A sticky situation!

TREES Ala natural · 9th August 2011, 04:29 PM

After pruning an historic Moreton Bay Fig last week, a large amount of sap poured from the pruning wounds and has set hard on the bitumen below. We have tried removing it with a high pressure cleaner but the sap did not budge. Are there any solvents that can be used to disolve this rubbery sap?

Jeff Darby · 9th August 2011, 05:12 PM

Have you tried to peel it off?

TREES Ala natural · 9th August 2011, 05:54 PM

yes, tried peeling but it doesn't move.

Jeff Darby · 9th August 2011, 06:06 PM

OK, prevention is always a better option, Fig sap is latex so we need to find out what will return latex to solution then waterblast it away, try tea tree oil, failing this buy a bag or two of pre mixed bitumen and cover it up.

Eric Frei · 9th August 2011, 06:34 PM

Try undiluted eucalyptus oil too.

Also try pinesol

Joshua Rugg · 9th August 2011, 07:54 PM

eucalyptus oil = aussie sweat

Eric Frei · 9th August 2011, 08:34 PM

Gets chewing gum off, unreal.

Darrell Mcleod · 9th August 2011, 08:41 PM

got this stuff from Bunnings yonks ago and it rtemoves say fat from a barbedue like no tomorrow

called 'oomph' and made by Pascoes

Pascoes :: Chemical Manufacturer, Perth Western Australia

Jeff Darby · 9th August 2011, 08:54 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by cruisin_long

got this stuff from Bunnings yonks ago and it rtemoves say fat from a barbedue like no tomorrow

called 'oomph' and made by Pascoes

Pascoes :: Chemical Manufacturer, Perth Western Australia

lol's crusin, not saying it not a good product but so does heating the bbq up washing it down with a hose...bingo clean as a whistle, no fat,no rust.. and cheap as chips..

Darrell Mcleod · 9th August 2011, 08:58 PM

No mate you know when you pull one apart to give it a decent clean - all the old gunk - seriously this stuff is dynamite - smells like citrus and just disolved stuff

Jeff Darby · 9th August 2011, 09:00 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by cruisin_long

No mate you know when you pull one apart to give it a decent clean - all the old gunk - seriously this stuff is dynamite - smells like citrus and just disolved stuff

Ok..

dingo · 11th August 2011, 11:22 AM

So...TREES Ala natural whats the latest in this sap saga? Did you manage to liquefy the latex?
My friend runs a pressure cleaning business and whenever something won't budge he reaches for the hydrochloric acid

I've worked with him a few times and always try to talk him out of it....

Joshua Rugg · 12th August 2011, 05:23 AM

try orange and lemon oil based cleaner. pour it on in copious amounts, let it sit, and then scrub it off with a nylon brush.

Tony Knight · 12th August 2011, 08:48 AM

Instead of softening the sap what ifyou waited for a warm day, poor (wet down) some diesel on the area have a beer or latte (what evers your pleasure) and remove with a shovel/scraper when soft. Asphalt will re harden once evaporation has taken place and the ambient temperature cools or wash down with a mild degreaser to hasten the process?

Cheers

Tony

Rob Chace · 12th August 2011, 09:01 PM

gums/rubbers/resins try:

mechanic removal,
chemical dissolve (organics for organics etc),

failing this (which is basically where u are) I would go to a dry-ice approach will/should make the sap brittle enough to chip off with a welders/slag hammer etc.

dry-ice has 101 uses!!! fixing dents amonst other things.

Brent Ferris · 12th August 2011, 10:13 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Robstar

dry-ice has 101 uses!!! fixing dents amonst other things.

How do you fix dents with dry ice?

9th August 2011, 04:29 PM	#1
TREES Ala natural I'm new here so be nice Join Date: May 2010 Location: Sydney Posts: 3	A sticky situation! After pruning an historic Moreton Bay Fig last week, a large amount of sap poured from the pruning wounds and has set hard on the bitumen below. We have tried removing it with a high pressure cleaner but the sap did not budge. Are there any solvents that can be used to disolve this rubbery sap?

9th August 2011, 05:12 PM	#2
Jeff Darby Moderator - Previously known as JayD Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: TreeWorld, Sydney Australia Posts: 2,059	Re: A sticky situation! Have you tried to peel it off? __________________ Member: Australian Tree Association Join the Australian Tree Association...Have your voice heard ! Arboriculture, A life long study for some, a passing phase for others © Jeffrey J Darby 2011

9th August 2011, 05:54 PM	#3
TREES Ala natural I'm new here so be nice Join Date: May 2010 Location: Sydney Posts: 3	Re: A sticky situation! yes, tried peeling but it doesn't move.

