Headlining glue solvent

[Nicholas123]

Is there one?

I am removing the headlining glue or trying to & it is a nightmare.First I chiseled off the main mass & then I set about it with a wire brush.It does do it after a struggle but you get covered in a fine dust of fiberglass strands & inhale God knows how much of it even with a mask (my glasses keep steaming up).I have tried dosing it with petrol & this does seem to help but you still end up in the atmosphere of fine dust around you like candyfloss.

What I need is something that devolves the glue without the need to wirebrush it,any suggestions?

 

[Swanrad2]

Is there one?

I am removing the headlining glue or trying to & it is a nightmare.First I chiseled off the main mass & then I set about it with a wire brush.It does do it after a struggle but you get covered in a fine dust of fiberglass strands & inhale God knows how much of it even with a mask (my glasses keep steaming up).I have tried dosing it with petrol & this does seem to help but you still end up in the atmosphere of fine dust around you like candyfloss.

What I need is something that devolves the glue without the need to wirebrush it,any suggestions?

3M do a 'general purpose solvent remover' product that is supposed to work quite well (used it myself, it works to a point for finishing off)
There are also rubber wheels sold that work on drills and kind of 'erase' the glue - again to a point and slow work
Wire brush attachment on an angle grinder seemed to be the best (used very lightly!)
The dust is supposedly very dangerous - so paper overalls and a quality vapour respirator seem to be money very wisely spent!

Apparently it is the dust from the foam backing you need to get of every trace of - a bit of bromide yellow residue shouldn't stop the new glue sticking.

 

[Graham_Wright]

Is there one?

I am removing the headlining glue or trying to & it is a nightmare.First I chiseled off the main mass & then I set about it with a wire brush.It does do it after a struggle but you get covered in a fine dust of fiberglass strands & inhale God knows how much of it even with a mask (my glasses keep steaming up).I have tried dosing it with petrol & this does seem to help but you still end up in the atmosphere of fine dust around you like candyfloss.

What I need is something that devolves the glue without the need to wirebrush it,any suggestions?

Don't know but acetone seems to cope with a lot of things.

 

[Avocet]

Is it a bit like "Evo-Stick"? If so, we use stuff at work (car industry) called "Panel Wipe" (no idea who makes it, but available from any good auto paints supplier). It takes (fairly recent) contact adhesives off. Not sure about ancient stuff though.

 

[nigel1]

I have just replaced some small sections of headlining, and used acetone to wipe over the old residue.
The new headlining went on end of November just before going back to work, so by the 10th Jan when I get home, I'll know for sure if it worked or not.
BTW, roofing merchants are a good supplier of acetone, not sure what purity it was, but paid £12 for 4 liters.

 

[Graham_Wright]

BTW, roofing merchants are a good supplier of acetone, not sure what purity it was, but paid £12 for 4 liters.

………and so are body shops.

 

[wully1]

I used an electric scraper bought for the job from Liddl.....

 

[geem]

Is there one?

I am removing the headlining glue or trying to & it is a nightmare.First I chiseled off the main mass & then I set about it with a wire brush.It does do it after a struggle but you get covered in a fine dust of fiberglass strands & inhale God knows how much of it even with a mask (my glasses keep steaming up).I have tried dosing it with petrol & this does seem to help but you still end up in the atmosphere of fine dust around you like candyfloss.

What I need is something that devolves the glue without the need to wirebrush it,any suggestions?

We have relined a couple of yachts in the past. We tried everything over the years. The one method that works and is quick is to put on a set of tyvek overalls, gloves and mask. Tape up the gloves and ankles to keep grp dust off and use a wire brush attachment on an angle grinder. you need the brush with the wire sticking out radially. the brush shaped like a cup are useless. This approach creates a huge amount of dust but removes every trace of glue and leaves the grp keyed and ready for the next gluing session.
The solvents just make a horrible mess that is slow and not very satisfactory. Just sheet everywhere up and tape the doors shut to minimise the spread of dust. Open the hatches and go for it. Its soon over!

 

[Keith 66]

A powerful pressure washer does a fine job of taking the old glue & foam off obviously with no dust!, I did the entire interior of our Sabre in less than an hour, i did cut a hole in the side of the keel first with a tank cutter to let the water out!

 

[Swanrad2]

We have relined a couple of yachts in the past. We tried everything over the years. The one method that works and is quick is to put on a set of tyvek overalls, gloves and mask. Tape up the gloves and ankles to keep grp dust off and use a wire brush attachment on an angle grinder. you need the brush with the wire sticking out radially. the brush shaped like a cup are useless. This approach creates a huge amount of dust but removes every trace of glue and leaves the grp keyed and ready for the next gluing session.
The solvents just make a horrible mess that is slow and not very satisfactory. Just sheet everywhere up and tape the doors shut to minimise the spread of dust. Open the hatches and go for it. Its soon over!

+1 for most of this - except the cup bit, seemed to work fine with ours. Our new headlining is being screwed to battens of ply glued to the roof so didn't need to get rid of all of the yellow/brown residue. I did the taped arms bit, went back a week later and put a 'hoody' on that had some of the residue in it, I was twitching and scratching all day.

 

[Nicholas123]

A powerful pressure washer does a fine job of taking the old glue & foam off obviously with no dust!, I did the entire interior of our Sabre in less than an hour, i did cut a hole in the side of the keel first with a tank cutter to let the water out!

There might be a problem there as my boat is still afloat & if I cut a hole in the keel it would let the water in :ambivalence:

Seriously though.I have no intention of sticking any more headlining on & repeating the nightmare,paint should do the job.
I have got a bit of acetone & shall try that,failing that just damping the surface before going over it with a hand wire brush might be an improvement.I've been itching all over & the glass strands must be bloody dangerous for your lungs.