Any tips on cleaning this mess?

[OPJ]

Hello.

This just goes to show you what happens when women (my mother) intervene in the man's domain (garage/workshop).

And here's a closer shot:

You're looking at over two-years-worth of Linseed, Teak and Danish Oil (probably some other stuff in there as well). She's finally decided to clean out and get rid of the thing, so I'm looking for tips on cleaning it off, if possible...

So far, I've tried... Nothing. I don't know if white spirit/meths would eat through the freezer?? :shock:

I'm only looking to get it in to a reasonable enough state to be able to flog it on eBay or in one of the local papers. It still works fine, even though the roof leaks directly above it as well. :wink:

Just think, on top of the electricity we'll be saving, I could probably fit two machines in that space!

Thanks for your help, guys.

 

[woodbloke]

Olly - I think you may be stuck between a 'rock and a hard place' with that one. I can only suggest that maybe a cloth soaked in turps or furniture cleaner (which is turps anyway) is placed over the mess to soften it for 48hrs or so with a sheet of plastic over the top to prevent evaporation. After it's gone soft (which may take a long while) try and scrape of the goo with a hardwood scraper (bit of something hard sharpened to a sort of chisel edge) and then have a go at removing the remaining goosmear with some meths and a green scourer. What you don't obviously need to do is to damage the white paint work of the freezer (apologies if straying into the free range egg-sucking dept ) However you do it, I'd exercise some caution in how it's tackled, 'cos that sort of stuff is tricky to remove - Rob

 

[White House Workshop]

The alternative would be just the scrape the whole lot off, sand down the paint and respray with appliance paint. Not to be recommended if you're not good at spray painting though.

(I did the kick plate on our larder fridge and it came up really well.)

 

[mr]

I think I might be tempted to fit it out as an oversized tool chest personally. It should have a nice seal on which might help mitigate against rust if that's problem for you as it is for me.

Cheers Mike

 

[OPJ]

Thanks for the advice, Rob; much appreciated as always.

I'll give that a try and some point, whenever I can foresee a couple of days when I won't be out there making sawdust. I like the idea of using a hardwood scraper. I have thought about going over it with a fine cabinet scraper but, that just sounds like it might take off too much, too quickly.

If I do go too far and make a mess of it, I guess I'll have to looks at repainting it. Perhaps. I'm not looking to totally restore it, only to remove the bulk of the mess - I mean, they've got to expect some "cosmetic" markings, right?

Nice idea Mike! But it won't be that long until winter's gone and I plan on adding some stud walls and insulation to my workshop this year anyway. One of my tutors told me that an old, disconnected chest freezer is a fine place to store excess amounts of lacquers, oils, finishes, etc, in the small but professional workshop. Apparently the H&S guys are okay with it.

You just reminded me that there is further mess around the outside of the seal! Forgot to take a photo of it, though it's not nearly as bad as the dry stuff on top. Shouldn't be half as bad.

Thank you guys.

 

[Chris Knight]

Olly,

I have one just like that! It is still doing freezer duty however (but I'd love to get the space it occupies).

 

[devonwoody]

I think I would stick on some nice maple burl veneers or advertise it in "The magazine for the Blind"

No smilies incase Tony sees this post.

 

[OLD]

It looks scratched to me so cleaning it will not solve the problem maybe you could glue a suitable surface on to it or repaint it. The freezer may not have a lot of value second hand anyway (lots on freecycle around here).

 

[Shultzy]

You could always make a veneer press with the compressor

 

[OPJ]

Chris. I'm sorry, but one look at your photo and I felt so much better about the state of my one!! :wink:

You're right, OLD, it is scratched in places but, if I can clean most of the dried gunk off, I reckon it won't show up half as bad. Like I said before; they've got to expect some "domestic markings" from a three-year-old unit!

I haven't yet tried either of Rob's methods but I did carefully run over it with a cabinet scraper :shock: and already, I can see some of the original surface again! It's a good way to remove the built-up layers on the flat top surface but I need to be more careful on the bevelled edges, which is where the hardwood scraper will probably come in after it's had a good soaking.

Mum's changed her tune though. She's now only talking about emptying it and switching it off "until she needs it again" - despite that fact that we haven't put anything new in there for over two years. :?
I watched one of these (same age, bit cleaner) sell for over £75 on eBay this week (collected too) - that might change her mind, even if the cash goes in her pocket... :wink: