How to clean conifer resin from hands?
 

Hi,

How do I clean the sticky resin from a cut conifer,
from my hands? The only effective cleaner I have found
is methylated spirit, but I suffer from dry skin already,
so that is not ideal.

Thanks,
David Pearson
(sticky in Somerset)

David Pearson asked ".......How do I clean the sticky resin from a cut
conifer, from my hands? ...."

Have you tried turps?
Otherwise paraffin, but what ever you use wash your hands with soap
...detergent will dry your hands more.

--
David Hill
Abacus nurseries
www.abacus-nurseries.co.uk

"David Pearson" wrote in message
...
Hi,

How do I clean the sticky resin from a cut conifer,
from my hands? The only effective cleaner I have found
is methylated spirit, but I suffer from dry skin already,
so that is not ideal.

Have you tried surgical spirit, ordinary petrol or lighter fuel?

Franz

Neat Fairy Liquid worked for me. Also in Somerset!


Peter Crosland

Whisky or vodka (any spirit, I'd imagine, would do the trick). Or Try nail
polish remover! That seems to shift damn near everything.

"David Pearson" wrote in message
...
Hi,

How do I clean the sticky resin from a cut conifer,
from my hands? The only effective cleaner I have found
is methylated spirit, but I suffer from dry skin already,
so that is not ideal.

If you have not yet managed to clean your hands since you dirtied them
on Friday, you will by now have resin on most of your furniture and
cutlery.
{:-))

Franz

"Peter Crosland" wrote in message
...
Neat Fairy Liquid worked for me. Also in Somerset!


Peter Crosland


As long as your hands are not allergic to it, neat Fairy Liquid rubbed into
the hands before doing a dirty job works a treat. Sticky to start with but
rub well in.

No need for soap when you do wash your hands, just hot water and your hands
foam :-))

Mike

Don Coyote wrote "Whisky or vodka (any spirit, I'd imagine, would do the
trick). "

But wont the resin spoil the taste?

--
David Hill
Abacus nurseries
www.abacus-nurseries.co.uk

In article ,
David Hill wrote:
Don Coyote wrote "Whisky or vodka (any spirit, I'd imagine, would do the
trick). "

But wont the resin spoil the taste?

There was a pine-flavoured vodka sold some years back - and some people
like retsina.


Regards,
Nick Maclaren.

The message
from Janet Baraclough.. contains
these words:

The message
from "David Pearson" contains these words:

Hi,

How do I clean the sticky resin from a cut conifer,
from my hands? The only effective cleaner I have found
is methylated spirit, but I suffer from dry skin already,
so that is not ideal.

I recommend Beeline Professional Painters Hand Cleanser, available by
post from Screwfix whose excellent catalogue you can find on the web. It
cleans just about anything from your hands but is completely gentle on
the skin.

There's another product you might like called something like
"invisible glove", available from Lakeland Plastics iirc..it's a
greaseless protective lotion cleanser you rub on your hands before
starting messy jobs. I've tried both and prefer the Beeline stuff.

Janet.

Do either of these work with the general ingrained garden grime and
vegetable dye which puts itself into the many crevices of dry neglected
skin? Every Sunday evening I attempt to get my hands ready for
re-entering mainstream respectable society, but each week fail
spectacularly. I've tried soaking in neat bleach, but my sons have made
me promise not to do that any more!
Janet G

Janet as long as your skin is not alergic to neat Fairy Liquid, try rubbing
plenty in before you start work. I discovered this by accident. We used
Fairy Liquid as a harmless lubricant when threading and pulling PVC cables
through rubber watertight glands whilst building Lifeboats. Of course our
hands were covered with the stuff and it made them easier to wash, but I
carried on using it by rubbing it into my hands even on other normal work
:-))

Mike

Thanks everyone, for all these ideas. I will try some
of the less chemically aggressive methods. If I put
petrol or bleach on my hands, they will disintegrate!

Or I could just wear gloves in the garden, I suppose
(just thought of that one....).


Regards,
David Pearson

"David Hill" wrote in message
...
Don Coyote wrote "Whisky or vodka (any spirit, I'd imagine,
would do the
trick). "

But wont the resin spoil the taste?

Yes. Just think of retsina.

