Treadmaster removal

[andyorr]

I am sure this has been "done" before but can you advise on removal of old treadmaster and the residue adhesive?
Thanks!
PS Anyone tried any of the latest water based, fume free varnish strippers? Can you recommend a brand?

 

[poter]

Its a nightmare.....but it does very much depend on the original adhesive.
Is it a sheet or just bits of treadmaster?

Are you going to replace it?

If the glue is really strong you can get the treadmaster off, but whatever stripping method you use, you will almost certainly do some damage to the grp finish....
I assume its a Plastic boat? If wood then not such a big problem....just taken the trouble to read your bio, so its an old M31 - is it over the whole deck or just in bits?
As the gel coat is quite old I would strip & scrape off the old adhesive & repaint say using Allgrip or similar.

Be prepared to do some hand rubbing down & an application of paint/finish.
Or what I did & that is replace the old treadmaster with new.

poter

 

[vyv_cox]

I pretty much agree with poter. If the Treadmaster has been stuck down with the correct epoxy adhesive then only mechanical methods will shift it. I used a variety of chisels and scrapers, although mine had been stuck down with Evostick. This was almost as difficult to get off but the final residue was softened by cellulose thinners. It is virtually impossible to do this without doing some damage to the underlying surface. I was replacing the Treadmaster so it didn't matter much anyway.

 

[opedius]

I just went through this with my boat. The treadmaster was applied with the contact adhesive (not epoxy). I first scraped off the majority with a chisel and heat gun (heating softened the underlying contact adhesive). Then I removed the gummy adhesive by coating with paint stripper/adhesive remover (home depot variety) and then brushing with a wire brush. I had to use a wire brush because the treadmaster was applied over the existing molded in non-skid pattern. If the treadmaster is applied on a smooth surface you should be able to scrape the adhesive off with a paint scraper (after it has been softened by adhesive remover). If you are careful not to gouge your boat, you can get it almost to look like the treadmaster was never there.

Warning-this is very time intensive project. Be prepared for lots of work & have lots of patience. The easier solution is to scrape off (not worry so much about gouges) and then just replace with more treadmaster.

After removing the treadmaster I painted the same areas with a non-skid finish and it made a world of difference in the appearance of my boat.

 

[Steve_N]

See the last post in this thread:

http://www.ybw.com/forums/showflat.php?C...rue#Post1586852

Goes through Treadmaster like a hot knife through butter, irrespective of what adhesive was used.

 

[tangomoon]

I'm sure somebody in PBO used a router to take the stuff off - fine setting and you're away like to know how you get on

 

[dovekie]

We've just done this, or rather, looked at it deteriorating for 10 years then paid someone to do it. Ours was epoxied on and only mechanical means (chisels, grinders and routers) got it off. Contact adhesive would be different I think. Others will know. Much might depend on what you are putting back afterwards. If you are replacing with more treadmaster - which is good stuff if stuck down well - then minor damage underneath does not matter much.

 

[PeterGibbs]

Chisel and heater is the way you will start; slow but positive progress. Before long someone will come by, talk about the weather and suggest you put some beef into the job with an orbital sander etc. If you do, you will cetainly have to recover with Treadmaster - electric tools are the most common cause of writing off thousands of pounds of boat value in ruined cosmetics!

Good luck, even better - loads of patience!

PWG