Cleaning a tacking iron... what to use?

[bobbysandstrom]

Any suggestions on what I can use to clean my tacking iron that I might have hanging around the house?

thanks

 

[noseoil]

Heat it up very hot and run it over some cardboard. Might take a couple of times, but I don't know of a solvent which will work. You could try various industrial solvents, but heat will work. tim

 

[User Removed]

I let it get good and hot, and use a wide razor and run it along to bottom plate. Make sure to just do it lightly thought, not to scrach the surface of the plate. When it heats up, all the gunk on the bottom is soft and will just peel right off. Afterwards, I usually run it over a sheet of cardboard or matboard to make sure the bottom surface is clean.

Always has worked for me!

 

[Konical]

Good Evening,

Prevention is the best cure. When you use a tacking iron, don't apply it directly to the mounting tissue; simply use a small piece of release paper to prevent contact with the tacking iron. No gunk on the iron = no need to do a clean-up.

Konical

 

[KenM]

Goo-gone works for me.....just make sure it's clean of the solvent before you use it to continue mounting....

 

[John Cook]

Just a wild guess. Disregard if modern tissue now uses some new whiz-bang polymer formulation.

But in the old days, Seal drymount tissue used to be coated with shellac. If that is still the case, alcohol will dissolve it. May require soaking for a while, as when repairing old musical instruments and furniture.