Franz

"David Pearson" wrote in message
...

Thanks everyone, for all these ideas. I will try some
of the less chemically aggressive methods. If I put
petrol or bleach on my hands, they will disintegrate!

Or I could just wear gloves in the garden, I suppose
(just thought of that one....).

Remember not to put your hands into those gloves until you are sure
they no longer have any resin on them.
:{-))

Franz


Regards,
David Pearson

The message
from Janet Baraclough.. contains
these words:

I recommend Beeline Professional Painters Hand Cleanser, available by
post from Screwfix whose excellent catalogue you can find on the web. It
cleans just about anything from your hands but is completely gentle on
the skin.

There's another product you might like called something like
"invisible glove", available from Lakeland Plastics iirc..it's a
greaseless protective lotion cleanser you rub on your hands before
starting messy jobs. I've tried both and prefer the Beeline stuff.

Janet.

Do either of these work with the general ingrained garden grime and
vegetable dye which puts itself into the many crevices of dry neglected
skin? Every Sunday evening I attempt to get my hands ready for
re-entering mainstream respectable society, but each week fail
spectacularly. I've tried soaking in neat bleach, but my sons have made
me promise not to do that any more!

Try the "invisible glove" stuff, or Dermaguard.

I am a sad person. All I have ingrained is the habit of rubbing on
high-factor sun cream,plus Avon skin-so-soft as midge repellent, plus
some Nivea hand cream on the hands, before setting out into the garden
(or anywhere, really)..so my hand skin is generally well lubricated. I
wear gloves (various kinds) for digging, weeding, pruning etc) to avoid
getting injuries/rough skin/ingrained dirt on my hands. Reflexology
clients don't appreciate them. Last thing before bed, more handcream.
Also, we still wash up dishes by hand :-) My nails are cut short anyway.

I just use Beeline to get rid of glue, varnish, paint etc.

Janet

Thanks for this.
The feel of the soil is part of my pleasure in gardening and I have some
kind of perverse delight in getting disgustingly dirty - until Sunday
evening! So I've never taken to the idea of gloves, except leather
gauntlets for tough painful jobs.
I really must use more handcream. School students don't appreciate dirty
hands either.
Janet G

"Franz Heymann" wrote in message
...

"David Pearson" wrote in message
...
Hi,

How do I clean the sticky resin from a cut conifer,
from my hands? The only effective cleaner I have found
is methylated spirit, but I suffer from dry skin already,
so that is not ideal.

Have you tried surgical spirit, ordinary petrol or lighter fuel?

Please don't suggest that anyone put petrol on their hands- it contains
benzene, for instance, which is really not nice.

--
Anton

I second that - both petrol and lighter fuel give off lots of explosive
vapour which can easily ignite.

Swarfega hand cleaner (sold in DIY stores and car accessory shops) ahould
shift it, though you'll have to work it into your hands really well to get
the last traces off.

Neil,

"anton" wrote in message
...

"Franz Heymann" wrote in message
...

"David Pearson" wrote in message
...
Hi,

How do I clean the sticky resin from a cut conifer,
from my hands? The only effective cleaner I have found
is methylated spirit, but I suffer from dry skin already,
so that is not ideal.

Have you tried surgical spirit, ordinary petrol or lighter fuel?

Please don't suggest that anyone put petrol on their hands- it contains
benzene, for instance, which is really not nice.

--
Anton

"anton" wrote in message
...

"Franz Heymann" wrote in message
...

"David Pearson" wrote in message
...
Hi,

How do I clean the sticky resin from a cut conifer,
from my hands? The only effective cleaner I have found
is methylated spirit, but I suffer from dry skin already,
so that is not ideal.

Have you tried surgical spirit, ordinary petrol or lighter fuel?

Please don't suggest that anyone put petrol on their hands- it
contains
benzene, for instance, which is really not nice.

I days of old, when I designed and used vacuum systems, we often used
benzene to clean mechanical components and, occasionally, our hands.
My hands did not suffer any ill.

Franz

"Neil Tonks" wrote in message
...
I second that - both petrol and lighter fuel give off lots of
explosive
vapour which can easily ignite.