9th August 2011, 06:06 PM	#4
Jeff Darby Moderator - Previously known as JayD Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: TreeWorld, Sydney Australia Posts: 2,059	Re: A sticky situation! OK, prevention is always a better option, Fig sap is latex so we need to find out what will return latex to solution then waterblast it away, try tea tree oil, failing this buy a bag or two of pre mixed bitumen and cover it up. __________________ Member: Australian Tree Association Join the Australian Tree Association...Have your voice heard ! Arboriculture, A life long study for some, a passing phase for others © Jeffrey J Darby 2011

9th August 2011, 06:34 PM	#5
Eric Frei Admin - Owner Palm & Tree Services in Brisbane Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Brisbane Posts: 12,996	Re: A sticky situation! Try undiluted eucalyptus oil too. Also try pinesol __________________ Protect your rights to work - Join Australian Tree Association My businesses:- Qualified Brisbane Palm and Tree Lopping \| Stump Grinding Brisbane \| Brisbane - Gold Coast Consulting Arborist

9th August 2011, 07:54 PM	#6
Joshua Rugg Mature tree Join Date: Feb 2011 Location: maui, hawaii Posts: 285	Re: A sticky situation! eucalyptus oil = aussie sweat __________________ Stihl MS192T 14" MS200T 16" MS261 16" MS440 25" Husqvarna 359 20" 394XP 32" Poulan P3314 14" ( new hire/groundy saw)

9th August 2011, 08:34 PM	#7
Eric Frei Admin - Owner Palm & Tree Services in Brisbane Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Brisbane Posts: 12,996	Re: A sticky situation! Gets chewing gum off, unreal. __________________ Protect your rights to work - Join Australian Tree Association My businesses:- Qualified Brisbane Palm and Tree Lopping \| Stump Grinding Brisbane \| Brisbane - Gold Coast Consulting Arborist

9th August 2011, 08:41 PM	#8
Darrell Mcleod Mature tree Join Date: Jul 2010 Location: Victoria Australia Posts: 242	Re: A sticky situation! got this stuff from Bunnings yonks ago and it rtemoves say fat from a barbedue like no tomorrow called 'oomph' and made by Pascoes Pascoes :: Chemical Manufacturer, Perth Western Australia

9th August 2011, 08:58 PM	#10
Darrell Mcleod Mature tree Join Date: Jul 2010 Location: Victoria Australia Posts: 242	Re: A sticky situation! No mate you know when you pull one apart to give it a decent clean - all the old gunk - seriously this stuff is dynamite - smells like citrus and just disolved stuff

11th August 2011, 11:22 AM	#12
dingo Semi-mature vigorous tree Join Date: Jan 2011 Location: sydney Posts: 67	Re: A sticky situation! So...TREES Ala natural whats the latest in this sap saga? Did you manage to liquefy the latex? My friend runs a pressure cleaning business and whenever something won't budge he reaches for the hydrochloric acid I've worked with him a few times and always try to talk him out of it....

12th August 2011, 05:23 AM	#13
Joshua Rugg Mature tree Join Date: Feb 2011 Location: maui, hawaii Posts: 285	Re: A sticky situation! try orange and lemon oil based cleaner. pour it on in copious amounts, let it sit, and then scrub it off with a nylon brush. __________________ Stihl MS192T 14" MS200T 16" MS261 16" MS440 25" Husqvarna 359 20" 394XP 32" Poulan P3314 14" ( new hire/groundy saw)

12th August 2011, 08:48 AM	#14
Tony Knight Mature tree Join Date: May 2011 Location: Victoria, Australia Posts: 312	Re: A sticky situation! Instead of softening the sap what ifyou waited for a warm day, poor (wet down) some diesel on the area have a beer or latte (what evers your pleasure) and remove with a shovel/scraper when soft. Asphalt will re harden once evaporation has taken place and the ambient temperature cools or wash down with a mild degreaser to hasten the process? Cheers Tony

12th August 2011, 09:01 PM	#15
Rob Chace Semi-mature vigorous tree Join Date: Aug 2010 Location: Perth, WA Posts: 238	Re: A sticky situation! gums/rubbers/resins try: mechanic removal, chemical dissolve (organics for organics etc), failing this (which is basically where u are) I would go to a dry-ice approach will/should make the sap brittle enough to chip off with a welders/slag hammer etc. dry-ice has 101 uses!!! fixing dents amonst other things.

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