Cleaning Butyl from Acrylic Windows

[long_ben]

Hi all,

I'm about to embark on a window replacement on my Trident Voyager 35. Most of the windows are being replaced with surface bonded acrylic. However, I will be rebuilding some of the aluminium framed port lights on the fore of the boat. As I will be installing acrylic glazing, I am hoping someone can tell me a suitable cleaning agent to use when I come to clear up the inevitable mess after sealing with two pack butyl (and the one pack stuff for the frames). Given the solvent-sensitive nature of acrylic, I obviously need something that will remove the excess butyl without marking - or worse, weakening - the plastic window.

Thanks in advance for your knowledge...

Ben

 

[Bobc]

Just white spirit will be fine. An altenative is a uPVC solvent cleaner that you can get from Toolstation.

 

[Malish]

White spirit is great, for big splodges on the acrylic I would be tempted to leave until it firms up and them slice off at the base with a sharp blade, followed by a quick 'polish' with white spirit

 

[long_ben]

Ah... okay... that simple. I also just found (after I posted of course) another thread which says white spirit is fine - but meths isn't. White spirit it is then... cheers all...

 

[FlyingGoose]

A nice sharp chisel is also good once the white spirit has soaked in , but as usual be careful

 

[Quandary]

Chamfer a scraper or two out of bits of the old acrylic, it will not mark the new stuff but will scrape it well. Of course if you take the time to mask everything with tape before you start cleaning up it is not a problem.
Hadlow Marine in Kent sell a clear liquid called 'Detak' originally developed for the poor sods who have to remove chewing gum from all our public spaces it will also dissolve butyl sealant, though you still have to get rid of the black mess, a big roll of mechanics wipes is useful for that.

 

[rotrax]

Why not use butyl tape?

Three years ago repaired the rusty apertures on our steel Hartley 32 - the builder installed the windows on the inside, leaving a lip to rust - and rebedded the acrylic windows externally on butyl tape. Just left it untill it had done a couple of months hot/cold temprerature changes and then trimmed the excess off.

Totally dry, looks great, easy and clean to use.