Removing gaffa tape from gelcoat?

[ChasB]

I've had some some gaffa tape holding down some polythene over a leak over the winter. It was a rush repair and never meant to stay there that long, but it did. /forums/images/graemlins/frown.gif

At the corner it seems to peel off readily enough, but obviously I'm worried about damaging what's beneath.

What solvents are safe to experiment with on a gelcoat surface?

 

[Cliveshep]

White spirit or petrol both remove gaffa tape adhesive.

Of course, you could use a 9" angle grinder!!!!!

 

[Evadne]

Gelcoat is actually quite tough stuff, and if you've ever waxed your hull that ought to help as well. If gaffer tape pulls the gelcoat off then I'd say it's not adhering to the grp and is better off coming off anyway. Just pull the tape off gently. (As the actress said to the bishop).

If you need to remove glue residue I'd start with white spirit and move on to acetone. I use it to degrease before painting, it doesn't dissolve the gelcoat before evaporating.

 

[Twister_Ken]

Acetone.

 

[oldsaltoz]

[ QUOTE ]
I've had some some gaffa tape holding down some polythene over a leak over the winter. It was a rush repair and never meant to stay there that long, but it did. /forums/images/graemlins/frown.gif

At the corner it seems to peel off readily enough, but obviously I'm worried about damaging what's beneath.

What solvents are safe to experiment with on a gelcoat surface?

[/ QUOTE ]

A few seconds with a heat gun will soften the glue without harming the gelcoat, then use a solvent to remove the residue.

Avagoodweekend......

 

[ChasB]

Cheers guys! /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif I was a bit worried there.

 

[Ruffles]

Just removed loads of decals from my cabin top.

Wipe with petrol (cheaper than white spirit). This softens the gum. Then scrape the majority of the gum off with a plastic scraper. Old credit card works well. Another wipe with a clean petrol soaked rag and you're done.

I thought acetone softened FG?

 

[oldsaltoz]

[ QUOTE ]
Just removed loads of decals from my cabin top.
Wipe with petrol (cheaper than white spirit). This softens the gum. Then scrape the majority of the gum off with a plastic scraper. Old credit card works well. Another wipe with a clean petrol soaked rag and you're done.

I thought acetone softened FG?

[/ QUOTE ]

Yes Acetone will damage fibreglass, but not if are just wiping off gunge, prolonged exposure will damage the surface by dissolving a thin layer, so hit it with a white cotton rag well loaded, then leave it for a few minutes, it dries in seconds if not ponding.

Avagoodweekend......

 

[gerryl]

Acetone is Ok providing you wash down thouroughly with lots and lots of fresh water. Same applies to using petrol.
My best solution (pardon the pun) is 'Sticky Stuff Remover' available from Kleenezee or Betaware ( those mail order people who regularly deliver catalogues to your door). Brilliant stuff, shifts everything I've ever tried to use it on including tar and chewing gum. Works really well on all plastics including the ones that Acetone melts, headlinings etc.

No connection with either Company, just a satisfied customer..

 

[Twister_Ken]

Acetone is fine - it removes the adhesive and evaporates before it can do GRP any harm. Maybe if you floated you boat in a sea of acetone it would be a different mater though.

 

[VicS]

Yes agree Acetone will probably evaorate long before it can do any harm.

However I'd second cautious use of a hot air gun or a hair drier to soften the adhesive.

Also second "Sticky Stuff Remover" to remove any adhesive remaining. No home should be without a bottle!

BTW I used Parcel tape for similar job /forums/images/graemlins/frown.gif /forums/images/graemlins/mad.gif Reckon the angle grinder would have been the best way of getting that off /forums/images/graemlins/shocked.gif

 

[Aeolus_IV]

Meths works fine on parcel tape glue.

Jeff.

 

[cyberpunx]

i have always found isopropyl alcohol very good at cleaning stuff esp. any glue tape etc thats left residue it will dissolve glue etc and clean paintwork up. but word of warning use sparingly too much will overdoo it.
cheers john
p.s you can now buy iso prop alcohol from Maplins. (£11.00 a 1 litre tin which lasts for years )

 

[petie]

WD 40 also works

 

[Gin]

Had the same problem- temporary patch over a removed instrument- once replaced I was left with some tape and a lot adhesive which I looked at for a season.

Answer? Hot air gun to gently heat the area and it came off cleanly

 

[nigelmercier]

Another vote for Acetone. I tried everything else to get the dried-on gaffer tape off my boom.

As an aside: don't be fooled by all the companies who have brought out products such as "Gaffa Tape" and (even worse) "Duck Tape". Gaffer tape is a generic term for the strong tape used by "The Gaffer" on a film or TV set (the head of the electrical department). The tape is similar to the tape used by air-conditioning engineers, which is called "duct tape". Good gaffer tape will stick water, to oil, to glass /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif

 

[ChasB]

I used to be a gaffer! /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

Reminds me of when I was on a shoot in Ireland and the camera crew were envious of my roll of camera tape, which stuck to anything! Theirs was rubbish.

Bikers call it 100mph tape.

Never heard of it sticking water... /forums/images/graemlins/confused.gif