caulk removal

**Chuck** · 10-16-2002, 10:46 AM

one question still about sealing up leaks: how do you remove the old caulking? xylene? heat? plastic or wooden putty knife, probably.....

davidz71 · 10-16-2002, 11:32 AM

Chuck,
I read in a previous thread that you can remove caulk for areas around windows and panels with the use of popsicle sticks or the round sharpened on one end wood stick used as a cuticle remover. I haven't tried this yet but will need to try it during the winter when I recaulk and shine up the aluminum exterior.

53flyingcloud · 10-16-2002, 03:59 PM

Chuck,
I wouldn't recommend that you use xylene anywhere on your A/S. Just to show you what I mean..take this test..Pour some in a styrofoam cup...DON'T HOLD IT TOO CLOSE TO YOURSELF.
If you go onto www.google.com and do some research on this stuff..you'll can take a look at it's chemical properties.
BTW:You don't want to even breath this stuff~
All in all, it's a poor choice~!

j54mark · 10-16-2002, 05:20 PM

"I wouldn't recommend that you use xylene anywhere on your A/S. Just to show you what I mean..take this test..Pour some in a styrofoam cup...DON'T HOLD IT TOO CLOSE TO YOURSELF"

Ok, it will disolve syrofoam. So will gasoline, mineal spirits, acetone (common nail polish remover), and lots of stuff we use every day.

But the point is well taken - xylene (sometimes sold as "xylol") is not to be trifled with. Use sparingly, and only in the open. Give it time to work, just sloshing the stuff on does not help. It will soften Sikaflex, but if it works on Vulkum it sure is slow. Great for adhesives though - old stickers, glues, that sort of thing.

I did discover that turpentine will soften Sikaflex also - probably as well as xylene. Much safer to work with.

Mineral spirits will help with cleaning up Vulkum, but you have to remove most of it mechanically. I too use sharpened popcicle sticks. I had to eat four boxes to get enough sticks.

Mark

**Chuck** · 10-17-2002, 08:44 AM

ok. I've used xylene to remove adhesive before. works great..didn't harm the paint or clear-coat on my truck, and I know, its nasty stuff. but if it doesn't affect caulk too much, its probably not worth it.

so, just want to make sure I understand: scraping is the only way to remove the old caulk? how thorough do we have to be? every little tiny bit, or just get the "big hunks" out?

ALANSD · 10-17-2002, 08:56 AM

I used mineral spirits to clean up caulk, no problems afterward with clear coat.
Scraped the old off carefully, cleaned the area and recaulked.
I used Vulkum and DuPont Aluminum Caulk. Both went well.