Removing paint from GRP
Printed From: Yachts and Yachting Online
Category: General
Forum Name: Repair & maintenance
Forum Discription: Questions & tips on the subject
URL: http://www.yachtsandyachting.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=10925
Printed Date: 14 May 25 at 1:02pm
Software Version: Web Wiz Forums 9.665y - http://www.webwizforums.com
Topic: Removing paint from GRP
Posted By: Andymac
Subject: Removing paint from GRP
Date Posted: 19 Jun 13 at 3:47am
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Has anyone got any suggestions for removing paint from gelcoat... The issue is that a previous owner has painted the textured deck of a Laser with a non-slip paint (exact product not known). If it had been a smooth gelcoat base underneath, then maybe it could have been scraped off in bulk, then wet and dried and polished back to original gelcoat... However how could I go about it whilst preserving the original dimpled gelcoat? I was thinking some sort of solvent which would lift the paint but leave the gelcoat intact. Would something like Nitromors damage gelcoat? |
Replies:
Posted By: Rupert
Date Posted: 19 Jun 13 at 8:49am
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A vague memory that there used to be a Nitromors for plastic, but whether it still exists, I don't know. Do you know why it was painted in the first place, and whether it was sanded back before the job was done, therefore removing much of the pattern anyway? ------------- Firefly 2324, Puffin 229, Minisail 3446 Mirror 70686 |
Posted By: JimC
Date Posted: 19 Jun 13 at 10:20am
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I fear most solvents that are going to lift a modern high performance paint are also going to attack a polyester based gel coat. If you knew what paint had been used you could contact the supplier and ask for suggestions, but these things can be suprisingly specific. This is the sort of thing that industrial chemists spend a lot of time over. I used to do a bit of that thirty years ago, but would be hopelessly out of date now even if I could remember specifics.
Sometimes it just isn't possible: I recall when the lab I was in was given a requirement to remove heavy duty nylon coating from delicate cheap aluminium alloy components. Back then we could think of no technology to do it (maybe things are different now). The MD refused to let us send out our spoof report recommending dissolving out the aluminium and reclaiming it... |
Posted By: alstorer
Date Posted: 19 Jun 13 at 11:07am
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As Jim sort of says,there's a good chance the paint used is actually more chemically resistant than the the underlying polyester- partly because cheap polyester as used to build lasers really isn't that resistant to much. ------------- -_ Al |
Posted By: Neptune
Date Posted: 19 Jun 13 at 11:39am
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I suspect its more than you want to spend (circa a few hundred pounds), but most good repair workshops will be able to re-spray the gelcoat on the decks and re-apply the grip. ------------- Musto Skiff and Solo sailor |
Posted By: Andymac
Date Posted: 20 Jun 13 at 12:37am
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Thanks all, Pretty much the answers I was expecting. I think I'll leave it well alone...
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Posted By: iGRF
Date Posted: 20 Jun 13 at 10:19am
Far be it from me not to weigh in with the suggestion of a good old blow torch...  ------------- https://www.corekite.co.uk/snow-accessories-11-c.asp" rel="nofollow - Snow Equipment Deals https://www.corekite.co.uk" rel="nofollow - New Core Kite website |
Posted By: RS400atC
Date Posted: 20 Jun 13 at 11:26am
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Chandlers sell special paint strippers for use on GRP. 'Dilunett' is one, not sure of spelling. Mostly used to take off antifoul. Brake fluid works for some paint on some plastics..... Wet and dry paper is the normal way.
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Posted By: Andymac
Date Posted: 21 Jun 13 at 6:50pm
Dilunett, thanks for that; http://www.leisureshopdirect.com/caravan/gas/deks_olje_boating_wood_paint/dilunett_gel_paint_and_varnish_remover.aspx" rel="nofollow - http://www.leisureshopdirect.com/caravan/gas/deks_olje_boating_wood_paint/dilunett_gel_paint_and_varnish_remover.aspx I think I'll pass on the brake fluid for now. Yep, wet and dry (after scraping as much off) would have been my preferred method if the gelcoat base was flat, but I need to preserve the textured finish as best as possible.
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