Cleaning a tar machine... chems?

[Bennyhonda]

Here's a fun one. I've got a request to clean two tar machines. I've never done this type of equipment before and I was wondering what products would aid in cleaning asphalt? Thanks,

[PWkid]

Hot water,delimonene,stiff scrub brush, repeat,repeat,repeat Then after you do all that follow steps again. Its not easy I cleaned 5 of them about a year ago they were happy with it I wasn't but as long as they were. Tar has to desolved.

[Bennyhonda]

Thanks Mel. I'm only guessing here but I'd imagine this could be a dirty job? I'm going to call the Discovery Channel if I get it.

Do you know how many hours it took you? I only ask because the guy said they're limited to how much water we could use. Not the best scenario but I'm sure it could be done.... if done quickly.

[PWkid]

The water is used to rinse the desolved tar you will use a lot of chemical and make a mess. I did the whole machine the tar spraying spart and the engine it took about an hr and half for each machine depending on how big they are. I didn't use that much water.

[Bennyhonda]

I'm sure it depends on how thick the tar is, but how many gallons of chem did you use per machine?

[Tmrrptr]

Tar machine?

Road paving guys use lots of diesel cleaning things...

Use diesel in a sprayer 1st, long handle scrub brushes, and let everything soak in before using PW chems.

...They warned you... NOT much water available!

Ha! Double tyvek moonsuit, too!
and don't forget to ask if any area needs special attention...
r

[Scott Stone]

And only do it time and materials. If you do it flat rate, they might eat you up...

[Bennyhonda]

Thanks guys. Yes, hourly is the only way to get me out there.

[MMI Enterprises]

talk about hazardous waste and reclaim...this sounds like too much fun in a job if it going to be sprayed..lol..
Tar is of course the bottom distilation biproducts of oil refining so most petrol solvents will work on it depending on how hard and old it is. I would not introduce water in the process till most of the tar is removed by hand and rag.
On soft tar I'd use napth (Coleman fuel), gasoline, or deisel fuel.
On hard dried tar I'd use lacquer thinner.


ps. if you go the thinner route you may find there is no need to go with expensive sherwin thinner. $10 Dupont Nason is fine.
pps. Do realize solvents can damage paint..

[Tmrrptr]

Gasoline is NOT good to use !!!

Flash point is the prob...
EZ to have the blazing inferno.

...And, of course I use lacquer thinner on almost all small degrease or paint drips, because we've always got it on hand!
Lacquer flash point is even worse than gasoline!!!
Both will work for small, little dab will do yah type things, but for larger degreasing, like on a machine, use diesel.

YOU WILL STILL HAVE INFERNO POTENTIAL !!!!! Be very cautious.
r

[flbishop]

I have done alot of asphalt over the last 11 years, and tried everything. The best thing you can do is get some Rhoma sol (dlimonene based cleaner, biodegradeable, etc.). It is made by Rhomar, out of Springfield, MO, Welcome to RHOMAR Industries, Inc.. It is very expensive ($25-30/gallon), but will be less costly than the all the other products you will have to buy, and will drastically cut the time you will spend on the job. A little of it goes along way.


Fred Bishop
SES
Atlanta, GA