A chemistry question (Sean???)
 

Hello

My wife has her Great-grandfather’s 1928 Aladdin kerosene lamp. She is sentimental.

In the past some sort of solvent leached a sticky glue like substance on the inside and burner. I was able to use laquer thinner to remove this from the reservoir. But after a week of immersion the burner is covered and not showing any improvement.

The burner is nickel plate over brass. Which is pretty good stuff. I am wondering if a strong base like oven cleaner is safe for this. Also, TSP has been recommended. No idea if the PH of TSP or the chemical method by which it cleans.

Any thoughts?

No acid/base.

Kero is non polar. Use another non polar solvent. Or hexane, toluene, or dcm…

Can you get hold of some Dichloromethane. It dissolves fairly much anything like what you have described.

^^^what the heck is that??? Sounds like cancer in a bottle!

I will check. Never heard of this.

I don't know the chemical reactions, but, from 1920's nickel plated guitars and a set of nickel plated 1920's sunglasses I found- be careful- the plating can get damaged quick.

I would research research research, b/c any mistakes will eat through the plating lickety split and you don't get 3 wishes type stuff :) . Good luck.

You've sent me down a rabbit hole!
https://classicpressurelamps.com/threads/nickel-plating-pitting.14421/

One comment I can appreciate is that if the plating is pitted, it's pretty much done for (if that applies or not in your situation, I don't know)

^^^I want to hear more about these nickel guitars. Love Nationals and similar!

Arizona is one the right path here. The kerosene left the gum. A solvent should rehydrate that. However, it has been baked, some some chemical changes have occured to the resin. Not a chemist so that's all I got.

You might try some paint remover on a test spot.

Dcm should be on a DEA watchlist. lol same with the toluene

It’s a fairly nasty halogenated solvent… I’ve done a few organic synthesis and lots of columns with dcm and prefer to work with it in a fume hood and not get any on my bare skin. Will dissolve most types of gloves as well. Works very well at cleaning out glassware without having to base bath it ( E.g. schlenk lines)… lol good stuff


My favorite method of cleaning out organics is by soaking (for a few weeks) the item in diesel… it’s very cheap

“Like dissolves like“

Gum should be the heavier hydrocarbons with some impurities/junk that.

Ok. Thanks. Like dissolves like. My logic is sound. My patience is weak. I will soak further. Thanks!