Replies

1. 
   BillHartmann | Jul 30, 2007 02:11am | #1

   First of all there is not such thing that I have found that is silicone caulk remover.

   There are chemical tht will break it down and help clean it off. But it don't work like paint remover.

   You still want o scrap and clean off the bulk and then use the "remover" to HELP get off the traces.

   I found LiftOff (I believe that it is called Caulk and Foam Remover - also works on Great Stuff) fairly good.

   Lowes has it in by the solvents and paint removers. Next to Goof Off and the like.

   They have other one in the caulk department, but that says you have to wait 12 hours.

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   A-holes. Hey every group has to have one. And I have been elected to be the one. I should make that my tagline.
1. 
   MarkH | Jul 30, 2007 04:15am | #2

   This sounds like silicone caulk remover to me.

   http://www.amtexchemical.com/images/Amtex-CCR_Data_Sheet.doc

1. 
   BillHartmann | Jul 30, 2007 04:25am | #3

   Yes, it does. If you want to wait 8 hours.Old, cured caulks will require a contact time with the Amtex-CCR of 30 minutes to 8 hours to dissolve. There are two methods that are useful to insure contact time. One is to keep a cloth wet with Amtex-CCR in contact with the caulk. The second is to form a dam out of modeling clay around the area to be cleaned and pour the Amtex-CCR in to this form. Another trick is to shave down the silicone caulk with a knife or razor and then use the Amtex-CCR to dissolve the remainder of the caulk. This greatly decreases the contact time required with the Amtex-CCR. http://www.amtexchemical.com/siliconeremoval/caulkremoval.htmlWhich is basically what I said about the LiftOff.Don't think that waiting 8 hours is really a disolver..
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   A-holes. Hey every group has to have one. And I have been elected to be the one. I should make that my tagline.

1. 
   MarkH | Jul 30, 2007 05:11am | #4

   I used to remove silicone from liquid cooled heat exchangers on projection CRTs by soaking them 24 or so hours in mineral spirits.  So-so results, but it worked.  The silicone really expanded.

1. 
   BillHartmann | Jul 30, 2007 07:34am | #5

   I think that is basically what all of the "removers" do.In the past I have used Goof Off. And it works similarly. It leaves it like gummy worms.But this is for bathrooms and often for customers so I can't leave it soak for 24 hours. So again it is cutting, pealing, and scraping to get the bulk off. Then use the "remover".Most distalate would perform similary. I remember that when RTV first came out people tried using it on carborators and found that RTV expands with distalates.The LiftOff MSDS is label water based/Biodegrable. But the MSDS shows actetone. But it does not have the smell or the feel for acetone.It seems to be a little faster than the Goof Off and it makes it more like slime that gummy worms. But it still works on small amounts at a time. .
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   A-holes. Hey every group has to have one. And I have been elected to be the one. I should make that my tagline.

2. 
   jyang949 | Jul 31, 2007 10:05pm | #6

   The Amtex stuff sounds like what I need to get the last remnants off. Called the company and they said it is only available directly from them. I went ahead and ordered it. Frightfully expensive ($40 a quart) but, hey, Bob Vila recommends it.Janet