Nitromors (or similar) and gelcoat

wombat88

wombat88

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I want to get rid of some tasteful '80s graphics on a white grp boat. I haven't got a spare boat on which to test...

Am I right in understanding that modern day Nitromors (a mere shadow of its former self) does not damage gelcoat?

Any other 'safe' brands?
 
I tried to use Nitromors to clean out the paint in the bottom of my lazarette a few years ago - and it acted very quickly to start dissolving the polyester resin of the hull. ! I scraped and otherwise cleaned it out very quickly but I'll not be using it again on the boat.

If the graphics are a transfer then a gentle wafting of a heat gun is usually said to work. I've never tried it so cannot recommend. If it were me I'd go to a decent boat yard (if necessary with photos in hand) and ask them for a quote ..and in conversation - how they'd do it. And even if their price is too high then you'll get the answer you are looking for.

Who knows perhaps their price is sensible enough to save you two days work and to guarantee they don't ruin your topsides. ?
 
A friend recently used a steam wallpaper stripping machine to remove his damaged vinyl trim. The heat soften the adhesive and the water acted as a lubricant. It is a slow process, but it did a good job.
 
Yes the stripper you can get now - Nitromors, B&Q, Wickes etc. is benzyl alcohol and it's OK on GRP.
It used to be dichloromethane which is now banned, if you find any of that don't use it, it attacks gelcoat quickly.
Don't ask.
 
Actually, it's not 'OK'. If you put it on and then remove it as soon as the paint softens it shouldn't do any harm. Leave it on for longer and it definitely damages. I found this out the hard way two years ago, having tested it on the legendary inconspicuous area - but only for a couple of minutes.
 
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If it's vinyl it needs warming up with a hot air gun, then feel of carefully and move along the boat, heating as you go. If you get it right most of the glue comes off with the vinyl. Any left over glue can be removed with automotive panel wipe on a course cloth.

If it's sign written, oven cleaner is a safe chemical option or just sand it off with some wet and dry on a block, Compound and polish for a shiny finish.
 
wombat88 said:
Am I right in understanding that modern day Nitromors (a mere shadow of its former self) does not damage gelcoat?
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Yes, but it doesn't damage paint much either.

Old fashioned dichloromethane stripper was OK on GRP as long as you applied it very briefly and washed it off as soon as the paint had wrinkled. Even so it could soften the gel goat enough for scrapers to leave marks, so really only suitable if you were planning to repaint and not to expose gel coat for future use.

My preferred stripper for GRP is Removall 220 ... or perhaps was, because the people I bought it from, Cirrus Systems, don't list it any longer. It may be the same as https://www.amazon.co.uk/Biostrip-Stripper-remover-solution-effortlessly/dp/B00B4WK17K or http://www.diy.com/departments/home-strip-paint-stripper-500ml/254572_BQ.prd. The trick was to leave it on for a full 24 hours, and to use it only in damp weather so it didn't dry out. As the end of that time the paint had turned into a paste you could scoop off.

A later version, Removall620, was rubbish. Nothing works on two-pack except mechanical removal or, if you are feeling brave, heat. I spent days on my back under my Hunter 490 using Removall to remove two layers of antifouling and then a chisel and hot air gun to remove two layers of two pack. Never again.
 
The graphics are paint, gloss, but I wouldn't like to guess a type. The paint seems fairly thick so using wet and dry although safe may take a while.
 
jamie N said:
Marine Strip by Owatrol?
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+1 Why take risks, you just paint this on over the name and leave for about 4-5 hrs then simply hose off, it does not damage the gelcoat,
IF you can see any signs or bits repeat as above.

I then 'T' cut and polished the area and you would never guess there was a name there before.:)
 
Plevier said:
Yes the stripper you can get now - Nitromors, B&Q, Wickes etc. is benzyl alcohol and it's OK on GRP..
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OK for a given value of OK. It's not the instant resin dissolver that it once was but it still softens gelcoat fairly rapidly

BTW it isn't benzyl alcohol, the active ingredients are Dixolane, Naptha and Methanol

It's also fairly useless.
 
For those who need to use something that actually works, and are prepared to turn a blind eye to the legalities and take the small risk of using it, it is quite possible to buy the dichloromethane based stuff. It is called Starchem Synstrip, available on Ebay and from other suppliers. I can confirm that it most definitely softens grp if left on for long, but it does strip paint in short order.

It is nasty stuff and has led to deaths amongst worker who used it on a daily basis. I did my decks with it, once off and in the open air, so I didn't think it would do me much harm. Protective gear, of course.
 
Bru said:
OK for a given value of OK. It's not the instant resin dissolver that it once was but it still softens gelcoat fairly rapidly

BTW it isn't benzyl alcohol, the active ingredients are Dixolane, Naptha and Methanol

It's also fairly useless.
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Benzyl alcohol is what it says on the label of two bottles I've got (Wickes and B&Q) but you're right about the Nitromors now
https://dnwgit7zg7mqr.cloudfront.net/items/coshh/80219.pdf
I think they must have changed it again.
The benzyl alcohol stuff is very slow.
 
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jamie N said:
Marine Strip by Owatrol?
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Admittedly this is the only brand I've tried, but it worked very effectively without being a worry.

I waited till a hot dry week in June, though that was because I wanted to re-prime and repaint the boat in the same few days.

I painted the Owatrol on the hideous bright green paint that had afflicted the decks hitherto, then left the boat overnight...

...next day the stuff had done its work without degrading the gelcoat beneath. The greenish gunge rinsed off easily, and after a hot breezy day or so, she was ready for paint.

If the areas requiring stripping are very localised, I'd use lots of masking - making sure the masking isn't wiped out by the Owatrol.
 
Plevier said:
Benzyl alcohol is what it says on the label of two bottles I've got (Wickes and B&Q) but you're right about the Nitromors now
https://dnwgit7zg7mqr.cloudfront.net/items/coshh/80219.pdf
I think they must have changed it again.
The benzyl alcohol stuff is very slow.
Click to expand...

They must indeed have changed it again. Bet it's still useless :)

Caustic Soda works well but it's nasty stuff to mess around with. Despite head to toe PPE I still picked up a few minor burns stripping Pagan's hull last summer and the consequences of getting it in your eyes are really serious (Not that I did)
 
Bru said:
They must indeed have changed it again. Bet it's still useless :)

Caustic Soda works well but it's nasty stuff to mess around with. Despite head to toe PPE I still picked up a few minor burns stripping Pagan's hull last summer and the consequences of getting it in your eyes are really serious (Not that I did)
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That'll be the oven cleaner i mentioned earlier :)

Good to see you back on the forum, hope things have improved :encouragement:
 
PaulRainbow said:
That'll be the oven cleaner i mentioned earlier :)
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I just bought plain Caustic Soda from Bodgit and Quit and mixed up a strong solution of the stuff. Evil but effective!

PaulRainbow said:
Good to see you back on the forum, hope things have improved :encouragement:
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Improved, yes thanks but some changes to lifestyle in the offing due to ongoing and probably fairly long term family commitments
 
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