Silicone removal

[ffaubert]

Does any one have any ideas of how to remove silicone from fiberglass, metal and plastic?

The PO of my boat sealed many large holes with clear and white silicone and I would like to redo the holes with epoxy. These are in fiberglass.

They also used these same types of silicone to seal the compass to the bulkhead. The compass needs to be moved to accommodate the new electrical system and I would like to rebed the compass without the mess on the back.

The silicones are pliable but tenacious to remove mechanically (knife, screwdriver and much cussing).

Thanks as always.

 

[Steve Dion]

Silicone is very difficut to remove. I usually use a scraper or blade to get it off. In your case, you may want to use a drill and just drill out the holes. If you are going to epoxy, you can sand the area which will also help remove the stuff.

 

[Douglast]

there is a silicone type solvent to ease the removal..usually avaliable mostly in hardware store sections dealing with bath tub silicone sealing applications..

 

[Ross]

Denatured alcohol will work very nicely on fresh silicone it is worth a try on cured silicone.

 

[MichaelStacy]

I have found that Lacquer Thinner works pretty good - as good or better than acetone, but less harsh.

Michael

 

[RAD]

And don't forget to clean the surface to remove all trace's of the silicone before application of new sealants by sanding and solvents

 

[filthy liberal scum]

google "silicone removal" and you will find several commercially available removers.

 

[Billbeard]

People need to use silicone more judiciously the stuff is insidious the same things that make it useful also make it hard to get rid of. Unfortunately anything that might cut the stuff may also spread the problem and attack the surface that it is adhered to. Ross is correct about alcohol when uncured it will work after the fact I don’t think it will touch it.
You might try a heat gun to soften it on surfaces that can handle the heat. But whatever you do the only sure way to over come the stuff that I’m aware of is by mechanical means i.e. drill, cut, and sand.

 

[bobtigar]

Vinegar

 

[njsail]

Here's one I didn't see listed. For stainless steel you can use a circular brass wire brush or drill wheel. When I rebed my hatches with Silpruf I took out the acrylic and used a brass dremel attachment to remove the gunk from the stainless. The brass is softer than the stainless so it shouldn't scratch (of course try it somewhere first). I also tried with some success a nylon bristol drill attachment wheel. I would only use this method on stainless - any other softer materials you need a different method. Acetone works to remove any remaining traces.

Good luck!

 

[Maine Sail]

Over the years I have tried just about every "witch potion" or chemical known to man to remove dry silicone from fiberglass or gelcoat. There are no products that I know of that will do this on a fiberglass surface and leave it clean enough for re-bonding. Silicone contamination penetrates the pores of the gelcoat and is tenacious. I think it would survive a nuclear holocaust.

The only method that I have seen that removes it to a level for re-bonding or painting is scraping as much as you can then judicious sanding.

To test if the surface is clean of silicone run water over it. It it beads up anywhere then it is not clean. It should sheet off not bead up...

Good luck, and if anyone finds a chemical that will eat away silicone but not the boat please let me know!

 

[Don12364]

My boat is now 14 years old. Each year I clean the coachroof with cutting compound and then re-polish. Even now before I do it again this year there is a 2" wide grey tell tale stain on the fiberglass around each hatch and window.
That darned silicone is still there - or it is still leaching something out and is discolouring the gel coat.

 

[Ross]

For a time people were using silicone spray lubricant on door hinges. The over spray got on the paint and was impossible to cover. I did have some success with sanding the wet paint into the old finish but it was never pretty.

 

[TFrere]

This is the best product I have ever found for removing silicone. You soak it, wait a few minutes, then as you wipe it comes apart.

 

[Barnacle Bill]

There is a product made either by Starbright or Boat Life called "Release" (I think the latter). It is supposed to clean up cured caulking.

 

[ffaubert]

Thanks folks. I'll give those ideas a try and let you know what I come up with.