getting PL premium off your hands

[brodave2]

not the best, but it works. I wipe all I can off with a paper towel, then I wash my hands with soap and water. The water makes the PL tack up, then I wipe all I can off again with paper towels. It doesn't get it all off, but it does better than anything else I've found. Of course, the best is to wear latex gloves, which I detest.

[bgavin]

Mineral spirits works very well while PL is wet.

Once it dries on your hands, sand paper or sand blasting is an alternative.



I don't wait until it dries, because those options remove too much additional skin.

[SoundInMotionDJ]

+1 for mineral spirits. I keep a small container near the bench when I'm working with PL. A quick wipe keeps hands, tools, work surfaces, etc clean. then again, I was getting good enough after a couple of sessions to keep the mess (mostly) contained.

Of course, the best is to wear latex gloves, which I detest.

I found that gloves were a double edged sword. Yes, my hands did stay cleaner. But everything else was messier. With gloves, I could not feel a little dab of Pl on my hands...so then I went to pick up a tool, or move the work in progress, or adjust the saw, etc, etc - after a couple of hours I had PL on every surface that I'd touched. So, I opted to work (mostly) gloveless, and to clean my hands as I went.

Of course, there is nothing that will get the PL off the caulking gun at the point.

--Stan Graves

[Bill Fitzmaurice]

Of course, there is nothing that will get the PL off the caulking gun at the point.

Water pump pliers.

[brodave2]

Water pump pliers.

We always called those "channellocks", due to the most common brand name. Back when the folks up north of us got tired of the cold winters and came down here to the Houston area en masse, some of our new friends referred to "water pump pliers" and at first we had no idea what they were talking about. Well, time passes and we adjust, I now know what water pump pliers are. I sometimes leave a drywall screw in the end of the PL snout to have something to grab hold of to pull the plug out. If you give it long enough, the entire snout will get hard. I then saw it off flush with a hack saw, and sometimes can get quite a bit more out, although it makes a very wide bead.

[Tim A]

Use a 16 penny nail in the end of the tube. If you cut the end small enough it'll stay good for months.

Mineral spritis on your hands and tools.

PL does not stick to the nylon nozzle worth a crap. But, I give it and the nail a wipe with mineral spirits before I break the seal. Works like a champ.

[Jeff Beaird]

I found that gloves were a double edged sword. Yes, my hands did stay cleaner. But everything else was messier. With gloves, I could not feel a little dab of Pl on my hands...so then I went to pick up a tool, or move the work in progress, or adjust the saw, etc, etc - after a couple of hours I had PL on every surface that I'd touched. So, I opted to work (mostly) gloveless, and to clean my hands as I went.

I keep a can of carburator cleaner nearby. I spray a little in my hands or on a rag and the PL comes right off! Or if I make a big mess, I break out the clean-up solvent.

[brodave2]

mineral spirits didn't work for me. I haven't tried carburetor cleaner.

[DJ Mark]

I learned that PL is really bad for your skin the hard way since i am working on some omni tops...Wearing gloves helps a ton...Doesnt make a difference when you use so much PL....Mineral spirits help...also soak your hands in hot soapy water...and then scrub off with a sponge...

[WB]

This is what I use,


smells nice too.

[Mark Coward]

Once it dries, I've found nothing will take it off. At least it will wear off your skin eventually, what I hate is I end up getting globs on my jeans, and after it dries it's permanent. Looks kind of like boogers or vomit

[Art Coates]

i'd be wary of solvents - being that they can be absorbed through the skin. i use a pumice stone, soap & water to get off the dried stuff. better yet, wear gloves.

[WB]

i'd be wary of solvents - being that they can be absorbed through the skin.

Correct, and I should have mentioned to wash with soap and water right afterwards.

[Tom]

Before working with PL, paint, etc:

Lotion up your hands with something very oily - vaseline, bag balm, etc.

Basically if your hands are oily, then the PL has a hard time sticking, since
PL cures with water in the skin.

Even dry skin makes a good bond with PL. Conversely, greasy skin makes a poor bond with PL.

[DJ Mark]

Before working with PL, paint, etc:

Lotion up your hands with something very oily - vaseline, bag balm, etc.

Basically if your hands are oily, then the PL has a hard time sticking, since
PL cures with water in the skin.

Even dry skin makes a good bond with PL. Conversely, greasy skin makes a poor bond with PL .

Awesome idea. I am going to try that when finishing up my tops...