Removing sikaflex caulking

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ctelfer38

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Joined
16 Feb 2005
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408
Location
Haslar UK
www.classic-cruising.com
Winter refit includes a partial recaulking of coachroof top with new sikaflex. Task is to cleanly remove sikaflex which has shrunk away from surrounding plank edging. Teak planking is laid atop original solid mahogany coachroof so the 'caulking' is simply in a groove between the teak planks.
Any suggestions on how to remove the old sikaflex cleanly?
Current plan is to mask the edges of the grooves and then to 'peel' the sikaflex strip out without damage to the teak; but I can foresee that it will not all come out easily.
Suggestions welcome
 
I am replacing the caulking on my cockpit lockers,they are teak strips on wooden bases,i managed to get a small screwdriver under the end and pulled the strip of filling out,and then cleaned off any remaining rubber with a small file.

I have recaulked two lids with sikoflex,i masked off the strips and and filled and finished off with my finger,its the first time i have done this and i must say it looks pretty good.
 
ctelfer38 said:
Winter refit includes a partial recaulking of coachroof top with new sikaflex. Task is to cleanly remove sikaflex which has shrunk away from surrounding plank edging. Teak planking is laid atop original solid mahogany coachroof so the 'caulking' is simply in a groove between the teak planks.
Any suggestions on how to remove the old sikaflex cleanly?
Current plan is to mask the edges of the grooves and then to 'peel' the sikaflex strip out without damage to the teak; but I can foresee that it will not all come out easily.
Suggestions welcome
Click to expand...

Have a look at one of these..........

http://www.feinmultimaster.co.uk/

They have a special attachment that will lift out the seam, not cheap but I am assured that this is the best way to remove seams. I have tried everything from blades to screwdrivers, it's all hard time consuming and bloody hard on the knees.

Tom
 
Give the deck a light sand first.
Stanley knife, new blade. Cut carefully each side of the seam, bracing your arms against youself so as not to slip. Remove the 'worm' from the middle by slicing the bottom with a narrow and sharp chisel.
Second pass is with a VERY sharp seam rake, angled to work on one edge at a time.Remove the worst.
Third pass is with a thin batten, thicknessed down to allow a piece of 80 grit paper to pass around it. Work this down the seam. We usually increase the size of the seam by 1mm to ensure clean timber. So the sand paper/batten should be carefully done.
Mask up, prime, pay the seam. smooth off and remove tape when still wet.

Tedious as hell, but it pays my morgage!
 
Get a Feinmultimaster.

It is simply brilliant at doing the work. The attachments are expensive, and you might need 2 or 3, but it will save you vast amounts of time and have much less likely hood of damaging the planks than using a Stanley. It is almost selk guiding and gives great results. I save weeks on doing my decks with one of these.


I was lying alongside Ragna at the Thames Festival in Sept. Very nice.
 
Gosh....

a straight choice between modern and traditional options. Will retire to think about it.
Pyrojames - thanks for the compliment. Ragna R is still in St Kaths where she is based these days.
Thanks to all.
 
recaulking

ctelfer38 said:
Winter refit includes a partial recaulking of coachroof top with new sikaflex. Task is to cleanly remove sikaflex which has shrunk away from surrounding plank edging. Teak planking is laid atop original solid mahogany coachroof so the 'caulking' is simply in a groove between the teak planks.
Any suggestions on how to remove the old sikaflex cleanly?
Current plan is to mask the edges of the grooves and then to 'peel' the sikaflex strip out without damage to the teak; but I can foresee that it will not all come out easily.
Suggestions welcome
Click to expand...

Last year I recaulked a 50 ft teak deck of a friend's yacht using a Fein tool, with a special bended blade, you have to use several blades as you will encounter deck nails... easy job with the apropriate tool...
 
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