Cleaning an oil can - any tips?

[Guest]

 

 

Check out this old oil can I rescued. After hoovering out a massive pile of straw and dried mud from the top, I gave it a brief scrub with some dilute surface cleaner and a pan scrubber. Whilst it took some of the surface shite off, the thicker tar and muck deposits don't want to shift. What would you recommend? Old toothbrush and turps? A specific product?

 

Any idea how old it is?

[scaryoldcortina]

Leave it in a bucket of diesel overnight, then rub all the shite off with a rag. Anything stronger will bugger up the esso logo!

 

I have a very similar can that I use in the garage. I'm guessing it's about 30-40 years old.

[Guest]

Leave it in a bucket of diesel overnight, then rub all the shite off with a rag. Anything stronger will bugger up the esso logo!

 

I have a very similar can that I use in the garage. I'm guessing it's about 30-40 years old.

 

OK, SCTSH_ANDY conveniently has several old Halfords boxes full of diesel sloshing about to clean components with. Good call, do you reckon all the shite will float up to the top?

[scaryoldcortina]

some of it does, and the rest gets really soft. Works for me, anyway.

[barefoot]

Good Tip.

[CreepingJesus]

You could use real turps - not the turps substitute - and a nail brush.

Better still, get artist's brush soap. This stuff gets oily/painty stuff off anything, without harming the surface below. Why more people don't know about this stuff, I do not know; it's a miracle wonder stuff alright! How much it takes off, is down to how much soap/violence you use. Cleans oily hands a treat too.

Lovely old can tho'; give me a steel one over a plastic one any day.

[shite_meister]

I know soaking corroded stuff in vinegar is suppoed to be really good but I'd be cautious with that emblem on it.

[Cavcraft]

Paraffin should also do the trick and some of that parts washer fluid stuff definately would. If you know anyone with a workshop/garage who has one of those Safety-Kleen baths ask 'em if you can use it for a few minutes, their solvent is fantastic for this kind of thing.