Swarfega hand cleaner (sold in DIY stores and car accessory shops)
ahould
shift it, though you'll have to work it into your hands really well
to get
the last traces off.

Swarfega contains paraffin, and is designed essentially to clean
greasy hands. I have never tried it on resin. {:-))

Franz

Neil Tonks wrote:
I second that - both petrol and lighter fuel give off lots of explosive
vapour which can easily ignite.

Swarfega hand cleaner (sold in DIY stores and car accessory shops) ahould
shift it, though you'll have to work it into your hands really well to get
the last traces off.

It's not very good at removing it in my experience, you'll get it off
just as easily using soap and a scrubbing brush. It's one of the few
things in my experience that Swarfega really doesn't help with.

I now try and remember to wear gloves when working with our (chopped
up) Leylandii. I don't wear gloves for much else but that brown goo
is a real pain.

--
Chris Green

Martin wrote:
On Tue, 5 Oct 2004 08:37:27 +0000 (UTC), "Franz Heymann"
wrote:


"Neil Tonks" wrote in message
...
I second that - both petrol and lighter fuel give off lots of
explosive
vapour which can easily ignite.

Swarfega hand cleaner (sold in DIY stores and car accessory shops)
ahould
shift it, though you'll have to work it into your hands really well
to get
the last traces off.

Swarfega contains paraffin, and is designed essentially to clean
greasy hands. I have never tried it on resin. {:-))

We've tried a lot of things to remove unset epoxy resins. The best and
cheapest is meths. I guess anything else with sufficient alcohol in it
would work too.

I don't think epoxy resin has any relation to resin from trees (except
that it's gooey and is spelt the same).

Paint thinner (i.e. that used for car finishes, not white spirit or
turps substitute) is the best solvent for epoxy resin such as araldite
if it's not fully set.

--
Chris Green

"Martin" wrote in message
...
On Tue, 5 Oct 2004 08:37:27 +0000 (UTC), "Franz Heymann"
wrote:


"Neil Tonks" wrote in message
...
I second that - both petrol and lighter fuel give off lots of
explosive
vapour which can easily ignite.

Swarfega hand cleaner (sold in DIY stores and car accessory
shops)
ahould
shift it, though you'll have to work it into your hands really
well
to get
the last traces off.

Swarfega contains paraffin, and is designed essentially to clean
greasy hands. I have never tried it on resin. {:-))

We've tried a lot of things to remove unset epoxy resins. The best
and
cheapest is meths. I guess anything else with sufficient alcohol in
it
would work too.

Propyl alcohol is particularly good for unset epoxy resins. It is, I
think, sold by chemists as surgical spirit. I have not tried it on
natural resins yet.

Franz

"David Pearson" wrote ...
Hi,
How do I clean the sticky resin from a cut conifer,
from my hands? The only effective cleaner I have found
is methylated spirit, but I suffer from dry skin already,
so that is not ideal.

We've always used olive oil to disolve pine resin and beach tar.
I imagine any cooking or bath oil would work, though.
Kate(and then soap/water to clean up)H

"Janet Baraclough.." wrote in
message ...
The message
from "Franz Heymann" contains
these words:


"anton" wrote in message
...

Please don't suggest that anyone put petrol on their hands- it
contains
benzene, for instance, which is really not nice.

I days of old, when I designed and used vacuum systems, we often
used
benzene to clean mechanical components and, occasionally, our
hands.
My hands did not suffer any ill.


Benzene is carcinogenic, especially via occupational exposure.

In that case, either its potency is quite low, or I am lucky.

Franz

"Franz Heymann" wrote in message
...

"Janet Baraclough.." wrote in
message ...
The message
from "Franz Heymann" contains
these words:


"anton" wrote in message
...

Please don't suggest that anyone put petrol on their hands- it
contains
benzene, for instance, which is really not nice.

I days of old, when I designed and used vacuum systems, we often
used
benzene to clean mechanical components and, occasionally, our
hands.
My hands did not suffer any ill.

Benzene is carcinogenic, especially via occupational exposure.

In that case, either its potency is quite low, or I am lucky.


