3M 4200 Marine Sealant Removal

balphin23

Cadet
Joined
Aug 10, 2010
Messages
23
I wanted to share this with all of you. The other night I was installing a transom mount transducer on my 3 day old Tahoe Q5i Ski and Fish. All of a sudden the tube exploded in my hands and got all over the back of the transom and immeadiately started to cure. Unfortunately it was late and I had no experience with this product so I went to bed, got up and went to work all day the next morning. Knowing now that the product was going to be rather tough to get off I seeked up throughout the internet and this forum on how to scrap, and remove the 3m 4200 product without scratching up the hull. Well the product that seemed to really work is called "Motsenbockers Lift Off" and can be purchased at Home Depot in their paint section. What you have to do is use a razor blade to get the 3m 4200 sealant rather thin and then glob on the Motsenbockers Lift Off. Since it was verticle I just kept moving the stuff around to keep it on the sealant for about a minute and a half. After that you will notice it comes of with extreme ease with a fingernail. Then I washed the area with a dawn and "warm" water clean soft rag. After that I took a 50/50 mix of distilled white vinegar and distilled water in a spray bottle to finish cleaning the area. It was like I never put the stuff on in the first place. This was really cool to see, and knowing that so many people have had trouble getting this product off I just had to share.

Happy boating.
 

drewpster

Commander
Joined
Oct 17, 2006
Messages
2,059
Re: 3M 4200 Marine Sealant Removal

Good news! Glad you got it off. Good info too.
 

Aviator5

Chief Petty Officer
Joined
Feb 10, 2009
Messages
431
Re: 3M 4200 Marine Sealant Removal

There is a new product called Un-Hesive. Supposed to clean even 5200.
 

Mark42

Fleet Admiral
Joined
Oct 8, 2003
Messages
9,334
Re: 3M 4200 Marine Sealant Removal

What? The tube exploded in your hands? What caused that?
 

balphin23

Cadet
Joined
Aug 10, 2010
Messages
23
Re: 3M 4200 Marine Sealant Removal

Well the backend of the tube is what busted. And I think it is because of the heat. I am here in North Texas, DFW area and we have had some major hear swells the past couple of days. Don't worry the surface temp was around 94 when I did this install which is under the 100 degree mark they recommend. I think that high tempatures and the nature in which I was squezing the tube caused the blow out.
 

Buzz Killington

Petty Officer 2nd Class
Joined
Apr 27, 2010
Messages
128
Re: 3M 4200 Marine Sealant Removal

Will this stuff take off OLD caulking? I have some truly ancient stuff between my hull and topside I need to get rid of before I paint and its like iron.
 

Woodonglass

Supreme Mariner
Joined
Dec 29, 2009
Messages
25,929
Re: 3M 4200 Marine Sealant Removal

Doubtful. See below

Un-Hesive? is a patented product specifically
designed for the removal of cured polyurethane
adhesive residue from the use of sealants such as 3M
5200 Marine Adhesive Sealant? and Sikaflex?.

The "Old Stuff" is probably NOT polyurethane based so this will NOT take it off. You're gunna have to use good ole' ELBOW GREASE!!!!

I'm Just sayin...:D
 
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