Carb Cleaner

[gareth]

I have a sideline business in NYC fixing and futzing with old Jap UJM's. I enjoy it, for the most part, because I have been building custom cabinets and furniture for the past 30 years but most of the stuff I build just "stands there" and had all the hazards of an intense craft process, with a price to match, and buyers remorse. Biker customers are different. They just have this huge smile on their faces when a couple of hours of carb work totally transforms their bikes. Yer average cabinet, custom or not, pretty much achieves its terminal velocity (0) as soon as it's built...
But I stink of Berrymans.
No amount of scrubbing can get that carbolic acid smell off my skin... One young lady commented that I smelled like "the biggest box of Band-aids in the world..." Not cool. Not sexy.
SO...

What other carb cleaners are out there?
Or is there something that works great to scrub the stench?
The whole " You smell like my Grandad thing..." is gettin' old...


Seriously...

This is a personal Mechanic Hygeine Perception problem...

I need a solution. Or a formula. Or different Girlfriends...

[GARTHXS]

You could try peeling a lemon or orange and if that doesn't work clean a couple of fish!

[79XS11F]

Start wearing the appropriate gloves when using the chemicals that are being absorbed by your skin and causing the odor. The odor will go away on its own in due time as your hands shed their skin cells. It's really that simple.
Rob

[81xsproject]

The lemon peel is where it is at. Smash it as rub it around on your skin. BUT, you really ought to take a peak at the warnings on the sides of the can and obey. Every once in a while is one thing. But if you are going to do it regularly, wear the gloves. Period.

[fredintoon]

- - - if you are going to do it regularly, wear the gloves. Period.

Hi Proj,
sound advice, those chemicals don't care what they dissolve.
Skin, lung tissue, corneas, liver & kidneys, brain cells, they'll get them all.
So just like riding, ATGATT! Eye protection, breathing mask, & gloves for working with that stuff.

[dpotter58]

The whole " You smell like my Grandad thing..." is gettin' old...

Dude, really, it's not the carb cleaner...

[DenyP]

I boil all but the small parts in lemon juce for about 15 min - then water rinse. Does a hell of a job, doesn't damage the butterfly seals, and is non-toxic. Just don't do it in the house - stinks. I picked this up from the Yamaha Triples group.

I'd still recommend rubber gloves.

Deny

[Kronk]

You do really have to watch chemicals... We work with alot of methanol in my line of work, and guys who have been doing this for 40 years are losing their livers now!