Remove glue from fiberglass?

PaulK

.
Dec 1, 2009
1,297
Sabre 402 Southport, CT
Anything too physically aggressive is going to damage the substrate - which one assumes you want left alone. You’ve tried acetone or other solvents?
 
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gtg

.
Sep 12, 2019
103
Catalina, Hobbie 22, 16 Windycrest
I will try acetone. I am curious is there is a particular solvent.
 
Feb 21, 2013
4,638
Hunter 46 Point Richmond, CA
Goo Gone is my go-to adhesive remover. Other options may be found in the following article.

 

Ted

.
Jan 26, 2005
1,260
C&C 110 Bay Shore, Long Island, NY
What type of glue are you trying to remove?
 

jssailem

SBO Weather and Forecasting Forum Jim & John
Oct 22, 2014
21,985
CAL 35 Cruiser #21 moored EVERETT WA
That is more a caulk than an adhesive.

I removed it using acetone (in small amounts, on a rag, wearing rubber gloves) water and a stiff nylon scrub brush. Also a small wire brush in circles to get it out of the indents of the non skid.

Slow and careful. No residual damage to my aged deck.
 
Jun 25, 2004
1,108
Corsair F24 Mk1 003 San Francisco Bay, CA
The best polyurethane and silicone remover I’ve ever used is Re-mov. It doesn’t dissolve the old sealant, it breaks the adhesive bond between the sealant and the surface. I use a razor or scraper to lift under the edges, a toothbrush, or a terry cloth. It’s so good I bough a case of it and gave it as gifts to my friends!

I haven’t found acetone, denatured alcohol, lacquer thinner, WD40, or 3M Adhesive Remover to be very effective.

Practical sailor recommends Remov or Boatlife Release. I’ve never used the Boatlife product but it got good reviews from PS.
 
Last edited:

jssailem

SBO Weather and Forecasting Forum Jim & John
Oct 22, 2014
21,985
CAL 35 Cruiser #21 moored EVERETT WA
I think the product is a Polysulfide product. It has the aged brown color of that type of caulk. It was used as a bedding compound on my boat. Low adhesion but decent water intrusion resistance. Only issue was it tended to fail where parts were exposed to stress movement over time. Used on hand rails after time and repetitive grabs by crew to stay on board, it breaks down and water intrudes.
 
Oct 6, 2007
1,067
Hunter H30 1982 Chicago IL
That looks like it might be old butyl rubber sealant. Is it still soft and sticky? I use MEK to remove old butyl and other sealants like 3M 4200. It’s like acetone, but it doesn’t evaporate as quickly.
 
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Jun 13, 2017
17
Hunter 35 Legend Mobile, AL
The best polyurethane and silicone remover I’ve ever used is Re-mov. It doesn’t dissolve the old sealant, it breaks the adhesive bond between the sealant and the surface. I use a razor or scraper to lift under the edges, a toothbrush, or a terry cloth. It’s so good I bough a case of it and gave it as gifts to my friends!

I haven’t found acetone, denatured alcohol, lacquer thinner, WD40, or 3M Adhesive Remover to be very effective.

Practical sailor recommends Remov or Boatlife Release. I’ve never used the Boatlife product but it got good reviews from PS.
Would Re-Mov be compatible with Lexan or acrylic? I need to re-bed some skylights and hatch lenses.
thanks,
Carmen
 
Mar 26, 2011
3,578
Corsair F-24 MK I Deale, MD
The best polyurethane and silicone remover I’ve ever used is Re-mov. It doesn’t dissolve the old sealant, it breaks the adhesive bond between the sealant and the surface. I use a razor or scraper to lift under the edges, a toothbrush, or a terry cloth. It’s so good I bough a case of it and gave it as gifts to my friends!

I haven’t found acetone, denatured alcohol, lacquer thinner, WD40, or 3M Adhesive Remover to be very effective.

Practical sailor recommends Remov or Boatlife Release. I’ve never used the Boatlife product but it got good reviews from PS.
Re-Mov is for silicone. Debond is for polyurethane/polysulfide. I use Debond a good bit. Follow the instructions.

Both are compatible with polycarbonate and acrylic.
 

gtg

.
Sep 12, 2019
103
Catalina, Hobbie 22, 16 Windycrest
That looks like it might be old butyl rubber sealant. Is it still soft and sticky? I use MEK to remove old butyl and other sealants like 3M 4200. It’s like acetone, but it doesn’t evaporate as quickly.
Do you have a place you purchase from? Is it called MEK?
 
Oct 6, 2007
1,067
Hunter H30 1982 Chicago IL
Do you have a place you purchase from? Is it called MEK?
I’ve just been buying it at Home Depot. When I was there last week I noticed they were selling an MEK substitute. Haven’t tried it yet and I’m not sure why there is a substitute.
 
Mar 26, 2011
3,578
Corsair F-24 MK I Deale, MD
I’ve just been buying it at Home Depot. When I was there last week I noticed they were selling an MEK substitute. Haven’t tried it yet and I’m not sure why there is a substitute.
Substitutes are a weird subject. Notice it does NOT say on the label what it is. You can Google the SED and I recall it is acetone with a little ethyl acetate.

Debond is better.
 
Feb 21, 2013
4,638
Hunter 46 Point Richmond, CA
Home Depot's MEK substitute (Klean-Strip) I found is primarily acetone per its Safety Datasheet attached:


1595944462455.png
 

Attachments

Apr 16, 2017
841
Federation NCC-1701 Riverside
You are treading in hunter acp territory now...

Acetone will destroy acrylic.

If none of the other solutions work try Easy off fume free in the blue can. It contains a plastic safe paint remover. It takes asa and abs plastics back to original film free surface. You may luck out and have it dissolve the glue. If not use it to clean the boat, or any nearby ovens, pots or pans.