Removing glue and lettering

Tim M · 17 August 2006, 18:35

I want to remove some lettering from the side of my RIB (its on both sides). It was put on by the previous owner and is quite large and un-sightly and is half peeling off anyway. The problem is if I remove it I'm going to be left with a lot of glue stuck on the tube. Even if I can get the glue off I'm worried the hypalon underneath is going to be a different shade of gray having been covered up for several years.

Can anyone recommend a solution? I think the only way to get rid of it totally is going to be to put a patch over the top, but this is going to notice quite badly. The only method of disguise I can think of is to get more rubbing strake added to the boat, all the way round, to cover up the gluey bit. This is going to cost a fortune though!

Thanks

BogMonster · 17 August 2006, 21:48

I took a patch off and was left with a load of glue stuck to the tube a few months ago, I got it off with a flap sanding wheel on an electric drill. It did a lovely job of getting the glue off, much better than I expected when I started, but the colour difference was very obvious!

Tim M · 18 August 2006, 11:37

Thanks Stephen. Do you have a photo of the finish job?

Will acetone help to get the glue off?

matt h · 18 August 2006, 11:56

have a look at henshaws website in somerset,, they do all the kit to do this sort of thing, including that flapawheel drill thing, good luck

BogMonster · 18 August 2006, 12:07

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tim M

Thanks Stephen. Do you have a photo of the finish job?

Will acetone help to get the glue off?

I don't think so, but I'll have a look tonight....

Tim M · 18 August 2006, 14:44

Ive spent the morning pressure washing the glue off. Ive done four out of the 9 letters and its taking forever. My theory was true and where the letting once was is now a different shade of gray to the rest of the tube. I think Im going to have to get something that goes over the top. I really don't want to put a patch on as it will look odd and the rest of the boat is very tidy. Does anyone know how much it would cost (for someone else to do it) to get extra rubbing strake added above the exsting piece up to the grab-line (so thats probably two or three new pieces).

Tim M · 18 August 2006, 15:46

I found Biggle's old glue removal tip which prompted me to go to the local DIY shop to get a wheel pad thing. Whilst at the shop I descovered the most amazing product for glue removal in the world. Its called "sticker remover" and its made by a company called Hagesan. Its amazing; you simply paint it on with a brush, leave for about a minute, then scrub off with a scotch pad. It's that easy. It look me about 20 mintues to get the rest of the glue off (there was a lot of it) and it looks absolty perfect now. I strongly recomend it. (Ill post some pics shortly)

BogMonster · 18 August 2006, 16:50

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tim M

I found Biggle's old glue removal tip which prompted me to go to the local DIY shop to get a wheel pad thing. Whilst at the shop I descovered the most amazing product for glue removal in the world. Its called "sticker remover" and its made by a company called Hagesan. Its amazing; you simply paint it on with a brush, leave for about a minute, then scrub off with a scotch pad. It's that easy. It look me about 20 mintues to get the rest of the glue off (there was a lot of it) and it looks absolty perfect now. I strongly recomend it. (Ill post some pics shortly)

I'd be a bit concerned pouring something that powerful on to the tubes in case it dissolved them...?

Simon B · 18 August 2006, 16:51

Good man Tim, presumably that was the mess that we made at some point? We're going to put some lettering on the other boat by cutting through two layers of hypalon marquetry style to make one flat sheet.

Tim M · 18 August 2006, 16:51

I was a bit concerned especially as the man in the shop said be careful it might make a hole. Soooo, I tested on a piece of hypalon I had lying around. It was fine

Tim M · 18 August 2006, 16:53

Quote:

Originally Posted by Simon B

Good man Tim, presumably that was the mess that we made at some point? We're going to put some lettering on the other boat by cutting through two layers of hypalon marquetry style to make one flat sheet.

This isn't Neptune. I've recently bought a Ribcraft 4.8 which I intend to take to uni. The previous owner stuck the name in big hypalon letters on the side which I just couldn't live with. It looks great now though

Tim M · 18 August 2006, 19:47

A couple of pics:

Before and after. Im hoping that the fading will be less noticable in a few months once the sun has got the uncovered bits

benc · 18 August 2006, 20:17

Excellent job!

I wonder if some "tube finish refiner" (TFR for short

) would be able to help bring back the tube colour?

Tim M · 18 August 2006, 20:19

I tried some tfr on it but it won't budge. Theres a few years sun on the surrounding fabric so I've just got to wait for it to catch up.

benc · 18 August 2006, 20:22

doh

thats a shame

Looks a darn site better than it did though. Maybe you could put a new name patch over it? do you have a picture which includes more of the boat?

Tim M · 18 August 2006, 21:33

I did consider a name patch. I quite like it plain though:

benc · 18 August 2006, 22:18

I don't think mine look too bad..

Tim M · 18 August 2006, 22:21

Have you just descovered the wonders of TFR?

BogMonster · 18 August 2006, 22:28

Here is a pic I took part way through, you can see how the flap wheel sort of half melts and peels the glue back without really having any effect on the hypalon (I think the amount of pressure is probably quite important though, i.e. not too much) and once I had got it all off it was just slightly roughened for the new patch, which seems to have stuck well enough

Tim M · 18 August 2006, 22:30

For a patch a flap wheel is probably best. The majic stuff wins hands down over any other method for visable bits though.