Adheasive Remover - what is best on fiberglass?

[SurfsideJim]

I have pulled off the old carpet from the inside of my small fiberglass boat, and I would like to know the best adheasive remover to use that will not harm the fiberglass.
My plans are to go back over the previously carpeted areas with gelcoat, and therefore I would like to remove all the old contact adheasive that held the original carpet in place. I have scraped off as much as possible, and I have then used a sander to remove additional adheasive. But there is still a small amount left.
What is the best adheasive remover that will not destroy the fiberglass?
Thanks,
Jim

 

[bigredinohio]

Re: Adheasive Remover - what is best on fiberglass?

Is this carpet glue or is it something still tacky/gummy? Maybe try a seach for adhesive removal or removing glue.

If gummy, I would try acetone or carb cleaner (sparingly). It may or may not work.

If hard carpet glue, I would sand it. I know gel requires sanding for prep but I can't remember what grit it needs. I'm sure others will chime in on this one.

 

[i386]

Re: Adheasive Remover - what is best on fiberglass?

AFAIK, solvents don't hurt cured fiberglass resins. Recently I've had success using Klean-Strip adhesive remover. It's an alcohol solvent in a gel base which helps to keep it from evaporating rapidly. I found it at Home Depot.

 

[oops!]

Re: Adheasive Remover - what is best on fiberglass?

a grinder works the best by far.

 

[Camlee98]

Re: Adheasive Remover - what is best on fiberglass?

I'm with oops on this one. I just spent a few hours today with my grinder and a 40grit flapper disk. It takes a little finesse but you just keep working a small section at a time and it moves right along! Hope it helps!

 

[erikgreen]

Re: Adheasive Remover - what is best on fiberglass?

A grinder is the easiest, but if you don't want to even scratch the glass, there's some outdoor carpet adhesive remover that works well.. common stuff.. Sentinel 747. I've had it remove carpet glue and spray on adhesive, no damage to the glass.

But any removal of the glue without harming glass is going to take a lot of elbow grease... scraping, scrubbing, wiping. Prepare a pile of paper towel rolls and a nice stiff plastic brush.

Erik

 

[rngale]

Re: Adheasive Remover - what is best on fiberglass?

A grinder is the easiest, but if you don't want to even scratch the glass, there's some outdoor carpet adhesive remover that works well.. common stuff.. Sentinel 747. I've had it remove carpet glue and spray on adhesive, no damage to the glass.

But any removal of the glue without harming glass is going to take a lot of elbow grease... scraping, scrubbing, wiping. Prepare a pile of paper towel rolls and a nice stiff plastic brush.

Erik

xzylene was what used to be used for removing contact cement from carpeted boats years ago. tolulene was another chemical as well that worked but with a little more effort and u need to use gloves and respirator wiht any of these chemicals its nasty crap!

 

[tlovelandka]

Re: Adheasive Remover - what is best on fiberglass?

A wire wheel attachment on a grinder works wonders... But then that's only if you're not concerned with roughing up the glass underneath as well

 

[erikgreen]

Re: Adheasive Remover - what is best on fiberglass?

xzylene was what used to be used for removing contact cement from carpeted boats years ago. tolulene was another chemical as well that worked but with a little more effort and u need to use gloves and respirator wiht any of these chemicals its nasty crap!

Yeah, I use both of these for other things.

The Sentinel stuff seems to work just as well if not better, and while it's not completely non toxic, the safety advisories for it are basically "use it somewhere ventilated" and "don't drink it".

So I just wear a pair of gloves with it when using it outside, and I'm careful not to get any in my eyes and avoid getting it on my skin, that's about it.

Erik

 

[SurfsideJim]

Re: Adheasive Remover - what is best on fiberglass?

Thanks all,
The remaining adheasive is gummy, not hard, and reminds me of flexible contact cement. The boat is 1972 vintage so if anyone has any experience with carpet applications back then perhaps that may help.
I am more concerned about maintaining structural integrity than I am with minor surface defects on the interior of the boat. I am not expecting it to look perfect when finished. I figure I could use the Kleen-Strip and just becareful not to let it sit too long on the fiberglass. Although the kleen-strip indicates "not for fiberglass", I figured it was because it would leave the fiberglass surface hazzy, but pretty much still leave the structural integrity uneffected.
I have received the grey "gel-coat" that I plan on applying everywhere interior to the small boat, with an additive mixed in on floor surfaces for non-slip.
So I will scrape, sand, then use the kleen-strip unless I get any more suggestions.
Where can one purchase the 747 product mentioned above?
Thanks,
Jim

 

[smarks]

Re: Adheasive Remover - what is best on fiberglass?

Thanks all,
The remaining adheasive is gummy, not hard, and reminds me of flexible contact cement. The boat is 1972 vintage so if anyone has any experience with carpet applications back then perhaps that may help.
I am more concerned about maintaining structural integrity than I am with minor surface defects on the interior of the boat. I am not expecting it to look perfect when finished. I figure I could use the Kleen-Strip and just becareful not to let it sit too long on the fiberglass. Although the kleen-strip indicates "not for fiberglass", I figured it was because it would leave the fiberglass surface hazzy, but pretty much still leave the structural integrity uneffected.
I have received the grey "gel-coat" that I plan on applying everywhere interior to the small boat, with an additive mixed in on floor surfaces for non-slip.
So I will scrape, sand, then use the kleen-strip unless I get any more suggestions.
Where can one purchase the 747 product mentioned above?
Thanks,
Jim

I just googled "Sentinel 747" and several places came up to purchase it.
Regards
Steve

 

[Friscoboater]

Re: Adheasive Remover - what is best on fiberglass?

I used a grinder with a wire brush. Worked great until I hit my hand.