Sailmakers glue ? How to remove or solve stickiness ?? Furling gear to sort

[Refueler]

UV strip is now removed from my genny - it having shredded during a trip ...

It was applied - by sailmaker in UK - with glue then zigzag stitched ....

The glue despite its age is still tacky and I will not be replacing the UV.

Question then is - what to do to solve the tackiness ? I tried Ethanol (hand sanitizer) to try remove it - but all it does is make it worse. I am considering fabric paint to not only deaden the tackiness - but also cover the brown stripe its left.

I know someone will say - get new UV strip fitted .... but that's not in my game plan. In previous thread saying I was going to remove the UV strip ... I stated what Sailmaker said - that sail was in very good condition. Being a number of years on from then .... I think there's possibly just a couple years or so left before I look to replace. With that in mind - no real point in paying out for UV strip to save a sail that will be decommissioned before UV damage anyway. While removing the UV - a few places along the stitching did tear for an inch or so ... so looks like sail is 'tired'.

When I replace the genny ... it would be nice to replace the shortened top furling section. This removed about 30cms of alloy .. which will allow me to have longer luff while reducing foot.
Its also that previous owner who originally fitted the furling gear - Plastimo 608 - did not fit the top end stop. Something that I have been meaning to add for the odd 25yrs I've had the boat !! To do it though would mean dismantling .... so maybe a pin across the luff groove would be enough ?
Replacing alloy and plastic liner is easy as it slips over the stay ....

 

[AngusMcDoon]

Sticky stuff remover. May not be available where you are though.

 

[deeb]

Sailmakers use different glues - but frequently double sided tape, which is butyl and leaves a sticky residue as you describe. There are various removers for this, including this from screwfix : Zep Sticky Stuff Remover 1Ltr - Screwfix

Also: try vinegar (white, not chip shop variety).

If the sail is very old it may take some determination

 

[wilkinsonsails]

Dry cleaning fluid ,soak sticky bit with cloth to loosen and wipe residue.Use it outside as fumes not nice .

 

[thinwater]

That is not glue, it is self-adhesive cloth, like Insignia.

If the sail tore, there is cloth damamge, and I strongly suspect that without the support of a replacement strip the leach will disintegrate. Pretty sure. Even in the UK, a few years is a long time in the sun, and the cloth is already damaged, because self-adhesive UV strips are not very UV-proof (we know them to be quite useless in higher UV areas). Likewise, I suspect it is too weak for paint (been there, done that), but you could try it. The flexible paint for inflatables works.

Either recover with Sunbrella or get a new sail. I would not trust the sail as-is.

 

[Refueler]

The damage short tears ... about 4 are actually along the glue line when I pulled instead of cutting the sewn threads. The tears follow the thread 'holes'.

As to paint - I considered fabric paint as its very light and all it has to do really is provide a barrier over the sticku glue. Glue remover .... would need a lot !! Leech 7.50m ... there are two lines .... foot 4.15m - another two lines ... plus the other side of sail along the hem where UV was turned .... so that's a 2cm wide line of 35m approx ...

If I was in UK ... it would be down to sail shop and pick up a reasonable 2nd hand as its a motor sailer and will never be called upon to 'race' .... but over here - its rocking horse sh** trying to find.

 

[thinwater]

I would have a cover sewn, but ...

Painting can work. This job, combined with some repairs, lasted me 3 years. The sail actually started to go in the body. It was used, so I don't know it's history.

 

[Refueler]

Blimey !

I was just thinking to paint the glue lines only ... not whole strip area as you show ....

My honest feeling is that sailmaker will refuse to fix UV strip to the sail ... he'll press me to replace. He did give me price for new sail couple of days ago when I spoke to him .... 1400 euros ....

 

[James_Calvert]

Google "sail number remover".

We had some to remove some regatta and squad insignia off a second hand Laser sail.

Worked quite well, loosened it enough to get the residue off. A second go over then cleaned it up.

The particular one we had had been relabeled by the chandler. The original label underneath described it as "graffitee remover"

 

[Refueler]

Google "sail number remover".

We had some to remove some regatta and squad insignia off a second hand Laser sail.

Worked quite well, loosened it enough to get the residue off. A second go over then cleaned it up.

The particular one we had had been relabeled by the chandler. The original label underneath described it as "graffitee remover"

Interesting ..... looking

Edit : Googled the job and recc'd is 3M Adhesive Cleaner or GOO GONE ............ found seller online with Goo Gone ... 1ltr on its way ... so lets see what that does.

 

[thinwater]

Blimey !

I was just thinking to paint the glue lines only ... not whole strip area as you show ....

My honest feeling is that sailmaker will refuse to fix UV strip to the sail ... he'll press me to replace. He did give me price for new sail couple of days ago when I spoke to him .... 1400 euros ....

Wrong sailmaker? But I understand, they hate sewing through glue residue.

By painting the whole strip you get UV protection. It's easy. I used MDR inflatable paint (very flexible), and in 3 years not one chip. One coat, and I think I even watered it down a little.

 

[michael_w]

About 100 years ago when I was a sailmaker's apprentice we used 'Dabitoff' to remove the glue. It's a horrible job!

 

[RivalRedwing]

if you are lucky then white spirit will remove the glue

 

[Refueler]

if you are lucky then white spirit will remove the glue

Tried it ... and Ethanol ... and Nail Varnish remover (Acetone and Non Acetone) .... none of them shifted it. I have bottles of the stuff as I regularly have to clean my 3D print beds .....

 

[Refueler]

About 100 years ago when I was a sailmaker's apprentice we used 'Dabitoff' to remove the glue. It's a horrible job!

I can imagine ... dreading it myself. Its why I thought of painting over it.

Thinwater has me thinking ..... will try the GooGone ... if no joy - then its paint it ... maybe see about blue ??

 

[RivalRedwing]

Tried it ... and Ethanol ... and Nail Varnish remover (Acetone and Non Acetone) .... none of them shifted it. I have bottles of the stuff as I regularly have to clean my 3D print beds .....

If neat acetone will not shift it then I wish you the best of luck ;-)

 

[Refueler]

If neat acetone will not shift it then I wish you the best of luck ;-)

Not neat acetone ... but acetone based nail varnish remover. I would be reluctant to try neat acetone as I'm not sure what it would do to the sail cloth.

 

[AngusMcDoon]

Not neat acetone ... but acetone based nail varnish remover. I would be reluctant to try neat acetone as I'm not sure what it would do to the sail cloth.

Acetone is compatible with polyester...

Chemical Compatibility :: Repligen

 

[Refueler]

Acetone is compatible with polyester...

Chemical Compatibility :: Repligen

So you know what sail cloth I have ?? Amazing ....... I never knew you were in my sail loft.

 

[AngusMcDoon]

So you know what sail cloth I have ?? Amazing ....... I never knew you were in my sail loft.

It's not going to be carbon nano-fibre reinforced aramid sailcloth on those old tubs you sail, is it Nigel?

How do you expect anyone to offer any suggestions on what solvent to use if the sailcloth material is not the usual polyester based and you don't seem to be forthcoming in what it is? Strange behaviour.