How do I remove Sikaflex?

[Colvic Watson]

We took the old rubbing strake off yesterday and about 6 feet still has either the Sikaflex or Sika and bits of wood attached. It all has to come off because the new strake is a thin Tek-Dek type and will show up variations behind it. What cheap simple easy mechanical tool exists for removing it Links to an actual one you'd recommend would be appreciated.

Thanks.

 

[Deleted member 36384]

I used a very sharp but flexible kitchen knife to slice Sikaflex away, then 2 stroke petrol mix and stainless wire wool to rub away the remainder. My project was the GRP surface under window flanges which had been subjected to years of Sikaflex.

 

[lynall]

The long cheap utility blades off ebay are good very bendy, 2 quid for pack of 10!

 

[davidwf]

You can get a plastic handle that holds a Stanley knife blade these work well.

 

[BruceDanforth]

Just give it a squirt of this stuff and have a cup of tea while it turns it to goo:

http://www.marinechandlery.com/debond-marine-formula

then pretty much wipe it off.

 

[sailinglegend420]

Just give it a squirt of this stuff and have a cup of tea while it turns it to goo:

http://www.marinechandlery.com/debond-marine-formula

Sika say they ONLY way to remove cured Sikaflex is mechanically.

 

[oldsaltoz]

Make yourself a timber chisel, hard enough to remove sealant without damaging the fibreglass.

Good luck and fair winds. ~ ><((((º> <º}}}}>< ~

 

[Colvic Watson]

Sika say they ONLY way to remove cured Sikaflex is mechanically.

That's what I thought

 

[BruceDanforth]

Well it works for me but hey you carry on a scrapin'....

Sika say they ONLY way to remove cured Sikaflex is mechanically.

 

[Deleted member 36384]

Just give it a squirt of this stuff and have a cup of tea while it turns it to goo:

http://www.marinechandlery.com/debond-marine-formula

then pretty much wipe it off.

Sika say they ONLY way to remove cured Sikaflex is mechanically.

That's what I thought

At £13 a pop, I would buy a tin and give it a go. Cleaning the GRP around my windows was time consuming with knife, petrol and wire wool.

http://www.marineformula.com/marineformula-testimonials.html
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C40S9qyDP9Q
http://www.cruisersforum.com/forums/f124/de-bond-5200-and-silicone-19343.html
http://forums.sailinganarchy.com/index.php?showtopic=131743

So, none of the above mention Sikaflex but Mr Danforth does. Got to be worth a try.

 

[Highndry]

Just give it a squirt of this stuff and have a cup of tea while it turns it to goo:

http://www.marinechandlery.com/debond-marine-formula

then pretty much wipe it off.

I'll second that. Amazing stuff.

 

[Joker]

Sika say they ONLY way to remove cured Sikaflex is mechanically.

I was told to use the catalyst for GRP resin. It certainly softens the Sika and makes it much easier to remove.

 

[JumbleDuck]

I was told to use the catalyst for GRP resin. It certainly softens the Sika and makes it much easier to remove.

Just in case you didn't know, that'll be methyl ethyl ketone peroxide and it is very, very nasty stuff indeed. In fact I think the only nastier stuff I have used is hydrofluoric acid.

 

[Iliade]

Just in case you didn't know, that'll be methyl ethyl ketone peroxide and it is very, very nasty stuff indeed. In fact I think the only nastier stuff I have used is hydrofluoric acid.

+1

Just use a jackhamer and an 8"grinder, at least they won't kill you..

 

[Hydrozoan]

I used a very sharp but flexible kitchen knife to slice Sikaflex away ...

I think our old (and small!) galley sink had been sealed down onto Formica with it, or with something similarly tenacious - it took me the best part of a day to slice it out with (numerous) knife blades and gradually free it. A chemical solution at seemingly modest cost would have saved me a lot of trouble, so I for one am interested to hear that there may be a non-mechanical solution.

 

[BruceDanforth]

I was using the debond today as I removed a window to rebuild it. After 20 minutes or so I was able to start raking the old 2 pack polyurethane used by the manufacturer out from between the frame and glass using a craft knife:

The polyurethane has turned to a soft floppy rubbery stuff.

I ran out of time before I had separated the 2 parts of the frame as I wanted to go for a run but the window is now on my workmate in the kitchen having had another spray which I will allow to work overnight. There is some movement between the two halves of the frame now at the fishplates. I am hoping this approach will be more effective than trying to bodge the window with a 'creeping crack' type product.

The plastic of my cheap disposable craft knife was dissolving a bit.

 

[BruceDanforth]

Just as an update:

I have removed the glass from the aluminium frame this morning pretty easily and now I can clean everything up and reseal the window. Certainly cheaper than a new unit...

I'm sure this job would have been possible without chemically releasing the sealant but it would have been a lot harder.

 

[Hadenough]

Multi tool with the scraper blade works a treat.

 

[Colvic Watson]

I'll second that. Amazing stuff.

Bought a tube and I'll try it - vapour mask, gloves and eye protection I reckon.

 

[BruceDanforth]

The safety datasheet is here:

http://www.marineformula.com/2013-MSDS_DEBOND_AEROSOL.pdf

It doesn't seem particularly nasty.

Bought a tube and I'll try it - vapour mask, gloves and eye protection I reckon.