silicone removal

[cimmaronjim]

I have an old aluminum boat that has tons of old silicone sealer blobbed on everywhere. Anyone have suggestions on the best way to remove it?

 

[outonbizniz]

Re: silicone removal

You could always just ask Pam Anderson!!

 

[Philby]

Re: silicone removal

we have a product called "silicone eater " here.<br /><br />great stuff. Destroys any old cured silicone without damaging gel coat etc.<br />You can see it on www.screwfixdirect.com<br /><br />i'm sure you'll source it locally.

 

[cimmaronjim]

Re: silicone removal

Thanks guys.<br />I tried Miss Anderson, but she only knew how to add more silicone.<br />Haven't found any comparable product to "silicone eater" readily available in the US.<br />I have removed quite a bit just by scraping and using "citrisrip" which doesn't dissolve it but seems to soften it a bit.<br />Still have alot to remove and still welcome any more ideas.

 

[petryshyn]

Re: silicone removal

cimmaronjim<br /><br />Check "Home Depot" or your local hardware supper store. There is a product that softens silicone caulk, but its expensive..........(check the paint section)

 

[Mumblerone]

Re: silicone removal

'Mineral Spirits' works pretty good on silicone. Any hardware store.

 

[cimmaronjim]

Re: silicone removal

Just an update on my silicone removal project.<br />I never found that magic solution that would blister and disolve old silicone sealer as stripper does to paint.<br />"Silicone eater" might have been the product I was looking for Philby, but I never found a comparable product here in the States.<br />I tried many solvents such as laquer thinner (flashed too quickly) MEK (might of worked but wasn't sure I would survive the fumes)<br />Finally called an auto paint supplier who suggested 3M adhesive, tar and wax remover, and I just happened to have a spray can of this stuff in my cabinet.<br />This product softened it and loosened the bond enough to make it easier to scrape off.<br />I never got around to trying the product schematic suggested or the mineral spirits that mumblerone mentioned, but I got it done with the 3M product. <br />Thanks to all for the suggestions.<br />Jim

 

[garycop]

Re: silicone removal

By chance do you own a Cimmaron Boat ?

 

[BigBabyLou]

Re: silicone removal

When I bought my boat, all the windows had piles of sillicone on them because the previous owner apparently didn't know how to seal a window properly, just kept on putting more and more sillicone on. *sigh*<br /><br />What I did was I found one end of the sillicone bead, lifted it and then kept on lifting, slowly, patiently, while helping it from underneath. Patience paid off. There were still some spots on the gelcoat after but I simply rubbed them off with my finger.<br /><br />Maybe I was lucky but it was kind of easy job. Though I spend hours on it.<br /><br />Good luck with sillicone!<br />Lou

 

[cimmaronjim]

Re: silicone removal

No, not a Cimarron but an Appleby. The moniker is a deliberate misspelling (first time I tried to use it someone already had the correct spelling)that harkens back to my Oklahoma roots. I actually lived closer to the N. Canadian River but canadianjim would have led folks to believe I was from up north, besides it doesn't have the same ring to it, does it?<br /><br />Thanks again to everyone for all the help on this subject and all the other ones I have posted, and thanks in advance for the ones I will yet post.<br /><br />Jim