Getting Sikaflex off........

[Carmel2]

tinted acrylic hatchs. I managed to get a very thin film of Sikaflex on one of our tinted hatches, obviously I don't want anything too abrasive to get it off, or something that will affect the tint.

Any tips?

 

[nickd]

Sika removal

Try rubbing with toothpaste, it is a very mild abrasive

 

[Angele]

Try rubbing with toothpaste, it is a very mild abrasive

That is also the recommended way to remove scratches from perspex hatches, isn't it? I must try it one day.

 

[Carmel2]

We will be the best smelling boat in the marina!

 

[sarabande]

have you come across Caramel Wheel ? Used by car polishers to remove the stripes adhesive from paintwork, it apparently does the same for Sikaflex.

http://www.ebay.co.uk/sch/i.html?_nkw=caramel+wheel

 

[Giblets]

We use Big Industrial Wipes for removing silicone sealant (and many other cleaning uses including residue of adhesive). Have not tried 'em on Silaflex but it must be worth a go.

BTW many local builder's merchants also stock them at a possibly cheaper price.

 

[jimbaerselman]

Xylene and Toluene will probably dissolve cured Sikaflex. I suspect the industrial wipes may use similar aromatic hydrocarbons. Hammerite thinners is similar.

But with all these solvents, check they don't damage your acrylic surfaces first!

 

[All The Gear No Idea]

First off, try a scraper with a brand new Stanley blade in it. Clean the window of any dirt first to avoid risk of scratching. Then gently shave the silicone off the acrylic keeping the blade flush with the window. The blademwhen sharpmwill take finenslices off with negilgible pressured. Remove the last bits of residue with toothpaste, polishing in circular motions with a clean cloth.

To buff the whole window, again, make sure it's clean, then hand polish the whole window with toothpaste, or Farecla G3 compound if you have some. Use circular motions with a decent handful of cloth, preferably microfibre.

Then use a finer polish such as 3M Perfect It III to remove swirl marks and finish off with a clear liquid boat or car wax, such as Autoglym.

If you have a mechanical polisher, this will make light work of this task.

 

[psp]

wonder wipes work on silicon.

 

[Deleted member 36384]

Product That Works Listed In Link

By coincidence this post over at PBO is dealing with removal of Sikaflex but from clothes. The poster appears to have found a solution: -

http://www.ybw.com/forums/showthread.php?t=311649

 

[Plevier]

Never heard of caramel wheel before - sounds like a mechanised version of rubbing with thumb! Googled it for curiosity.
This poster http://www.vwt4forum.co.uk/showthread.php?t=174032 says yes it works on Sikaflex.