I have some pink sun screen stains on the gelcoat in my cockpit that i can't seem to get off.Does any one know the right cleaning product?
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Use Acetone or Alcohol
Acetone and alcohol are pretty good solvents. Don't worry they won't hurt gelcoat. They might remove the shine due to wax removal but this is easily corrected with a little polish. Acetone is deadly to some plastics such as styrene. But in my experience it has never harmed my gelcoat.
Acetone and alcohol are pretty good solvents. Don't worry they won't hurt gelcoat. They might remove the shine due to wax removal but this is easily corrected with a little polish. Acetone is deadly to some plastics such as styrene. But in my experience it has never harmed my gelcoat.
Soft Scrub w/Bleach
I have had great success with Soft Scrub with Bleach. It has removed red wine, bird droppings, ground in dirt, and just about everything else from my boat's somewhat tired gelcoat. Be careful not to get it on your clothes as the bleach will spot. Do not ask me how I know this.
I have had great success with Soft Scrub with Bleach. It has removed red wine, bird droppings, ground in dirt, and just about everything else from my boat's somewhat tired gelcoat. Be careful not to get it on your clothes as the bleach will spot. Do not ask me how I know this.
Acetone
I have done a lot of fiberglass repair work on automobiles and boats, both with gelcoat finishes. I can tell you from experience, and from the science, that acetone will soften, and can dissolve gelcoat. It is the primary solvent used for thinning gelcoat, especially for spraying. It is used to wash damaged gelcoat areas for repair, as it softens and roughens the old gelcoat surface so that new gelcoat will adhere.
Sure, you can remove a stain from gelcoat with acetone, but if you're not very careful and experienced, you run the risk of softening the surface enough to dull it. It can usually be brought back with polishing.
I have done a lot of fiberglass repair work on automobiles and boats, both with gelcoat finishes. I can tell you from experience, and from the science, that acetone will soften, and can dissolve gelcoat. It is the primary solvent used for thinning gelcoat, especially for spraying. It is used to wash damaged gelcoat areas for repair, as it softens and roughens the old gelcoat surface so that new gelcoat will adhere.
Sure, you can remove a stain from gelcoat with acetone, but if you're not very careful and experienced, you run the risk of softening the surface enough to dull it. It can usually be brought back with polishing.
jviss- you are right
acetone will absolutely clean any stain if you leave it on...it'll get rid of the stain and the gelcoat; then you can re-gelcoat with new! By the way, acetone USED to be what they thinned gelcoat with. They use a different, similar substance, but a senior moment is blocking the name in my brain...
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acetone will absolutely clean any stain if you leave it on...it'll get rid of the stain and the gelcoat; then you can re-gelcoat with new! By the way, acetone USED to be what they thinned gelcoat with. They use a different, similar substance, but a senior moment is blocking the name in my brain...
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Gel coat is a polymer!!!!!
Gel coat is basically the plastic part of fiber reinforced plastic. It is formed by a chemical reaction where billions of small molecules are chemically linked to one another to make a enormous structure(on a molecular scale) these molecules are so huge and so interconnected that it takes enormous force to break them apart. Since they are interlocked chemically they don't dissolve in solvents. You must break chemical bonds to break apart these enormous interconnected molecules. Acetone is a small molecule that is excellent and dissolving most fatty types of molecules. It has some polarity so that it also dissolves into water as does alcohol. To remove a stain the stain must have more affinity for the solvent than for material that is stained..or you must chemically change the stain. Soft scub with bleach mechaniclly removes stains and uses bleach to chemically change the stain. Acids and bases such as vinegar or baking soda change the chemistry of the stain and if there is a polar interaction this can also change the affinity of the stain for the substrate.
I know a little more about this stuff than the average Joe as I work in research and routinely use a technigue called affinity chromatography where we separate a mixture of molecules by sticking them onto a substrate and then washing the substrate with various solvents to elute just the molecule that we want. This involves acids, bases, alcohols and water. I won't bore you with the details.
Gel coat is basically the plastic part of fiber reinforced plastic. It is formed by a chemical reaction where billions of small molecules are chemically linked to one another to make a enormous structure(on a molecular scale) these molecules are so huge and so interconnected that it takes enormous force to break them apart. Since they are interlocked chemically they don't dissolve in solvents. You must break chemical bonds to break apart these enormous interconnected molecules. Acetone is a small molecule that is excellent and dissolving most fatty types of molecules. It has some polarity so that it also dissolves into water as does alcohol. To remove a stain the stain must have more affinity for the solvent than for material that is stained..or you must chemically change the stain. Soft scub with bleach mechaniclly removes stains and uses bleach to chemically change the stain. Acids and bases such as vinegar or baking soda change the chemistry of the stain and if there is a polar interaction this can also change the affinity of the stain for the substrate.
