How do I remove sikaflex from gelcoat?

[haydude]

Question in the title ... some nutter glued my cockpit speakers with sikaflex and now they need replacement ...

 

[yoda]

Sharp blade for the majority, wet and dry down to 1200 grade for the rest if required. B£$%ard stuff to get off!

Yoda

 

[Lakesailor]

Depends which Sikaflex. Meths will remove most except the hard one.

 

[AJB43]

Warm it with a hair dryer first and it is easier to scrape off. This works for most contact adhesives.

 

[PCUK]

I just got a large dollop out of my hair with hand cleaner - luckily it hadn't gone off!!!

 

[Marine Reflections]

Acetone for the bits left after a heat up and rub off with fingers

 

[rudolph_hart]

There is a product - Sikaflex 208 Remover - which may help. It's not quite as eye-wateringly expensive as the sealant products.

 

[Elemental]

There is a product - Sikaflex 208 Remover - which may help. It's not quite as eye-wateringly expensive as the sealant products.

But that only works for un-cured Sikaflex. Sikaflex website states that it (cured) can only be mechanically removed. I used a sharp chisel which got rid of most of bits I had (292) after fitting a new transom fender.

 

[Scotty_Tradewind]

This is one good reason that I don't use a sealant that is going to go off rock hard on anything other than semi permanent things like skin fittings etc.
When I resealed stanchions a couple of years back some kind person had at one time used a 'hard' sealant. It took ages to clean up surfaces again, so I used a builders mastik (which can be cleaned up with white spirit) to reseal them and they have been watertight for a couple of seasons and well washed over by the green stuff in between.

 

[CharlesSwallow]

Acetone for the bits left after a heat up and rub off with fingers

That's what I use.

Chas

 

[Seajet]

Here's a tried & tested solution...

 

[Neil_Y]

Try Scrubs

http://www.scrubs.co.uk/samples.html

 

[oldsaltoz]

I have always used a wooden chisel, cut from scrap timber about 30 degrees, the timber is hard enough to abrade the sealant but soft enough to not damage the gel coat.

Finish with Acetone on cheese cloth.

Good luck.