Sikaflex removal (2 Viewers)

Scattycat

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Jan 3, 2013
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Mayenne, France
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I've just got my new satellite system and need to remove the old Sikaflex from the roof of the van.
Any ideas of the best way to do this?

Thanks
 

TheBig1

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Nov 27, 2011
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many many years! since I was a kid
single edged razor blade or glass scraper is the best way i have found. its not designed to peel off easily
 

Terry

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Dec 27, 2007
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Hi I have a sharpened 3 ins scraper and a piece of wire with handle s on to cut loose what ever if you cannot get the scraper to do it ---a bit like a cheese wire
terry
 

JeanLuc

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Nov 17, 2008
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You can buy silicone remover from places like screfix and B&Q. Not sure how well it works on Sika because never had to use it

Sikaflex is not made from silicone, in fact it is specified as silicone-free, so a silicone remover wll not touch it. Both Sika 221 and 512(Caravan) are made from polyurethane. According to the product data sheets, once cured, the only way to remove it is 'mechanical' - i.e. cut it off.
 

Silver Tourist

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Firstly it will probably make more of a mess than it already is , if you remove it mechanically it will more than likely chip the paint off the roof panel.
Secondly , I suggest you leave it alone , after all no one except you will ever see it on the roof and if you sell it you would be very unlucky to find a buyer that makes an issue of it.
 

jollyrodger

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As previous I use a very sharp old wood chisel ...delicately .residues can be cleaned with cloth white spirit and small amount of acetone ,re-sica with new unit clean new residue excess with white spirit jobs a good-un and of course a bit of elbow grease(y)

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Last edited:
Aug 6, 2013
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As previous I use a very sharp old wood chisel ...delicately .residues can be cleaned with cloth white spirit and small amount of acetone ,re-sica with new unit clean new residue excess with white spirit jobs a good-un and of course a bit of elbow grease(y)
The point about a very sharp wood chisel as opposed to a craft knife is that if used ground face down you get very good control over how far above the surface you are cutting (a bit like woodwork really :whistle2:). It takes a few attempts to get close to the roof surface but it's easy & doesn't do damage.
 

Techno

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Rapido has a anti hail coat that is not flat unfortunately it's like a herring bone pattern for want of a better description. Personally I would get it as flat as possible and put a large square plate over the whole area that will make a better foundation for the new sat.
 

Techno

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Firstly it will probably make more of a mess than it already is , if you remove it mechanically it will more than likely chip the paint off the roof panel.
Secondly , I suggest you leave it alone , after all no one except you will ever see it on the roof and if you sell it you would be very unlucky to find a buyer that makes an issue of it.
It's not painted on this van but GRP anti hail skin

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Jan 19, 2013
132
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since 2010
I agree with the sharp wood chisel method ….. have had lots of experience removing sikaflex from boats and less so from motorhomes. For the final removal of the residual excess etc …. I have always used cellulose thinners. (this may also remove any colour from the substrate material however) but on the roof unlikely to be a problem.
 

Kevan

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Jan 18, 2014
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Ditto: the wood chisel wider the better; removed my solar panels with cheese cutter wire (easy to buy car windscreen fitters use it to remove old screen) then bought cheap chisel from BQ
removed all residue without scratching paint, final clean with lighter fuel and clean cloth.
 

f6c

Nov 7, 2010
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Do you have to remove it? What about a paint over?

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Glandwr

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Jul 10, 2014
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Watched a Spanish dealer take some off last month. He was using a especially sharpened 3inch wide paint scraper that he periodically honed. Driving it gently, flexed flat, with a mallet he made short work of it and left almost the original surface. It was so sharp that you could have shaved with it.

Dick
 

Techno

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Good Alan but be aware it is only for removing "uncured" adhesive

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Jul 12, 2013
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I noticed that but people continued referring to the same product as part of a cleaning process, perhaps it takes a long time to cure right through.

Alan
 

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