Removing Fuel soak

[Chris Brew]

Does anyone have any ideas on removing fuel soak from Balsa.
I am rebuilding an old model and have stripped of the old solartex and found some areas around the front and along the exhaust side of the model that fuel and caster oil has got to.
I have heard of people using 100% alcohol and cornstarch mixed to a paste and also a product called K2r, sounds a bit like a carpet cleaner in an aerosol can.
Anyone had any experience with this problem.
Cheers Chris

[Chris Brew]

Thanks Bruce that sounds like a great Idea

[Chris Brew]

Gave this a go tonight Bruce, it works pretty good. Thanks for the tip

[walrus]

There is a better way to solving this issue. Do it before it becomes a problem.
When building a new model consider the areas that are most likely to be prone to fuel soak.
From my experience that goes from the nose to the point of the fuselage that is at the rear of the trailing edge of the wing.
While the fuselage is in the built up but uncovered stage paint the wood inside and out with a mix of two pot epoxy resin that has been thinned about 3-4 to one with methylated spirits. Apply 2-3 coats, one coat each day, and allow to harden. Sand lightly between coats then cover/paint as you wish.
This will give a fully fuel proofed fuselage that will last a life time.
"Trust me, I know what I'm doing..... " famous quote from Sledgehammer.
Seriously though, I have models that are nearing 20 years old and they still look as if they just rolled off the building board.

[saaleha]

Old boats often have oil and diesel soaked into the timber. How to fix it or reduce the problem so that repainting or epoxy coating can be done?