Club Obi Wan

Is this safe? Does it even work?

P.S. Where does one acquire naptha? I asked at Lowe's and Home Depot. Nobody knew what it is.

Don't quote me on this, wait for one of the hatters to chime in, but I believe its camping stove fuel...

I've heard of and seen videos of, people taking their hats a gallon of this and a 5 gallon bucket with lid. They put everything it, shook it up, took it out and let it dry. They then brushed the hat and that was that, but like I said, I'm no expert...

Man oh man, I'd be nervous as heck every time I was around an open flame wearing my lid if I did that.

Jack, I've scrubbed motor engine parts clean with similar stuff. Once it all evaporates, it's pretty safe. Just do it in a well-ventilated area and not around open flame/spark.

It may not be the safest way to clean due to the volatile chemicals, but it does work wonders cleaning really dirty stuff.

Arch Stanton wrote:
P.S. Where does one acquire naptha? I asked at Lowe's and Home Depot. Nobody knew what it is.

Really?

Both of those stores should carry it in the wood finishing department.
It will be under the name "VM&P Naptha"

http://www.homedepot.com/buy/paint-clea ... 88888.html

Mountaineer,

I must not have had my coffee before I wrote that. I completely forgot about evaporation, and to make me feel even more foolish, I've been using kerosene for years to clean tar, bugs, and other road gunk off of my truck. Although, I still feel a little worried at the thought of using it on my hat.

Mountaineer wrote:Jack, I've scrubbed motor engine parts clean with similar stuff. Once it all evaporates, it's pretty safe. Just do it in a well-ventilated area and not around open flame/spark.

It may not be the safest way to clean due to the volatile chemicals, but it does work wonders cleaning really dirty stuff.

You are correct. Once it evaporates it's safe. Just like mountaineer stated well-ventilated area away from a open flame. You really don't want to breath this stuff over a long period of time. Give it a day to air out and dry and you should be good to go.

Colman fuel is white gas and will work. Here in nw Ohio we can get pure naphtha and the other mentioned above. The naphtha is way cheaper around here than the Colman fuel!