I know a little more about this stuff than the average Joe as I work in research and routinely use a technigue called affinity chromatography where we separate a mixture of molecules by sticking them onto a substrate and then washing the substrate with various solvents to elute just the molecule that we want. This involves acids, bases, alcohols and water. I won't bore you with the details.
Hmm..
I too have been working with fiberglass and gelcoat for years and never ruined any fully cured gelcoat by using Acetone on it. Yes, it is a powerful solvent, and if left to sit on, or if it has been poured onto gelcoat, and left long enough, it can eventually soften the gelcoat. By simply pouring some Acetone onto a rag and wiping the surface you will not do any harm. I've done this literally thousands of times to remove certain stains that only a good strong solvent can do.
As a matter of fact I just used Acetone on my gelcoat about an hour ago to prep it for a piece of adhesive weather stripping. Afterwards it still shined just like before I wiped it down.. Acetone will not ruin your gelcoat if you use some basic common sense..
Acetone or styrene can be used to thin gelcoat for spraying but remember this is in the un-cured stage.
If you want something chemical free use Magic Erasers! I can't stress enough how well they work but be careful on painted or shiny surfaces. I use them to clean mu decks and they work wonders..
I too have been working with fiberglass and gelcoat for years and never ruined any fully cured gelcoat by using Acetone on it. Yes, it is a powerful solvent, and if left to sit on, or if it has been poured onto gelcoat, and left long enough, it can eventually soften the gelcoat. By simply pouring some Acetone onto a rag and wiping the surface you will not do any harm. I've done this literally thousands of times to remove certain stains that only a good strong solvent can do.
As a matter of fact I just used Acetone on my gelcoat about an hour ago to prep it for a piece of adhesive weather stripping. Afterwards it still shined just like before I wiped it down.. Acetone will not ruin your gelcoat if you use some basic common sense..
Acetone or styrene can be used to thin gelcoat for spraying but remember this is in the un-cured stage.
If you want something chemical free use Magic Erasers! I can't stress enough how well they work but be careful on painted or shiny surfaces. I use them to clean mu decks and they work wonders..
Acetone
Being highly volatile, one would have to somehow saturate and keep wet any glass surface for a prolonged period in order to create any permanent damage.
Regardless, it's awways good to start with the least aggressive agent before going to solvents, if for no other reason than your own health.
Being highly volatile, one would have to somehow saturate and keep wet any glass surface for a prolonged period in order to create any permanent damage.
Regardless, it's awways good to start with the least aggressive agent before going to solvents, if for no other reason than your own health.
Concession
I'll concede the point to Maine Sail, based on his experience; in mine, however, acetone can significantly dull and soften gelcoat. Your mileage may vary.
As to Moon's pedantic ravings, hey, don't think you're the only guy around who knows anything about organic chemistry - Geez!
(the link is bad, by the way).
So, use all the acetone you want. There are plenty of other, better methods of stain removal (like phosphoric acid - the active ingredient in a product called FSR - Fiberglass Stain Remover (duh!)).
I'll concede the point to Maine Sail, based on his experience; in mine, however, acetone can significantly dull and soften gelcoat. Your mileage may vary.
As to Moon's pedantic ravings, hey, don't think you're the only guy around who knows anything about organic chemistry - Geez!
(the link is bad, by the way).So, use all the acetone you want. There are plenty of other, better methods of stain removal (like phosphoric acid - the active ingredient in a product called FSR - Fiberglass Stain Remover (duh!)).
JVISS You are right !!!
Phosphoric acid is excellant at removing mineral types of stains!!!! It also is good for removing calicum deposits. Be careful it can attack copper bottom paint!!!! I prefer Hydrochloric acid as it is almost as effective and it is not a nutrient. Phosphorus is an important part of fertilizers. Personally if I had a stain and had some waxing compund available I would try that first. The stuff from 3M made for boats really cuts off a lot of grime!!!! It even removes rust stains from fiberglass and stainless steel. I don't usually have acetone on my boat as it is very flammable. But it is hard to beat acetone to remove some types of glue etc. I have used gasoline and diesel as a solvent but again they are flammable and more toxic than acetone.
Phosphoric acid is excellant at removing mineral types of stains!!!! It also is good for removing calicum deposits. Be careful it can attack copper bottom paint!!!! I prefer Hydrochloric acid as it is almost as effective and it is not a nutrient. Phosphorus is an important part of fertilizers. Personally if I had a stain and had some waxing compund available I would try that first. The stuff from 3M made for boats really cuts off a lot of grime!!!! It even removes rust stains from fiberglass and stainless steel. I don't usually have acetone on my boat as it is very flammable. But it is hard to beat acetone to remove some types of glue etc. I have used gasoline and diesel as a solvent but again they are flammable and more toxic than acetone.
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