Cleaning up a mess (on my gelcoat)

[henryhey]

Hi folks.

I have a Cape Dory 25 and last year did some substantial refitting including running lines back to the cockpit with new hardware mounted on the cabin top. I also refinished all of my brightwork with Signature Finish Honey Teak (good stuff if you don't know it).

I'm pretty happy with my work EXCEPT for dripping, spillage and over runs that ended up on my gelcoat.

How can I remove the signature finish (now long since dried) from my gelcoat? How about West System's epoxy (some used to fill balsa core deck where I mounted some hardware)? I really want to get it all cleaned up and I have no idea what to do other than to (gulp) paint.

I look forward to your advise.

[Jason K]

If the epoxy is full cured, it will be difficult, particularly if it's in non-skid. Be very careful with solvents; if they're strong enough to affect the epoxy, then they may also affect the gelcoat.

I would suggest careful application of heat and a good scraper.

[Hirilondë]

I would suggest careful application of heat and a good scraper.

That's about all I can suggest. Maybe some fine sanding and then compounding. I can't imagine any solvent will attack either epoxy or "Honey Teak" and won't ruin gel coat. Were it simply dried varnish you could use lacquer thinner, toluene, MEKP or xylene, but now you are in the realm of harmful and unhealthy solvents. Read the MSDS for any of these you choose to try.

I also refinished all of my brightwork with Signature Finish Honey Teak (good stuff if you don't know it).

I don't like any 2 part clear finish for wood. You can't petrify wood no matter how hard you try. And the side projects it often leads to is part of it.

[Ric in Richmond]

The solution is at hand!!!

http://eastwood.resultspage.com/search? ... mit=Search

A paint nib fine file:



You carefully file the offending substance off!!!!

[Tim]

At the risk of stating the obvious, next time I'd suggest you take the time to mask off your work area and avoid the spillage issues later. What seems like a lot of work at the time turns out to be quite preferable to the alternative.

[Ceasar Choppy]

Taping is certainly the way to go, but I know from experience, when you are in the heat of the project-- even if you tape, you don't see where you spilled until its too late.

I've used Soy Strip paint stripper to get varnish off gelcoat with great results.

With epoxy, get out the 400 or 600 grit sandpaper and wet sand. It will take some time and you have to be very careful you don't sand through it. Use some "super-duty" compound and then some fine compound to finish it off.

If its in the non-skid, learn to love it instead. :)

[Steve'O]

I would agree with the heat and/or wetsanding. It's very difficult not to sand through the gelcoat, so one trick is to use a sanding block and to tape off the surrounding gelcoat with ductape. The ductape can absorb a lot of abuse. When the epoxy is almost level remove ductape and go to a finer grit.

[Case]

For smooth gelcoat...

I use those straight razors from the hardware store. They look like rectangles. They are great for cutting varnish off the smooth gelcoat. They're also great for removing blue tape that decided to adhere itself to the gelcoat, despite it being a 30 day tape or something.

As for the nonskid... Heat gun with some thinner or acetone is best.

I know all about varnish splatters myself. Last year, Mother Nature was cruel to me TWICE. Both days, lovely smooth waters on the mooring, zero wind. Both times, halfway thru the varnishing, the wind piped up to 25 knots. The weather forecast in both cases called for little or no winds in both days...

- Case