Maybe, but a score of 0 so far out of 1 is not a terrific way of assessing
the risks of cancer or dermatitis. For both reasons it's not to be
recommended for hand-washing.
http://ptcl.chem.ox.ac.uk/MSDS/BE/benzene.html

I find turps on a rag to be pretty good for conifer resin, but I hesitated
before recommending it:
http://physchem.ox.ac.uk/MSDS/WH/white_spirits.html

have fun
--
Anton

Well it's settled then use gin it should not change the taste ---digger

"anton" wrote in message
...

"Franz Heymann" wrote in message
...

"Janet Baraclough.." wrote
in
message ...
The message
from "Franz Heymann" contains
these words:


"anton" wrote in message
...

Please don't suggest that anyone put petrol on their hands-
it
contains
benzene, for instance, which is really not nice.

I days of old, when I designed and used vacuum systems, we
often
used
benzene to clean mechanical components and, occasionally, our
hands.
My hands did not suffer any ill.

Benzene is carcinogenic, especially via occupational exposure.

In that case, either its potency is quite low, or I am lucky.


Maybe, but a score of 0 so far out of 1 is not a terrific way of
assessing
the risks of cancer or dermatitis.

I was not the sole inhabitant of the four laboratories in which I
worked at various times.
Incidentally, we used ether for really finicky clean-up jobs.
To clean excessively greasy objects, including our hands, the powers
that be provided a big, deep horse trough filled with warmed
trichlorethylene. To clean your hands, you just held them in the
trike vapour which condensed on the object or your hands, dissolved
the grease and rained back into the vat.

For both reasons it's not to be
recommended for hand-washing.
http://ptcl.chem.ox.ac.uk/MSDS/BE/benzene.html

I find turps on a rag to be pretty good for conifer resin, but I
hesitated
before recommending it:
http://physchem.ox.ac.uk/MSDS/WH/white_spirits.html

I presume you have not heard that turpentine is carcinogenic. {:-))

Franz

"........Well it's settled then use gin it should not change the
aste ---digger ....."

No Gin has no great taste.............If you use Retsina then there will be
no change of taste

--
David Hill
Abacus nurseries
www.abacus-nurseries.co.uk

"David Hill" wrote in message
...
"........Well it's settled then use gin it should not change the
aste ---digger ....."

No Gin has no great taste.....

Juniper berries.

.........If you use Retsina then there will be
no change of taste

Resin.

Franz

"Franz Heymann" wrote in message
...


Propyl alcohol is particularly good for unset epoxy resins. It is, I
think, sold by chemists as surgical spirit. I have not tried it on
natural resins yet.


Surgical spirit is mainly ethanol, not propanol. The really good safe stuff
for getting resins, (including, i should imagine, conifer resin), off hands
is Loctite 7855 hand cleaner, but I don't know whether it's available in
retail outlets.

--
Anton

"anton" wrote in message
...

"Franz Heymann" wrote in message
...


Propyl alcohol is particularly good for unset epoxy resins. It
is, I
think, sold by chemists as surgical spirit. I have not tried it
on
natural resins yet.


Surgical spirit is mainly ethanol, not propanol. The really good
safe stuff
for getting resins, (including, i should imagine, conifer resin),
off hands
is Loctite 7855 hand cleaner, but I don't know whether it's
available in
retail outlets.

We are both wrong. I have just had a look at the Penguin Dictionary
of Chemistry. According to that, sugical spirit it methyl alcohol,
further denatured by the addition of castor oil, diethyl phthalate and
methyl salicylate

Franz

"Franz Heymann" wrote in message
...

"anton" wrote in message
...

"Franz Heymann" wrote in message
...


Propyl alcohol is particularly good for unset epoxy resins. It
is, I
think, sold by chemists as surgical spirit. I have not tried it
on
natural resins yet.


Surgical spirit is mainly ethanol, not propanol. The really good
safe stuff
for getting resins, (including, i should imagine, conifer resin),
off hands
is Loctite 7855 hand cleaner, but I don't know whether it's
available in
retail outlets.

We are both wrong. I have just had a look at the Penguin Dictionary
of Chemistry. According to that, sugical spirit it methyl alcohol,
further denatured by the addition of castor oil, diethyl phthalate and
methyl salicylate


I'd rather believe this:
http://www.dgpgroup.com/chemicalsmain.htm

--
Anton