Remove of sealant

[Sailmar]

Hello

I have removed the windows of my boat, they were seal with a product which I think is sikaflex or similar, the product is black with some elasticity, like rubber.
I am with difficulties to remove the sealant, can you recommend a process?
Can you recommend a solvent?

My boat is GRP, which mean the sealant is attached to gelcoat.

Thank you in advance

Pedro

 

[leomagill]

I think you can get a brush on silicon remover, never used it myself though.

 

[earlybird]

My method was with craft knife blades and also a wood chisel. Tools need to be very sharp edged, and used carefully to avoid damage to the gel coat. The chisel was the most effective, and is best used almost flat. I had ten windows in all. Very tedious, especially in cold weather.

 

[dukes4monny]

If it's silicon then you can get a 'remover', I bought some a while back from Homebase, I cannot remember the brand name, sorry. It had to be brushed on and left for 2 - 3 hours and did a reasonable job of loosening some of it, but wasn't the instant success that I was hoping for.
I found that applying talcum powder and the use of a scraper did the job quite well. I don't know why the talcum powder helps, but it does. It's still not easy, but I've managed to remove loads of silicon on my boat which was holding some horrible brown vinyl on (yuck).

Dave

 

[Sailmar]

Thank you for the answers

And if it is sikaflex, how to remove it?

 

[JayBee]

Hi Pedro

If you use Google to search for "Sikalex Remover" you will get links to the manufacturer's information sheets.

This is from Sikaflex:

[ QUOTE ]
Removal: uncured Sikaflex-221 may
be removed from tools and equipment
with Sikaflex Remover-208. Once
cured, the material can only be
removed mechanically.

[/ QUOTE ]

So no solvents recommended. Looks like you may have to chisel it off!

 

[lw395]

A scalpel may help. If you put masking tape around where you are working it helps prevent marking more of the surface.

 

[Sailmar]

To provide some feedback, today I start to remove the sealant, using a scraper and a silicone remover, it is not easy job, it is taking a lot of time. The sealant is black over white gelcoat, so it is not easy toi have the surface white again. I am thinking to try now the talcum powder.

I will use white silicone to seal the new windows and hide the rest of the black sealant.