Removing a Cove Line

[Stemar]

The Admiral has decreed that the cove line on our hull shall be replaced, as it's flaking in a few places. It's a self-adhesive plastic tape in a dip in the hull which is painted with a 2 pack paint.

Any suggestions as the the best way to remove it? Could I use a hot air paint stripper on a low setting?

 

[PaulRainbow]

The Admiral has decreed that the cove line on our hull shall be replaced, as it's flaking in a few places. It's a self-adhesive plastic tape in a dip in the hull which is painted with a 2 pack paint.

Any suggestions as the the best way to remove it? Could I use a hot air paint stripper on a low setting?

:encouragement: That's what i used to take mine off.

 

[Spyro]

Or hair dryer but you will need to remove the sticky residue, I found thinners with xylene best for that

 

[Robert Wilson]

+1 to both the above.
Be careful with whatever you use to scrape the softening tape - I damaged my "two-pack". But that didn't matter to me as I was going to do a full repaint anyway.
I suggest you get the admiral to do it, that way whatever happens you are in the clear

 

[reeac]

:encouragement: That's what i used to take mine off.

I changed the cove line on my Sadler 29 a while ago. It was the original and so nearly 30 years old. I tried a hair drier but found that's although heat weakened the adhesive bond it also weakened the plastic tape. In the end I used a freshly sharpened wood chisel which could get right into the interface. Amazingly it didn't scratch the gel coat ... just slid over it. Still a hellish job.

 

[reeac]

A further thought, but one that I haven't actually tried: you can buy spray cans of a solvent intended to soften the adhesive on wound dressings thus easing removal. You lift an edge and spray onto the edge of the adhesive layer.

 

[Stemar]

Thanks everyone,

I think plan A is the heat gun on low, with a sharpened wooden tool shaped to fit the groove, followed by some sticky stuff remover - De-Solv-It or similar

There isn't a plan B at the moment

 

[VicS]

Thanks everyone,

I think plan A is the heat gun on low, with a sharpened wooden tool shaped to fit the groove, followed by some sticky stuff remover - De-Solv-It or similar

There isn't a plan B at the moment

It would be interesting to try reac's medical solution.

but why are you poking your tongue out at us?

 

[Stemar]

The tongue is in disgust at the lack of a plan B. I've long said that, on a boat, if you haven't got plans B and C you're already in trouble

Having worked in the the NHS, I'm leery of buying anything medical. It tends to be the same stuff as you'd buy elsewhere, but twice the price. The level of quality control needed for the medical stuff may justify this, but not for this use.

 

[Cockaigne]

A Bahco 625 scraper fitted with a 'pear' blade.

https://www.buybrandtools.com/acata...MIhLr22ui13AIV6LvtCh3YbgEREAQYASABEgLYr_D_BwE

 

[BarrytheViking]

I believe a toffee wheel on an electric drill is made for the job of removing vinyl stickers and similar on vehicles. Plenty on EBay for a few pounds.

 

[Praxinoscope]

The heat gun on low power would seem to be the best method of softening the tape, with the sharpened wooden tool to lift it. The sticky residue can be removed with a variety of solvents, one which I have found effective and which seems to be safe to use on even the most fragile of surfaces (we used to use it to clean audio & Video recording tapes) is an Amrican product called ‘Goo-Gone’, it’s available on eBay or several suppliers in the U.K.