removing old bonding sealants

[paulh123]

Hi forum font of knowledge,

I've had to remove my awning rail as it looks like there may be issues with new office parking at 6'-6" height limit. First up I though it was as simple as removing the two bolts from each bracket bolted to rivnuts in the van roof. Removed bolts but it would not budge. Managed to remove awning rail by drilling out the pop rivets holding the awning bar to the brackets. Looked all around the bracket and there was no hidden fixings so deduced it must also be bonded to the van roof. Eventually worked out that levering the brackets up through the rivet holes was enough to open a gap which I wedged open and then carefully cut the bonding as it opened up more with levering. Brackets are now removed and I've not yet damaged the roof. But......................how do I now get the old bonding sealant off the roof. Perhaps some heat, cleaner, more cutting etc (or combination of all 3). I'd appreciate some guidance from anyone who has actually done this or similar (spoiler removal?) so I can go at it safely without risk of damage to the paintwork. Thanks in advance for the benefit of any experience given

 

[Sasquatch]

Carefully get as much of as you can by hand, and then use a PU solvent (choose one for PU that has cured) to dissolve the rest. Its a bit of a job, but youll get there.

If whoever fitted it followed instructions they will have keyed the paintwork underneath before applying the adhesive, someone might end up simply revealing damaged paint.

 

[paulh123]

Carefully get as much of as you can by hand, and then use a PU solvent (choose one for PU that has cured) to dissolve the rest. Its a bit of a job, but youll get there.

If whoever fitted it followed instructions they will have keyed the paintwork underneath before applying the adhesive, someone might end up simply revealing damaged paint.

Thanks Sasquatch, kind of what I thought but thanks for the guidance on the PU solvent

 

[Stay Frosty]

Might not hurt to cover the surrounding area with masking tape.
uPVC window frame cleaning solvent which smells like cellulose thinners might have a go at that adhesive, possibly nail varnish remover acetone too, just keep an eye that whatever you use doesn't start to attack the clear coat.
Just thought and I think Lee @Dellmassive used a toffee wheel to get the adhesive from a flexi solar panel off of his painted camper roof.

 

[Sasquatch]

Ooh, good idea, a de gumming wheel will get some off.

 

[Bertrum]

Braided nylon fishing line helps to get that off using a sawing motion.

 

[PhillH]

Toffee / caramel wheels are really good but you will need to get as much off as you can first without going near the paint. Try a decorators knife or Stanley knife blade.

 

[Touchwood]

To get most of it off, try slicing with a naked Stanley knife blade, holding it flat and slightly twisting from side to side you can get very close to the paint surface. Flat is the answer, as its about 1mm thick with a double bevel knife edge so will leave about 0.5mm on the surface and you should be able to pick the rest off.

 

[paulh123]

Thanks all for your advice. It's all off now. Just to close the thread - Took a couple of hours by (1) cutting it down as thin as possible with a stanley knife, (2) soaking gum in isopropyl and scraping off with plastic razor blades. This then left, under the bonding, a black etching primer on the paintwork which was then (3) taken off with t-cut on a green scouring pad. Luckily no damage to paint. @Touchwood - I would not have liked to tackle the full width of a tailgate like that! That's a lot of work!

 

[ChestnutBrown]

T-Cut and a Scouring Pad.