cleaning old foam off floats

[Muskieman]

I recently found my old float box containing around 150 floats. The problem is that the old foam is sticking to the floats. Does anyone have any suggestions on cleaning them without damaging the paintwork.

[Tengisgol]

I'd try a bit of white spirit first, I'm no chemist but I suspect that would disolve and clean up your problem - the old adhesive?

[Aquaerial]

or WD40..its an excellent cleaner and may be less severe than spirit. Its also an excellent fish attractor...not that you want the little devils round your float of course.

[Robbi]

or WD40.. Its also an excellent fish attractor...not that you want the little devils round your float of course.

I've heard that before but is it true ? Why isn't it in every tackle shop and jacket pocket ? Is there any scientific proof ?

I'd love it to be true as I have half a dozen cans of the stuff in my shed.

[Wagtail]

The liquid fuel you buy for lighters (Ronsonol or similar) is very good at getting old sticky glue and the like off all sorts of surfaces. It doesn't melt plastics etc. and evaporates off porous surfaces (whereas I suspect WD40 might soak in leaving and oily film?) - so it might be useful for painted and varnished floats

[Aquaerial]

or WD40.. Its also an excellent fish attractor...not that you want the little devils round your float of course.

I've heard that before but is it true ? Why isn't it in every tackle shop and jacket pocket ? Is there any scientific proof ?

I'd love it to be true as I have half a dozen cans of the stuff in my shed.

It's not something I use regularly, or even at all now, as I just can't get my head around something that I use in a mechanical sense being sprayed on food for fish. However, when the Barbel boys started using it on pellet and the match boys used it on rivers as well I did try it. Like any wonder bait you never know whether or not bites were induced by the bait or other factors but I certainly caught fish on it.

[Nobby]

Yes, apparently it is true and is down to the oils used in its manufacture....BUT it does not biodegrade in the environment so using it on a water is surely harmful.

[Aquaerial]

I would go with that Nobby on the basis that if it feels wrong it probably is.

[Aquaerial]

Well that's that..it possibly works but as we all agree its inappropriate let's move on. (I wish I never mentioned it )

[Robbi]

But at least we now know so well worth it.