Removing Epoxy?

[albacore471]

The albacore project continues thank you all for the help so far. My current hurdle is removing what appears to be a very tough epoxy with a sand component in it from the interior hull bottom. The plan is to remove that coating and replace it with a clear coating (varnish) that will allow visual monitoring of the interior hull for water or damage. Problem is I cant get this stuff off, heat gun works but there is concern about damage to the plywood (mahagony)during the process. I have tried 2 strippers one "healthy" and one very strong that listed epoxy as something it removes and no luck. 2 applications 1/2 hour wait each time and nothing. Any thoughts????

[Jim Budde]

just a thought, but you might try a hair dryer if area is not too great. On medium it would run a little lower temp than heat gun but I suspect sufficient to loosen epoxy.

[Scott Rosen]

I was thinking the same as Jim. Epoxy gets progressively softer the hotter you heat it. If you have a variable temp heat gun, set it low--just warm enough to soften the stuff but not enogh to make it bubble and lift, and then go at the epoxy with an old utility chisel, bevel down.

If you're a glutton for punishment, you can use sandpaper.

[Scott Rosen]

P.S. I've taken a heat gun to mohog. plywood, very hot, with never a problem.

[Keith Wilson]

Heat, definitely, just like stripping paint. Use a real heat gun, not a hair dryer; the Chinese ones for $25 work as well as anything. I'd start with a good paint scraper, carbide or the "Pro-prep" type, and use an old chisel if that doesn't work.

Don't worry about damaging the plywood; I've used this method for years for cleaning up drips and runs, and I've never seen the slightest damage. Wood is a very good insulator, so the moderate heat necessary to soften the epoxy doesn't penetrate very far, and the glue used for marine or exterior plywood is just about impervious to temperatures that won't burn the wood.

It's not very quick or pleasant, but it beats the alternatives by far.

[ 10-15-2004, 03:52 PM: Message edited by: Keith Wilson ]

[Kev Smyth]

I agree with Keith- it's hard to really damage the ply. I've found a propane torch with a flame spreader tip to be best for the really nasty stuff, but it may scorch the ply a bit until you get the correct pace down.

Work the material in strips 4-5" wide at most, and angle the flame so that it pre-heats the area ahead of where you're currently working.

Wear a respirator. Commit to doing a given amount each day, when you're fresh and fully up to speed. Pushing past your limits leads to mistakes and aggravation.

A light sanding when done will remove much of the scorching- it is typically only surface fibers unless you stopped paying attention.

[paul oman]

The one chemical stripper we've found that works on epoxy is called
Aircraft Remover - sold at walmart and auto part stores

paul oman
progressive epoxy polymers
www.epoxyproducts.com/marine.html (http://www.epoxyproducts.com/marine.html)

[Kev Smyth]

I've used Aircraft stripper (it's a brand name) on a regular basis. Be aware that if you use it on a warm day in an at all enclosed space you will be one very sick puppy. 'Nuff said. And it still won't be as fast as heat and a scrapper, not to mention the potential for future finish adhesion problems. It is designed to be used on metal surfaces and washed off with liberal amounts of soap and water, a bit different from your wood boat.

Outside, on the bottom of an over-turned boat,.... maybe.