Removing caulk....

[NYSail]

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]

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?

 

[dLj]

I've found often you need to make job specific tools... Essentially what @capta is saying above...

dj

 

[rgranger]

Here is an article on the topic of softening caulk

How To Remove Silicone - Waterproof Caulking & Restoration

Knowing the right steps to remove silicone is very important. Read this article for tips on how to effectively and safely remove silicone from surfaces.

waterproofcaulking.com

.

 

[Siamese]

It really shouldn't be silicone.

 

[NYSail]

I've found often you need to make job specific tools... Essentially what @capta is saying above...

dj

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]

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

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]

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]

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.

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]

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

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

 

[rgranger]

How hard would it be to remove the toe rail?

 

[dLj]

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

 

[NYSail]

How hard would it be to remove the toe rail?

Real hard……