Removing vinyl adhesive

[gscott]

I suspect I’m in for a tough task here!! Over the weekend I removed the very tied vinyl lining from the cabin ceiling which came away very easily, however, left behind what appears to be a very thin (perished) foam backing and the yellow-ish adhesive glue (was glued in placed in 1984). I’m not sure if I will re-line with a new vinyl product or paint, but either way I suspect I will have to remove the foam / adhesive. Any thoughts on the best removal methods / products?

 

[Twister_Ken]

Acetone takes off just about everything, BUT be careful using it (or any other solvent) in poorly ventilated environment like below decks. Take frequent breaks. Open everything up and do it on a breezy day. Or get some sort of breathing set?

 

[earlybird]

Not tried this, but a hot air gun and a scraper might help, but it will be hard work and messy. If you try a solvent such as acetone, don't forget that as well as being toxic, the vapour can be explosively flammable.

 

[maxi77]

When I did the same job a few years back I used a sander to both get rid of the foam remnants and any loose contact adhesive. I reconed that any ahesive tha stayed on then was well enough stuck to stay. You will then need to remove dust ect and aceetone is great for this remebering the comments on ventilation. Mind you the same applies when applying the contact adhesive for the replacement.

If I had known then what I know now I would have used ply sheets for the dechhead even if it did mean losing some headroom, the finished effect is better and a lot easier, handling large sheets of foam backed PVC with contact adhesive is not easy.

 

[PuffTheMagicDragon]

Beat me to it!
That is precisely how I tackled the problem on my old boat and on my present Westerly - the (in)famous Westerly Droop.

Basically, I vacuumed as much of the decayed foam bits as was possible. I applied strips of 10mm wood to the bare fibreglass deckhead. I cut out three panels of 3mm plywood, one goes down the centre of the deckhead while the two panels at the side overlap the centre one. At home I covered one face of the panels with non-woven carpeting, turning the edges over for two inches or so. I used contact adhesive. The centre panel was screwed to the wood strips, previously attached to the fibreglass. The side panels were then screwed in place, overlapping the central one by an inch. I used countersunk cross-slotted screws; the heads of these sink into the carpeting and are not obtrusive. I think that the end result was worth the effort:

 

[mikemacdonald]

I have used an abrasive disc as used by the carbody repairshops,any good paint shop should keep them, or Hawkshead Marine at Gosport. They don't damage the fibreglass but really rip off the glue, but they make a huge mess, wear a good respirator and goggles, you'll
need several discs as they do wear quickly.

 

[meandraft]

I used a wire brush attachment on my angle grinder. Horrible job. Face mask and goggles a must. Finish off with vacuum cleaner as the dust goes everywhere. Worth doing though as it transformed the saloon and forcabin.

 

[Heigaro]

I'm not convinced that you need to be desperately keen to get ALL the old glue and stuff off before relining the cabin. I got all the old backing foam off with a paint scraper (with the corners rounded off) and then got all the loose stuff off with a hand-held wire brush. With sand paper I achieved a smooth surface to the remaining firm glue residue.

I then fixed the lining I was using with spray carpet glue (from Screwfix). Seems OK so far.

I am prepared to be proved wrong but the prospect of removing every last trace of old glue was just too daunting!

I just put that in 'cos I like it!!

Good luck. /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

 

[gscott]

Thanks for your thoughts everyone, some good options there to consider.

 

[AOWYN]

I have recently used a product called desolvit, which I understand is available at Homebase. (I brought a bottle from the USA) It desolved the residue from a duct-tape-like industrial masking tape which was left for too long on my boat absolutely fantasically. It is amazing stuff and I suspect might be useful on the old lining adhesive. Even if it isn't, you will find plenty of other uses for it and it is bio-degradeable and smells good. I will be using gallons of it to clean out the 30 years of grease and crap from under the engine in my boat this weekend.

You can find it at www.desolvit.co.uk
or http://www.mykal.co.uk/pages/industrial.htm

No connection, just very pleased with the product.

 

[sjclewes]

hi there the product you need is autoglym tar and adhesive remover
i supply this to car seat manufacturers for removing glue and for car decal best get a small 325ml fist you can buy it in 5 ltr container best regards Simon