Removing unknown sealent
- Thread starter JRT
- Start date
Razor blade to remove as much as possible. Then caulk remover to soften it. Then clean, clean, clean. Then wet sand. I had the same stuff. PITA!
By the way, I would not try to remove / clean it with Acetone. It evaporates too quickly. Goo Gone or Lacquer Thinner works better, but 3m makes a caulk remover. Probably just like Goo Gone! The trick is to hold the solvent against the caulk to soften it.
The 3M Caulk remover works as well as any. Let it sit for a while and gently scrape the offending caulk off.
If it is silicone, and it sort of looks like silicone, you'll never get it all off. Do the best you can and then an abrasive, i.e, sandpaper. Silicone should only be used on plastic fittings that are adversely affected by the other polyurethane and polysulfide caulks.
If it is silicone, and it sort of looks like silicone, you'll never get it all off. Do the best you can and then an abrasive, i.e, sandpaper. Silicone should only be used on plastic fittings that are adversely affected by the other polyurethane and polysulfide caulks.
A good sharp utility knife or razor blade is your friend. If its not leaking, just clean for looks and go sailing. - Will (Dragonfly)
I'd prefer a very sharp 3/8 or 1/2 inch chisel, but then I work with that kind of stuff
- Will (Dragonfly)
@John Tubb ,
I had the same thing on my 25. I used a razor blade to get most of it off, then used Mr Clean Eraser pads instead of sanding. Mold hasn't come back in 4 years.
One thing to note was I had persistent small leaks under the ports. After I cleaned out that old silicone I used the Dow 795 but I was running out of time and didn't do the bottom edge of the windows.
Next season I went back and cleaned and re caulked the bottom edges. That stopped the leaks.
I had the same thing on my 25. I used a razor blade to get most of it off, then used Mr Clean Eraser pads instead of sanding. Mold hasn't come back in 4 years.
One thing to note was I had persistent small leaks under the ports. After I cleaned out that old silicone I used the Dow 795 but I was running out of time and didn't do the bottom edge of the windows.
Next season I went back and cleaned and re caulked the bottom edges. That stopped the leaks.
The caulk remover that I mentioned earlier and the others I have tried are not solvents. What they do i break the bond between the caulk and the surface it is attached to. When applied, the caulk turns to a slippery mess that is easily scraped or wiped off.