Removing mastic-type sealant from frames

[PineyWoods]

My wife and I had a wretched time removing the black mastic-type adhesive from a C30 port frame that we re-sealed using the Catalina Direct kit. Don't know if this was a re-do, but suspect it was. We are about to begin on the on the remaining leaking port.

Anyone know of a solvent that works to clean the last of it from the inner side of the outside frame?

Pete

 

[JohnCTV21]

Goof off worked on my window frames, not sure what type of sealant it was.

 

[PineyWoods]

Goof off worked on my window frames, not sure what type of sealant it was.

Thanks John! We'll give it a try tomorrow and post the results.

Pete

 

[The Garbone]

If the black stuff is butyl tape it will stick to itself more than anything else. Once you work enough off a frame with a knife to get a little in your hand you can use it to blot/ pull the rest off .

If it is not butyl, please diregard this advice.

 

[PineyWoods]

I'm afraid it's something tougher and more adhesive than anything I've seen - even a thin layer on the frame binds up a scraper. Almost as I imagine 3M 5200 would be before it's fully cured.

Pete

 

[CloudDiver]

If it binds up a scraper then it probably something pretty nasty and that is unfortunate. Goof Off is a really good adhesive cleaner, I prefer the big can of liquid over the small bottles or spray can. It is mostly acetone with about 1% Xylene and another 1% MEK and seems very effective on most adhesives without being as deadly as straight MEK.

I know with butyl tape you need to scrape most of it off first and only clean the residue with Goof Off, otherwise the liquid alone would take forever to loosen up the thick adhesive. Considering how much trouble you are having with this black stuff you might have to try soaking it as much as possible with the Goof Off and then try to scrape it if you can get it to soften up. Maybe try a narrow Xacto blade that has a 90 degree edge, look for them at a hobby store. Don't count out using a drum sander tip or flap wheel on a Dremel Tool.

 

[centerline]

if the frames are aluminum, heat them with a heat gun and it will help remove the build up... once the large patches are gone the thin stuff will wipe away once its fairly hot....

if you have experience using a propane torch, it will be quicker, but too much heat with it can cause the look of the anodizing to become uneven.... or way too much heat and you can melt the aluminum...

heat the frames from the outside, as yo uwant to get the aluminum warm to allow the sealant to be peeled away from it. if you try to heat the sealant itself, it will be a mess.

a bit of gentle practice and the frames will be stripped clean of the sealer....