Power Chisel

[Wandering Star]

I’m sure there used to be a 12 volt powered chisel/scraper but I can’t find one on sale? I have Treadmaster laid on a non slip moulded (pimply) GRP deck. The Treadmaster is totally at the end of its life and looks awful. I need to scrape it all off so I can paint the deck instead and it occurred to me the power tool I’m thinking off would be ideal for the job if only I could identify it! I would guess the treadmaster is or at least was, epoxied to the deck. Any ideas on the power tool I’m thinking of or any other bright ideas for removing the Treadmaster?

 

[superboots]

A multi tool could work . Lidl (Parkside ) previously made a corded chisel/scrapper. Its ok but did not get to use it much - now buried in the bilge in the rare tools section

 

[penberth3]

I wouldn't bother. Use good hand tools, relax, chill, go with the flow. It'll be just as fast without the noise, dust and accidental damage you get from power tools.

 

[KevinV]

Having used a 240v one I can't imagine a 12v one having much oomph.

One of these Bosch PSE 180 E Carving Primer | eBay

 

[Tranona]

Be prepared for many hours of backbreaking work. You may well find a hot air gun works, melting the adhesive. As said a 12v tool won't touch it but a 240v multitool with chisel blade might be a help. The only time I removed Treadmaster I used manual tools and hot air gun and am shortly going to do some more but nowhere near that amount.

 

[Concerto]

To remove some TreadMaster I used a 240V Fein multitool, but they now make a bettery powered model. When I bought it, I never realised how I managed to work on boats or houses without one. It has become my most used power tool.

Using a wide chisel blade makes the removal very easy by cutting through the glue level. Also keeping it very sharp is also necessary.

 

[alan_d]

I've never used one, but would a chisel attachment for a (cordless) SDS drill be any good?

 

[KevinV]

I've never used one, but would a chisel attachment for a (cordless) SDS drill be any good?

Way too violent imo

 

[KompetentKrew]

Was very impressed by this Fein blade 234 but I don't think I've ever yet used it attached to the multitool itself. So far I've just used it as a manual tool - it's both stiff and has a good edge.

I think Fein make a small range of marine blades for their (expensive) multitools.

 

[plumbob]

To remove some TreadMaster I used a 240V Fein multitool, but they now make a bettery powered model. When I bought it, I never realised how I managed to work on boats or houses without one. It has become my most used power tool.

Using a wide chisel blade makes the removal very easy by cutting through the glue level. Also keeping it very sharp is also necessary.

Plus 1 for Fein. Quality kit.

 

[Stemar]

Another vote for a multitool, but get a decent one.

A few years ago, I needed one and bought a Draper. It went back the next day as being safe for small children, and I got a Bosch professional range job that I definitely wouldn't let kids play with. Worth every penny.

When I was building up my toolkit, I got mains kit because cordless stuff tended to be pretty feeble, and I suspect the DIY stuff still is, but my neighbour is in the building trade and his (mostly DeWalt) kit is all cordless, and definitely not lacking in umph. If you've got a couple of batteries, I reckon that by the time they need recharging, so will you.

 

[Rappey]

I have a lidls (parkside) electric chisel. The blade goes in and out like a reciprocating saw. It has a scraper and chisel attachment.
It shows wood carving on the box but it's rubbish for that. It's unbeatable for removing old tile adhesive from surfaces after knocking off the tiles with a sds chisel.
I bought it to scrape off old antifoul but i found it not that great

 

[Wandering Star]

To remove some TreadMaster I used a 240V Fein multitool, but they now make a bettery powered model. When I bought it, I never realised how I managed to work on boats or houses without one. It has become my most used power tool.

Using a wide chisel blade makes the removal very easy by cutting through the glue level. Also keeping it very sharp is also necessary.

On this and others recommendation, I’ve just found a used Fein Multi Master tool on Facebook only 6 miles away for £50 which I’m collecting tomorrow - can’t wait! Which blade would you recommend for the purpose and are the blades durable or will I need dozens of them?

 

[Stemar]

Which blade would you recommend for the purpose and are the blades durable or will I need dozens of them?

I'd be inclined to go for something like this
SMART Trade Wide Scraper Blade 70mm Blade | Toolstation
I suspect that having a couple would be a good idea.

I'd avoid toothed blades as I reckon that it'd be far too easy to dig it into the gelcoat.

 

[coopec]

Thanks to this thread I have discovered OZITO makes an 18V multi tool. I'm excited as I have two Ozito batteries for the lawn edger, hedge trimmer, vacuum cleaner and blower already

OZITO Multitool


There's a few ideas here (including the use of solvent)
Removing Treadmaster

 

[davidmh]

I did this a couple of years ago, long job needs patience. Used a sharp chisel, sharp triangular scraper, a hot air gun. I found a lot of the treadmaster came off easily, some was bloody hard. The longest job was getting the glue out of the diamond pattern non slip. I made up a series of V shaped scrapers. Very satisfied with the Hemel non- slip paint I used. My job was only on non slip areas of the coachroof, doing a whole deck would be a very long job.
David MH

 

[Concerto]

On this and others recommendation, I’ve just found a used Fein Multi Master tool on Facebook only 6 miles away for £50 which I’m collecting tomorrow - can’t wait! Which blade would you recommend for the purpose and are the blades durable or will I need dozens of them?

That sounds like a bargain. This is very similar to what I used.

Fein 63903234210 Starlock 52mm Fixed Scraper Blade

You should only need one blade as all I did for sharpening was a sheet of wet and dry IIRC 320 grit and used the multitool to sharpen it. Only took a few seconds to keep the blade sharp.

I have found FFX to be very good for all accessories and have used them frequently.

 

[howardclark]

Just removed some from a step- on a workbench so a bit easier. I used a combination of heat and a multitool. Needs patience but worked

 

[alan_d]

Way too violent imo

Yes, I wondered about that. In the manual for my SDS drill it shows it being used to remove ceramic tiles, but I have always suspected it was a more of a demolition tool in chisel mode.

 

[justanothersailboat]

On building materials you can be surprisingly controlled with an SDS drill (I've done that a lot) but I would not attempt it on a GRP boat.

On the multitool - definitely carry both a flexible and a rigid scraper blade. I found some jobs where the flexible was just the ticket and a rigid one would damage the underlying surface; others where it just "boing"ed off slightly more resilient spots and shook my hands instead, but a rigid one "chip"s the top material away.