How/what is the best way possible to clean up dried cetol from a boat deck without harming the gel coat?
Dried cetol
- Thread starter tristanemerson
- Start date
In what way is the Cetol dried on? Do you have drops and drips, or is it coating the deck?
In the case of discreet drops of Cetol, try a small sharp blade to cut the drop carefully apart from the gel coat, otherwise, you may have to spot repair the gel coat after removing the Cetol with a solvent or sand paper.
-Will
In the case of discreet drops of Cetol, try a small sharp blade to cut the drop carefully apart from the gel coat, otherwise, you may have to spot repair the gel coat after removing the Cetol with a solvent or sand paper.
-Will
Cetol dripped from the wood on to the plastic of the boat and has dried. Idk how to clean it off without scratching/damaging the boat…
Acetone may work, as long as it doesn't stay in contact with the gel coat for an extended time. It evaporates pretty quickly, so not usually a problem, but acetone will soften resin coatings.
-Will
Gentle heat (hair drier or heat gun at a distance) can be very helpful for lifting drops.
The gentle heat method is a great idea as that's how I remove older layers from my teak.
I get a few small drops on the gelcoat when I do my annual maintenance coat. I use a dental-style pick (hardware store. . . . like a dental pick but larger). Carefully pick at only the Cetol and don't scratch the gelcoat. Lots of times it will kind of pop off. Experiment with how you use the pick--sometimes the curvy "neck" portion of the pick (and not the pointy scratchy end) works. If this curvy portion marks the gelcoat it tends to be a scuff and not a scratch.
I get a few small drops on the gelcoat when I do my annual maintenance coat. I use a dental-style pick (hardware store. . . . like a dental pick but larger). Carefully pick at only the Cetol and don't scratch the gelcoat. Lots of times it will kind of pop off. Experiment with how you use the pick--sometimes the curvy "neck" portion of the pick (and not the pointy scratchy end) works. If this curvy portion marks the gelcoat it tends to be a scuff and not a scratch.
