Epoxy - how do I get it off?

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Nessa
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Epoxy - how do I get it off?

Post by Nessa »

The title speaks for itself really - my i14 has been liberally coated in epoxy, with plenty of unsightly runs for good measure! How on earth am I going to get it off? The boat is lovely underneath. Or should I just grit my teeth and bear it?
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Re: Epoxy - how do I get it off?

Post by Rupert »

Provided it has set properly, a power sander appears to be the only way, being careful not to make the hull substantially thiner in the process. Theoretically, a hot air blower should melt it, but I've never had anything but tears before bedtime that way.
Maybe someone else can share a secret???!
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Re: Epoxy - how do I get it off?

Post by JimC »

Rupert wrote:. Theoretically, a hot air blower should melt it, but I've never had anything but tears before bedtime that way.
IME a hot air stripper will usually lift substantial amounts, but you often lose surface with it...
Random orbitals are my preferred sander nowadays.
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Ed
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Re: Epoxy - how do I get it off?

Post by Ed »

depends on the make of epoxy.

some shifts quite easily with heat and others don't really shift with heat at all.

I seem to remember that some of the SP resins move very easily under a little heat. even to the point of lifting up under my boat cover and coming away on the cover once.

It can be hard though.

I have 18ft of epoxied Jollyboat hull to do before the end of the year....so I wish I could tell you more.

cheers

eib
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Re: Epoxy - how do I get it off?

Post by CJR1100 »

I used a hot air gun, with ease, but I had to get a new gun as it went bang, I mean it was only 16 years old. Nothing is built to last these days!

Oh and use a wide blade scraper.
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Re: Epoxy - how do I get it off?

Post by Garry R »

Get a cheap hot air stripper but a cheap one that doesnt work at too hot a temperature. Take your time and avoid charring as you get dark marks and they don't disappear even with sanding.
Nessa
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Re: Epoxy - how do I get it off?

Post by Nessa »

By some quirk of fate I bought a hot air gun at the Cats Protection League jumble sale on Saturday. It cost me 20p. It will either do the job or you will see on the news a bad fire in the Dunstable area, caused by a woman setting alight to her garage...
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Re: Epoxy - how do I get it off?

Post by RichardB2 »

Hijacking this thread but question of similar nature!

I am restoring MR 908 and have removed all the old varish from the inside of the hull exept that at the bow. Question....... it has a deck stepped rig and therefore has king posts from underside of deck to hog .... the problem I have is actually getting into the small gap with blow torch and carrying out work in this cramped zone whilst trying to avoid turning the area into an over and incinerating myself! Not being completly gifted with common sense does anyone have any ideas how to carry out this task with ease other than reduction of pie intake :lol: ?

Thanks in advance.

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Re: Epoxy - how do I get it off?

Post by ACB »

I suppose "Take the foredeck off" would not be a popular answer?

And "Hire small boy" is no good these days, either.

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Re: Epoxy - how do I get it off?

Post by CJR1100 »

NO hire a small boy, but just don't tell H&S.
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Re: Epoxy - how do I get it off?

Post by Brian E. Evans »

Glacial Acetic acid will break down the bonds in epoxy and enable you to scrub it off.
I do not know what it does to the wood, and it is hard on the fingers, test in a small area first, and it takes overnight to work.
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Re: Epoxy - how do I get it off?

Post by roger »

Richard.

I have found it easier to get under the foredeck if the boat is propped upside down. At least that way you are the right way up.
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Re: Epoxy - how do I get it off?

Post by Rupert »

Agree with Roger on that one - it suddenly seems much easier. Good when varnishing up there, too.
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Re: Epoxy - how do I get it off?

Post by Ed »

Brian,

that sounds really interesting.....

any other info on how you would use the glacial acetic acid in practice?

It sounds like some way of keeping the wood damp in the acid for longer would help. Some material soaked in the stuff?

cheers

eib
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Re: Epoxy - how do I get it off?

Post by Brian E. Evans »

The best way I have found to use it is to apply the acid then cover it with several layers of paper towel.
Formic acid also works on epoxy and used to be available as aerolite hardener if aerolite glue is still around.
They have pretty well banned the stuff in the USA
A large number of the propriety paint strippers for epoxy paint have acetic or formic acid in them as well as things like methylene chloride The biggest problem on wooden boats is that they also contain paraffin wax to stop the solvents evaporating too fast
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