In the midst of stripping an exterior door frame on my older home (built 1915), I
>ran across some stubborn caulking that I can soften with a heat
gun >but cannot remove. The caulking material is a very dark brown and
looks >almost like wax. It is very unsightly as it sticks to the bricks surrounding my door frame, but will also, I believe, get in the way when I try to apply new caulking. Does anyone have any suggestions for its removal? Is there a product that I can use? I have tried caulking remover (for silicon products) but it had very little effect. I
>would also like to know how to remove old paint splatters from brick.
>Any advise would be greatly appreciated,
Thanks,
Mary
Replies
There's no telling. Everything and its brother has been used for caulk over the years, and sometimes a HO or even a pro would use something not exactly intended for the purpose. But if heat seems to soften it then I'd try a nasty MEK-based gel paint remover.
Thanks Dan,
for your advise. What is a MEK- based gel paint remover, or rather how should I ask for this in the hardware store?
Mary
Methyl Ethyl Ketone -- A fairly noxious solvent that's used in some paint strippers. Basically, anything that ISN'T "ecological" or "natural" or "no gloves required" is likely to contain this. Often lye is also present, adding to the need for gloves. (Read the warning label -- if it says "Warning: Contains methyl ethyl ketone," that's what you want.)Sorry, don't recall any brand names offhand.The gel-type stripper stays where you put it, more or less, vs a pure liquid, and lets you put it on a bit thicker. It should say on the can that it's "gel" or "thick" or some such.Use heavy rubber gloves, and goggles if you're likely to splatter. Cover everything you value with plastic, as the stuff will take the finish off of most anything, and if it contains lye will even etch metal. Apply with a cheap natural bristle brush (the ones they sell out of buckets for 99 cents). Try to avoid breathing too many of the fumes, as it will rot your liver (and worse).Be sure to rinse everything per instructions on the can before painting or whatever.
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Hi Dan,
This sounds like scarey stuff - I appreciate all your instructions! I'll give this a try and hopefully get back to my real project (painting the porch).
Thanks for your help,
Mary
ML, I would assume you don't have one of these tools, but in the event you do, or perhaps (doubtful) you could rent it: Fein Multimaster with their stiff scraper blade. You can cut out the caulk in minutes, running the blade up (or down), flat on the brick-it cuts into the caulk, separating it from the brick. Then run it up the face of the casing (or at an angle back into the caulk). Then grab onto an end of caulk, and pull the pc. out.
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Thanks,
I have most of the caulk out at this point, just trying to clean up the residue that's left on the brick....
Mary
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Depending on what part of the country you are from there is Rock Miracle paint remover or Jasco paint stripper. Those will eat through just about anything
Thanks. Hopefully they won't eat through the brick I'm trying to clean!
Mary
If heat makes it soft you might try freezing it.
A lot of materials will get brittle and can easly be chipped.
http://www.radioshack.com/product/index.jsp?productId=2102648&cp=&origkw=cooler&kw=cooler&parentPage=search
But that can get expensive.
Dryice will work, but it will be difficult keeping it in place long enough. And not freezing your finger at the sametime.
If you can get a CO2 fire extinguisher I believe that they can be used.
Thanks for the suggestion, Bill. I'm going to try some chemicals that other discussants recommended as there is not a whole lot of the caulking left. Next time, though, I'll try the cold approach first. I suspect it would be a lot cleaner,
Mary