remove epoxy spill on gelcoat?

[jdrutten]

Despite my clearly inadequate but best efforts, I managed to spill some epoxy on the gelcoat in the cockpit. I was able to somewhat scrape and grind away some spots, but there's still a thin layer of epoxy that I'm hesitant to sand/grind/scrape for fear of digging into the gelcoat. I've tried a bit of heat along with acetone but that didn't feel like it was really doing the trick. So, I'm not feeling too confident and would like to prevent further verschlimmbessern.

Any suggestions on good techniques to remove epoxy from gelcoat?

 

[Foswick]

With cured epoxy, removal is going to be all mechanical - i.e. careful sanding/scraping. If your gelcoat was well-polished and waxed, there is some chance it will cleanly separate, but it is likely pretty well bonded.

How big of an area are we talking about?

 

[capta]

Why is it that, on a boat, a simple job always takes so much more time than we expected?

 

[Ralph Johnstone]

a simple job always takes so much more time than we expected?

Very true.

But a complex job, time has a way of stretching into .................

 

[Project_Mayhem]

How big is it? If it's less than a quarter, then it will probably come off over time. I had the same thing happen to me. Every so often I'd try to pry it off with my fingernails. Two or three years later it popped off. I also suspect that some light tapping with a hammer (holding the head for less power and more control) might work to break it up. I haven't tried it though.

 

[jssailem]

Perhaps a sharp chisel or a razor blade can be slipped in between the gel coat and the epoxy.

In time the epoxy will yellow. It may even peal up and off the gel coat.

 

[Davidasailor26]

In time the epoxy will yellow. It may even peal up and off the gel coat.

Yep, epoxy will eventually get brittle and weak in the sun. My guess is that’s why @Project_Mayhem was eventually able to pop his off with a fingernail.

If this is on non-skid in the cockpit removal will be even more difficult.

 

[thinwater]

Heat gun and a scraper. You have to hit the balance between softening the epoxy and the gelcoat.

A molding scraper is good for curved areas. Once you get it down to very thin, the rest will oxidize in the sun and wear off in a season. In random non-skid, a wire brush + heat gun can work. Very careful with the temperature.

 

[jdrutten]

Thanks for your responses!

Unfortunately, it's larger than the size of a quarter. I was using a sturdy plastic mixing cup with acetone to clean my tools throughout the course of my project and promptly forgot about it until the next day when I noticed that the acetone had eaten through the cup. The acetone and all the dissolved epoxy leaked out and while the acetone had no trouble evaporating, the epoxy of course decided to bond with the gelcoat instead.

Looks like I'll be adding some molding scrapers to my toolkit.

 

[JBP-PA]

If it's on non-skid, fine curved riffer files can help.

The option no one has mentioned is to cover it with some matching paint and just go sailing.

 

[thinwater]

Epoxy and paint tip: Get a plastic cafeteria tray and ALWAYS mix and keep paint cans, mix cups, and glue containers on it. Spills happen, and the lip will contain them.

One of my most important and favorite tools. House and boat. Also contains small parts.

 

[Scott T-Bird]

I would use a very sharp wood chisel. It is always my go-to tool for removing anything that is stubbornly attached without damaging gel coat in any way.

https://www.homedepot.com/p/Buck-Bros-Pro-2-in-50MM-W-Full-Tang-Wood-Chisel-74819/337546373?source=shoppingads&locale=en-US&fp=ggl

I use a 2" tang so that you can confidently lay the blade perfectly flat. I'll admit, I've never used it on none skid, but I wouldn't hesitate to try. It peels off any material without leaving any residue. I sharpen it with a diamond stone that I typically keep with my ski tuning kit.

 

[rgranger]

One reason I like working with epoxy vs. other resin types is that (before it cures) it is very reactive with vinegar. Epoxy will disolve into vinegar. I ALWAYS keep a bottle of vinegar and some rags nearby when working with epoxy.
But once it is cured you have to live with it or sand/scrape.