let it penetrate the surfaces and leave a residue. Tar X dissolves it and it then rinses off with water, clean as a whistle.

   It will work if you find it, but personally, I would just use WD-40, some elbow grease, and a rag.

    

    

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