removing silicone

Conachair

Conachair

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How do I get old silicone off the frames om my windows. Frame sandwiches the glass, i'm having a nightmare getting the old silicone out of the slot where the glass goes, takes an hour to clean about 2". Is there a chemical which dissolves silicone? In Spain as well so not close to major chandlers. Or very high preesure washing?
HELP!
Thanks
 
Paddy,
As far as I am aware there is only brute force and patience that will remove silicone. It's a crap material for boats

After struggling for many many hours I made my mind up the there was, under no circumstances, a use for silicone on a boat.

I tell everybody the same thing when I see them using it...........

You'll be sorry!

When you have got it off use a marine grade sealant to seal the windows.

Tom
 
I have tried the silicon remover and wasn't very impressed with it. Very slow and messy. In the end I found a Stanley knife blade worked best.
 
If you have the glass out - cut down the frame edge with a scalpel or stanley knife, then mod a chisel - heat and bend a bit like a teak scraper for the base of it. If you aint got the glass out, then it is, as said, brute force, You can also make rather nice angled cutters from old hacksay blades and a grinding disk.
Hope you get sorted, if there is a Carrefour near you in spain, they may well sell something, or a Brikoking.
Joe /forums/images/graemlins/confused.gif
 
Perhaps a silly question, but are you sure it's silicon and not something like Sikaflex 295, i.e. a polyurethane sealant?

If so, 'mechanical' removal is really your only option. If the frames are anodised ali, be very careful not to remove or scratch the anodising.

I re-glazed my side windows recently - deep 'U' type channels - and had to remove all the old sealant. The only way is sit down, put the radio on, and be very patient. When about 90% was removed, I used green plastic pan scourers pushed through the channels with a piece of wood cut to a tight fit and screwfix contractor's solvent - this doesn't 'dissolve' the PU but helps release all final traces of it from the ali.

Good luck!
 
Re: Acetone

Re silicone removal with Acetone.....
I had heard this before, just tried it this min as I was not convinced, did absolutely nothing, cleaned the glass though lol.
I dont think thats a goer at all.
Joe /forums/images/graemlins/frown.gif
 
Silicon sealant remover works if you remove most of the sealant mechanically first. The way I do this on bathrooms is to rub vigorously with a wooden block.

BTW check that the remover is ok on the surface you're using it on.

The most fun can be had removing it from textured non-slip decks /forums/images/graemlins/frown.gif
 
Re: a possible breakthrough...

Well, just had a play from me chemicals kit, you got me thinking lol

Try this, and because you are in Spain, you should get it...
Disolvente Universal, made by goldencat
Possibly others too.
UN 1263
Contains Disolventes, Aromaticos and Metanol.
The Disolventes are the key,
It works a treat, the bloody stuff melts away, mind you, so probably will your hands, eyes, sexual organs etc lol.. seriously.. it works well.
I have a similar can of paint brush cleaner, again, sourced in Spain.. looks an smells similar, but I cant be bothered to dig it out as I have no idea where it is :-)

Works a treat. Silicone vanishes before your eyes, just before blindness sets in.

Theres always something if the stores are big enough... Mohahahahahahah /forums/images/graemlins/smirk.gif /forums/images/graemlins/smirk.gif /forums/images/graemlins/smirk.gif /forums/images/graemlins/laugh.gif

Joe. Experimenting with WMD against Silicone.
 
Re: a possible breakthrough...

Hi Padz

Acetone (or preferably white spirit) works well on wet silicone, but tends to bounce off the dry stuff.

Silicone sealant remover is a no-no, as the DIY superstore stuff says on the label 'Not to be used on aluminium.'

There is some great advice on the Eagle Boat Windows website about the whole operation of removing and resticking windows. Have a look at www.eagleboatwindows.co.uk. (We picked their brains for our feature on fitting new portholes in PBO 486 June 2007 p. 124.)

Incidentally, according to Hawke House Marine, Autoglym Tar Spot Remover is brilliant for dissolving old glue left behind when stripping a headlining, and I've found it works well on most petroleum-based adhesives. Haven't tried it yet on silicone, but it might be a solution for you.
 
Re: a possible breakthrough...

Hi Sir
Tea tree oil works on tar, no probs, dilute with water if necessary. (Your link to eagle has a dot on the end and doesnt work BTW)
Eagel say nothing on the subject of silicone (that I can see)


Try TTO in your tests, alsoPeanut butter and white spirit mixed or the old trick of white spirit and sugar for tar or glue (detergent and sugar is still probably the best hand cleaner known to man but thats another subject) /forums/images/graemlins/ooo.gif

I am just an old ludite who only like to pay for branded products that work better than what can be made cheaply, Your features certainly address this issue and long may you keep up the good work.
 
Re: a possible breakthrough...

That sounds like the stuff - Disolvente Universal - where would you get it?
And next question is what do I use this time? Not keen on silicone now! I quite like polysulfide sealant, think it's 3m 6200 or something like that I've been using - would that do a good choice does the panel think?
And thanks everyone for ideas, this web site truely is on a par with gps as an essential part of a cruising boat. /forums/images/graemlins/cool.gif
 
Re: a possible breakthrough...

Silicone sealant remover uses strong alkali as the active ingredient - it breaks down the linked polymer chains. It works best when you remove most of the sealant with a sharp blade and then apply the remover as a thin coat which quickly frees up the remainder.

Given that your window frame is aluminium, I would remove as much as possible with the sharp blade and then use coarse sandpaper or a green scourer pad to remove the rest from the groove. Finish by wiping the surface with acetone or similar de-greaser. Solvents don't really work on cured silicone, not even nice stuff like methylene chloride.

If you use a polysulphide sealant instead of silicone to remake the windows, then do a good job, because once it has set you will never get it apart again.
 
Is a curse from your worst enemy.

For initial removal of silicone, [and for many other jobs], I have, for many years, used a 3/4 or 1 inch scraper, [as in filling knife but much stiffer]. It must be sharpened to a razor edge, and the wire,[or burr], carefully removed.

The residue can be removed with white spirit. Finally, clean surfaces with 'jif' or whatever.

In passing, such a sharpened scraper is an incredibly useful tool. Has to be struck with mallet. Use for removing all sorts of stuff, as a chisel for sinking small items of ironmongery, for cutting cigar ends etc etc. It has the merit that the bevel is a great deal more acute than that of a chisel, and the blade greatly thinner, so regrinding after dints is quick with just an oilstone. Tip - use white spirit as lubricant on oilstone as it gives a faster cut. Not quite as filthy, either, as oil.

Best wishes.
 
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