Removing pine sap from deck boards
Picture in your mind a “normal” treated-lumber deck, except that this one has a circular hole through which a tall, stately pine tree grows, with octagonal seating built around (but 2″–3″ away from) the pine tree. It’s a natural drawing point for seated conversation–or would be if it wasn’t for these blobs of sticky pine sap that are most often found when one starts to rise and discovers that the fibers of one’s pants are now stuck to one of the blobs.
I’ve tried every product that has been suggested for removing the blobs of pine tar, from toluol (lacquer thinner) to acetone (fingernail-polish-remover), to the spectrum of OTC household cleansers–and even went so far as to lay a piece of dry ice on the pine sap until it was sub-zero frozen and then tap it with a hammer. It was supposed to shatter into a number of tiny shards that could be flicked away with a glove; it shattered into a number of shards, with each one of which sticking tenaciously to the deck board.
Does anyone know of a product or method of removing pine sap from real wood deck boards that’s less Draconian than cutting down the pine tree? Feel free to reply directly to the oldest Charter Subscriber to four Taunton publications, dmmcwethy@cox.net.
A thousand gratitudes….
Replies
Have you tried mineral spirits?
Yes, early on. I could have SWORN that I heard that sap laughing...
Obviously scrape up as much as possible first. Then denatured alcohol does a good job at dissolving sap.
Turpentine has worked the best for me!http://www.woodsshop.com
I know that one's been tried....
We did our (last, I hope) deck with 2x6 PT and stained with Olympic semi-transparent stain. About a week later the HO calls and said she had white spots on the deck that we need to remove. I called Olympic and they told me to use Denatured alcohol which has worked, but it's taken several appllications and the spots are almost gone. Next time I'm using synthetic or Ipe-no more PT for me!
I will check with She Who Will Be Obeyed to confirm that denatured alcohol and mineral spirits have been tried without success; I suggested that a military-surplus weather balloon be used to encase the tree and catch the sap. I could't tell whether the sap was laughing that time or not as the response of the Dainty Mistress would have drowned out the bellowing of a 'Gunny Sergeant (as an aside, a lot of the words and phrases brought back not-so-fond memories of 40 years ago, and lest we go down that road, napalm HAS BEEN DISMISSED from further consideration.
I am encouraged by everyone's obvious desire to help; perhaps one of you knows the URL of a well-respected paint/stain manufacturer; or a sustainable forestry/wood products/sawmill contact, as surely they must have to deal with accumulations of sap/pitch/resin on sawblades--and do so in a milieu where the danger of inadequate ventilation or the potential for explosion is next to non-existent.
It's dark-thirty here, but this screen will be my first stop in the morning as soon as the caffeine has made one complete circuit. You are all true gentlemen (and ladies) and I shall not forget your kindness to an old duffer.
removing it is one thing, keeping it off is another matter. Could you fabricate some sort of awning to catch the sap before it hits the bench.