Need help killing foam!

[kev_79]

Hey guys, I was wondering, I just got a boat for a restore project. I started tearing out the floor, and it is filled with foam. This foam is TOUGH! Anybody know anything that will dissolve is or make it easier to get out. Maybe gasoline? Thanks in advance<br />

 

[MercilessMike]

Re: Need help killing foam!

BE CAREFUL. KaBoom! I am sure there is a chemical way,but seat and elbow grease is alot safer. I used a pick axe, hatchet, big ole paint scapers and trusty Hammer to remove, It gets ugly and itchy, I suugest resperator and full length clothing. Chemical treatment could get REAL messy and toxic. You can really move big hunks with formentioned tools. Once I got a hole to bottom, used pry bar and big hunks came came chunking off.

 

[DavidCoombs]

Re: Need help killing foam!

It also depends on the brand of boat. Different manufacturers use different foams that react differently to solvents. I use a key hole saw or sawsall to remove most, and then use a strong solvent to clean the residual foam off of the hull.

 

[kev_79]

Re: Need help killing foam!

Thanks guys, I am going to get on it tonight. I think I will go with the manual way, until I get really P****D and then I may resort to chemical measures. Thanks again.

 

[hartwell]

Re: Need help killing foam!

a claw hammer, straight claw works good too

 

[epresutti]

Re: Need help killing foam!

Just went through this while restoring, 18' mitchel.<br /><br />Used hand crosscut saw around all edges, hacked out one side and slid saw under foam. Most pieces popped right out. Used palm sander with 40 grit to get the rest.<br /><br />Also had shop vac running in the space I was working on, really helped with the dust and pieces.<br /><br />Trying to get it in the water. Ed

 

[StringBox]

Re: Need help killing foam!

I used an old guitar string tied off at both ends to a couple of boxed in wrenches. Pulling back and forth cuts right through foam. I also used a hack saw blade held by vise grips pliers on one side to cut foam away and trim it. <br /><br />The hack saw blade will fex in<br />curved parts of the hull. Takes both hands and and lots of effort, but you can cut away foam right next to the hull as deep as your hack saw blade is long.<br />This lets you save most of your foam for re-installation after finishing repairs.