Removing caulk....

NYSail

NYSail

.
Jan 6, 2006
3,136
Beneteau 423 Mt. Sinai, NY
So wife is removing the caulk between the hull and teak toe rails. She is using small chisels and its taking some time. Any recommendations for a speedy removal?

Thanks
Greg
s/v/ Souleil
 
capta

capta

.
Jun 4, 2009
4,909
Pearson 530 Admiralty Bay, Bequia SVG
Speedy, no. But faster, perhaps. Dental tools work very well in areas where most tools won't fit. I redid my real teak deck seams on a 50 footer alone, and I ended up making the best reefing tools out of files. Heat the tail and bend slightly more than 90 degrees and you are left with a triangle reefing tool edge, safe to use after taping the file part. Maybe you could make up a few of various sizes to make her job easier?
 
  • Like
Likes: jssailem
dLj

dLj

.
Mar 23, 2017
4,304
Belliure 41 Back in the Chesapeake
I've found often you need to make job specific tools... Essentially what @capta is saying above...

dj
 
NYSail

NYSail

.
Jan 6, 2006
3,136
Beneteau 423 Mt. Sinai, NY
dLj said:
I've found often you need to make job specific tools... Essentially what @capta is saying above...

dj
Click to expand
One of my wife’s hobbies is woodworking….. with that she has small chisels that are extremely sharp and cut the stuff nicely. That being said, it’s still an arduous task and any tips / experience such as solvents might help
 
dLj

dLj

.
Mar 23, 2017
4,304
Belliure 41 Back in the Chesapeake
NYSail said:
One of my wife’s hobbies is woodworking….. with that she has small chisels that are extremely sharp and cut the stuff nicely. That being said, it’s still an arduous task and any tips / experience such as solvents might help
Click to expand
Are those chisels meant for the work at hand? Are they the right size and shape for removing the caulk?

I've tried solvents in the past removing caulks - I have found them to usually not be worth the effort.

Custom shaped scrapers seem to work better.

Got photos of what you are trying to clean out?

dj
 
NYSail

NYSail

.
Jan 6, 2006
3,136
Beneteau 423 Mt. Sinai, NY
The ones she is using fit perfectly into the groove to scoop the caulk out. And extremely sharp. Would think one could just push it down the length and it would come out but nope….. it’s a boat. Also the mix of fiberglass on one side and wood on the other gives different adhesive properties. Just 18 years of adhesive and varnish overlay.
 
dLj

dLj

.
Mar 23, 2017
4,304
Belliure 41 Back in the Chesapeake
NYSail said:
The ones she is using fit perfectly into the groove to scoop the caulk out. And extremely sharp. Would think one could just push it down the length and it would come out but nope….. it’s a boat. Also the mix of fiberglass on one side and wood on the other gives different adhesive properties. Just 18 years of adhesive and varnish overlay.
Click to expand
Can you run a razor blade down each side? I've found that helps often. I've taken a scalpel and cut the edges then pull the caulking out.

But really without pictures of where this joint is you are removing caulk from, I've not got much more for you...

dj
 
NYSail

NYSail

.
Jan 6, 2006
3,136
Beneteau 423 Mt. Sinai, NY
dLj said:
Can you run a razor blade down each side? I've found that helps often. I've taken a scalpel and cut the edges then pull the caulking out.

But really without pictures of where this joint is you are removing caulk from, I've not got much more for you...

dj
Click to expand
I’ll be at the boat again Friday….. but picture: my toerail is flush with the side of the hull. Small space between is what she wants to rebed.

thanks
 
dLj

dLj

.
Mar 23, 2017
4,304
Belliure 41 Back in the Chesapeake
A tool shaped like this is what is what I had in mind. Typically wood working chisels do not have this hooked tip.

The shape of the tip will depend upon the space you are cleaning out.

dj

hooked tool.jpg
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Top Bottom