Silcon sealant - removal from Elise bodywork

[campbell]

My headlamp covers are fitted using silicon. Very successful, except that last time I removed them to clean underneath etc, it took an age to scrape the old silicon off with a plastic spatula.

Anyone got any experience of the commercial silicon removal / "silicon eater" type products, particularly as to whether they also remove the paint, gel coat, fibreglass, chassis rails etc too?!

TIA

Campbell

[BiggestNizzy]

It worked great on my kitchen and bathroom, but have no idea how they would react to the paint.

Glad to be of no help

[philthy]

ta da!

http://www.screwfix.com/search.do?fh_se ... -999465919

[mac]

Nail varnish remover - no idea what it would do to the paint.....


Besides I though you said the dead flies where staying

[Corranga]

Nail polish remover might work. I used it to get gaffer tape marks off the windscreen surround after my quick roof seal job before my holiday last year...

Wouldn't leave it on the pain too long mind...

[meatball]

When silicone is setting babywipes work a treat....dunno if it works when set?

[g1zmo26]

My headlamp covers are fitted using silicon. Very successful, except that last time I removed them to clean underneath etc, it took an age to scrape the old silicon off with a plastic spatula.

Anyone got any experience of the commercial silicon removal / "silicon eater" type products, particularly as to whether they also remove the paint, gel coat, fibreglass, chassis rails etc too?!

TIA

Campbell

Hi Campbell ,
I suggest you use tar and glue remover to soften the silicon, and your plastic spatula to scrape it off. It should not mark the paint, as long as your car has not been painted in the last week or two. As for the chassis rails try and keep all chemicals away for aluminium .Mind and clean off and don't leave on paint too long. A quick wax will save marking.

Stuart
(Your friendly Vehicle Refinishing Technician):D

[Stewart]

Sorry can't help you with removing silicon although I did use the Screwfix stuff on the bath a couple of weeks ago. It wasn't that great a success on the bath so *may* not harm the paint but then again probably sticking with tar remover and plastic scraper would be a better/safer bet.

On a more positive note I removed my headlight covers a few weeks ago for a good cleaning. A quick search on SELOC revelaed that bath seal stuff from B&Q called homelux clicky was the stuff to use. Certainly did the trick and has proven water tight at the last wet SIDC at Knockhill. It also looks like it should be relatively easy to remove if required

[mainsy]

On a more positive note I removed my headlight covers a few weeks ago for a good cleaning. A quick search on SELOC revelaed that bath seal stuff from B&Q called homelux clicky was the stuff to use. Certainly did the trick and has proven water tight at the last wet SIDC at Knockhill. It also looks like it should be relatively easy to remove if required

good stuff stewart
was gonna ask what was the best, because i want to get out the dead flies before the speedfair, and get them stuck back on in time

[Stewart]

good stuff stewart
was gonna ask what was the best, because i want to get out the dead flies before the speedfair, and get them stuck back on in time

Just in case you haven't sussed it, I removed my covers using a length of packing banding strip in a sawing motion similar to a cheese wire idea. I have also read that some folks have used a length of fishing wire to good effect. I also removed my headlights from inside the wheel arch to make access easier. Just remember to note the hight of the beam - I shone mine into the insider of the garage door and marked where the beam shone.

Well worth doing as made the front of my car look much more respectable.

[dezzy]

Campbell, I can highly recommend Tardis: http://www.polishedbliss.co.uk/acatalog ... clean.html

The detailing community seem to swear by it for tar, glue and dead fly removal, so I'm guessing it will work on your silicone too

D

[campbell]

Sorry can't help you with removing silicon although I did use the Screwfix stuff on the bath a couple of weeks ago. It wasn't that great a success on the bath so *may* not harm the paint but then again probably sticking with tar remover and plastic scraper would be a better/safer bet.

On a more positive note I removed my headlight covers a few weeks ago for a good cleaning. A quick search on SELOC revelaed that bath seal stuff from B&Q called homelux clicky was the stuff to use. Certainly did the trick and has proven water tight at the last wet SIDC at Knockhill. It also looks like it should be relatively easy to remove if required

Looks an ideal alternative way forward, cheers!

[campbell]

ta da!

http://www.screwfix.com/search.do?fh_se ... -999465919

yep found that and many others, it's the bitter experiences of people who've applied these things to car paintwork I'm after though

[campbell]

Hi Campbell ,
I suggest you use tar and glue remover to soften the silicon, and your plastic spatula to scrape it off. It should not mark the paint, as long as your car has not been painted in the last week or two. As for the chassis rails try and keep all chemicals away for aluminium .Mind and clean off and don't leave on paint too long. A quick wax will save marking.

Stuart
(Your friendly Vehicle Refinishing Technician):D

Thanks Stuart, very helpful. Petrol has also been suggested somewhere, and Lawrence always swore by it

[campbell]

Campbell, I can highly recommend Tardis: http://www.polishedbliss.co.uk/acatalog ... clean.html

The detailing community seem to swear by it for tar, glue and dead fly removal, so I'm guessing it will work on your silicone too

D

thanks Dezzy!

5 litres is perhaps a bit of overkill so I will see what's languishing on Halfrauds' shelves first I think

As ever folks...thanks for all advice, delivered so promptly