[Healeys] Subject: Re: degreaser

[Oudesluys]

I would not worry to much. Oil is a natural product (OK, it is refined 
and dopes are added) and thus biodegradable. It is not as bad as the 
environment people will let us believe. Just spill some oil on your 
driveway and it will be completely gone after a year.
Years ago there was a huge oil spill in the Atlantic near Scotland 
during a storm and there was an enormous worry for polluting the coastal 
aerea, and right they were to worry. However, because of the storm and 
the violent waves the oil was broken down in small particles and quickly 
degraded. Practically nothing was to be found afterwards.
Mind you I am not telling you to dump your waste oil, be carefull with 
oil spill's, but it is not a disaster when it happens. The only real 
reason to avoid oil stains is SWMBO, she will tell you in no uncertain 
terms when you leave an oil stain on the drive way.
I do my degreasing on my gravel driveway when she is not at home. No one 
the wiser. Never saw any oil stains and the weeds are growing like mad.
Kees Oudesluijs



Mirek Sharp schreef:
> I agree James,
>
> you wrote: ... how about a method to protect not only our own property 
> (driveway and lawn) but also the environment
>
> When I have a major degreasing job to deal with, I generally lay down 
> plastic, as James suggests, then lay many layers of newspaper as an 
> absorbent.  I then scrape off as much as I can with a selection of old 
> putty knifes (paint scrapers), and then do the final clean with 
> mineral spirits and a stiff brush.  I then pull the plastic and soiled 
> newspaper out from under the project and, if I have time and space, 
> and if it is summer (I am in Canada), I leave the whole mess sit for a 
> while to let the solvent volatize off.  I try to get the as much of 
> the old greasy grit to the hazardous waste disposal, but they usually 
> tell me to stick it in the garbage, from which it unfortunately goes 
> into the landfill.
>
> I also agree with the earlier comment about the Easy Off oven cleaner 
> - absolutely nasty stuff and very, very hard on the hands if you get 
> any on you - if you ever use it wear rubber gloves and safety 
> glasses.  The only application I use it for is getting burned on oil 
> off the chrome pipes on my Velocette (motorcycle) - with a bit of 
> elbow grease - it is pretty good for that.
>
> cheers,
>
> Mirek
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