Sticky substance removal from GRP

davel

davel

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I have some sticky substance leaching from my shore power electrical cable which has left a deposit on my GRP deck. It will need a solvent to remove it, but which one? Acetone will probably do it but will it damage the GRP?
Other possibilities include White Spirit or Meths - do these cause any risk of damge?

<hr width=100% size=1>Dave L.
 
Acetone no probs just douse it and remember to not smoke at the same time.

<hr width=100% size=1>Dom

<A target="_blank" HREF=http://www.soltron.co.uk>the website</A>
 
Acetone

Just great for removing things from gelcoat - use plenty and wipe dry otherwise you have a residue because it evaporates so fast.

The only damage it does is to remove the polish, not a problem on deck, but can be one on topsides if you don't replace the polish.

get rid of that shorepower lead - the plasticiser has gone in it and the next thing will be shorting.
It's probably been affected by fumes from polish or oxidation removal agents.

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I use thinners no 7 on sticky plastic. Acetone is a major constituent. Try White Spirit first as its a lot cheaper, but its unlikely to work.

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Ketone: 1/10th the price of acetone

Ketone is a very usefull solvent. If you go to a litho printers supplier, a 5 litre can will cost about £26.50 inc VAT. [If you do the screw top up properly it will last and last ... My 7/8ths used can is now over 8 years old and still working.]

FYO: Hammerite Thinners from B&Q at 260 times the price of litho-ketone is still just plain ketone ... as are all of the "acetone"s. Chandlery prices are even more outrageous.




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Re: Ketone: 1/10th the price of acetone

Acetone is, I believe, a Ketone... and the only one you can use with safety on GRP (I'm quoting Hugo do Plessis, btw). He lists ketones (except acetone) as unsafe.

I'd say an even better general purpose solvent (not just on boats!) is lighter fluid... which just a highly refined petroleum fraction. It's my first choice for just about everything. H du P lists petrol as safe to use....

Ruthie


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Acetone is used to raise the tack on old GRP prior to patching, or adding new fibreglass. Essentially it makes the polyester resin tacky, and makes the gel coat dull. It also dissolves uncured and partly cured polyester resins, and is near as good as getting solid paint out of paint brushes as paint stripper...
As a chemist I would suggest that other solvents such as meths, or even thin oil will be more successful and less harmful to the gel coat. Most rubber and many PVC compunds use oil in them as a softener: this is why most rubber tubes become completely useless when exposed to diesel, which is an oil, and which acts essentially as a plasticiser

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That\'s worth 5 smileys :) :) :) :) :)

The point is knowing which solvent to use for what .... and commercial ketone just has to be the universal ...

(Could also amplify on how to anneal copper washers as what's been said below is confusing ..... Clean them before you heat them .... One speck of dust can half bury itself on any annealed Cu washer and cause diesel to leak ....)

Also the same with mains pressure domestic toilet valves .... Use ()* BRE/Watford/Garston constant pressure valves

* :( ... I never got anything for having designed them .... Not even an orange lollipop.


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