Oscilating multitool to remove roof calk.

[crazylev]

Hi all.

Has anyone used a multitool with scrapper attachment to remove some or most old caulk on roof of you AS? If you have any suggestions or tips?

Thanks.

JL

[TheGreatleys]

That sounds like a good way to get permanent gouges in the aluminum. Buy a few of these and put them on your drill. You can stack them for flat areas or just use one to get in tight spots.

http://m.skygeek.com/3m-048011-30098...disc-3-in.html

If you're dealing with silicone, get the silicone remover available at Vintage Trailer Supply.

[Airtandem]

Save the roof; use plastic scrapers or sharpen wood paint stir and follow up with the silicon remover and alot of elbow grease. NOTHING METAL for safety sake. Also been there.
Mike

[dennis3751]

Also a heat gun or even a hair dryer can make most sealants a little less difficult to remove. The plastic or wood wedges are a great idea as well.
Dennis

[mimiandrews]

I'll repeat a suggestion I found here a couple of years ago. Go to the pt store and get some of those dried cow hooves they sell for chew toys. They say it's like a giant fingernail and that it won't scratch aluminum.

[SuzyHomemakr]

Even though I feel like I'm swimming against the current here, I'll raise a hesitant hand and stammer out, "I used a multi-tool to remove the leftover caulking under my A/C." That stuff wasn't just hardened in place, it was fossilized! Sure, the multi-tool with the blade on it scratched the aluminum up, but I put another layer of caulking back on, then put my A/C on top of that. Then coated the whole roof with NASA ceramic paint. I can't see any scratches...

(It worked great!)

[Dingo Girl]

Originally Posted by SuzyHomemakr

Even though I feel like I'm swimming against the current here, I'll raise a hesitant hand and stammer out, "I used a multi-tool to remove the leftover caulking under my A/C." That stuff wasn't just hardened in place, it was fossilized! Sure, the multi-tool with the blade on it scratched the aluminum up, but I put another layer of caulking back on, then put my A/C on top of that. Then coated the whole roof with NASA ceramic paint. I can't see any scratches...

(It worked great!)

What is NASA ceramic paint? It sounds expensive.

[TheGreatleys]

Originally Posted by SuzyHomemakr

NASA ceramic paint.

I sometimes joke with my wife about caulking the Airstream and fording the river. I shudder to think what you might be attempting with your NASA ceramic paint. Re-entry from orbit?

[SuzyHomemakr]

Supertherm Multi-Ceramics paint. http://www.supertherm.net/multicera.htm
OK, it's not actually from NASA, but I guess that it uses some of the tech that was developed for the space program.

I don't know if it quite lives up to all the breathless hype on the webpage, as my Airstream can still get to over 100 degrees inside on a hot day, sitting in the sun. But I guess that every little bit helps, and it did seal my roof quite well. On a day that touching the uncoated part of the trailer instantly burns my hand, I can barely feel any heat on the painted part. It took a gallon to do the entire roof section.