Replies

1. 
   BruceT999 | Aug 23, 2007 06:32am | #1

   The oily substance from the clamp pads is probably a plasticizer used in soft plastics to keep them supple. Common plasticizers include octyl pthalate and dibutyl pthalate, which sort of take up space between polymer molecules of the plastic but do not bind to them. Over time, especially in hot conditions, some of the plasticizer comes out. Notice how the windshield of your car or truck gets a film on it after sitting in the sun for some days? That's plasticizer cooked out of the padded dashboard.

   How to get it out of oak? If it is not too deep, you should be able to sand it away. Mineral spirits is way too weak a solvent to do any good. Lacquer thinner may get to it or possibly an acetone-soaked rag held in place for some time may dissolve it. Glycol ethers like butyl Cellosolve or propylene glycol ethyl ether, both of which are used as retarding solvents for lacquers, might work.

   Good luck

   BruceT
1. 
   melonhead | Aug 23, 2007 04:34pm | #3

   Thanks for the reply Bruce.

   I can find lacquer thinner, but where would I look for the ether products you described?

   Bill

1. 
   BruceT999 | Aug 23, 2007 08:10pm | #5

   A paint store that sells lacquers and stains to cabinet makers and the like will have retarding solvents. Even something like MIBK might work - nearly as strong as MEK and slow enough evaporating perhaps to have time to work. The worst thing may be if the plasticizer has soaked deeply into the wood, it may not be possible for solvents to drag it out again. BruceT

1. 
   DaveRicheson | Aug 24, 2007 09:18pm | #9

   How about just plane old exylol or exylene?  Works well removing the oils from rosewood.

    

   Dave

2. 
   Sequim Tool | Aug 23, 2007 08:01am | #2

   Oil the whole thing.

   John 

1. 
   melonhead | Aug 23, 2007 04:36pm | #4

   Hi Neighbor:

   If all else fails that is what I will do, but I'm afraid it will still leave dark spots.

   Bill

3. 
   mudman | Aug 23, 2007 09:42pm | #6

   MEK or Acetone are availible at any hardware store. As to the long term solution, either ditch the cheap clamps, or take off the plactic covers, or use wood spacers. I do have some not-so-cheap Jorgeson heavy duty 12" bar clamps that do that as well. Now I will not buy any jorgies.

    

   Edit: the project looks good.

   Pardon my spelling,

   Mike

   Make sure that your next project is beyond your skill and requires tools you don't have. You won't regret it.

   
   

   ---

   Edited 8/23/2007 2:43 pm ET by mudman

1. 
   Elcoholic | Aug 24, 2007 07:36am | #7

   The pads for Pony pipe clamps do it to bnut sanding worked for me. If I every get around to it i though I'd ditch the pads and glue on sow thick cowhide or cork.
   John O'Connell - JKO Handcrafted Woodworking

   The more things change ...

   We trained hard, but it seemed that every time we were beginning to form up into teams, we would be reorganized.  I was to learn later in life that we tend to meet any new situation by reorganizing; and a wonderful method it can be for creating the illusion of progress while producing confusion, inefficiency, and demoralization.

   Petronious Arbiter, 210 BC

1. 
   mudman | Aug 24, 2007 05:29pm | #8

   My ponys dont have pads. But adding cork or leather is a great idea.Pardon my spelling,

   Mike

   Make sure that your next project is beyond your skill and requires tools you don't have. You won't regret it.

4. 
   melonhead | Sep 02, 2007 07:33pm | #10

   Thanks everybody for the advice. There are a lot of good suggestions for the oak as well as the clamp pads.

   Sorry for the delayed reply, I've been on vacation ( if one can call a week spent bucking up logs and splitting fire wood a vacation) for a week with no internet acsess .

   Thanks again,

   Bill