docj Posted October 18, 2018 Report Share Posted October 18, 2018 Most of us are aware of the reasons why we shouldn't use silicone caulk on our RVs---among other things it doesn't adhere to itself if you need to re-caulk and it's very difficult to remove. But even if none of us use the stuff, it's not uncommon for previous owners of our RVs to have used it. However, to my complete surprise I recently discovered that it can be dissolved with the relatively harmless home cleaning product Goo Gone (or one of the other similar "simple orange" products.) Maybe everyone else knew this already, but I don't recall having ever seen it posted. I figured this out while trying to remove caulk from a 40' "drip rail" on my MH. The reasons the caulk is there are unnecessary for this discussion, but I started by using razor blades to remove it from the clearcoated paint. That was reasonably effective but it often left a "gummy" residue and occasional resulted in nicks to the paint. I intended to use the Goo Gone to remove the gummy residue, a task it is intended to be used on, but I began to realize that it also seemed to be dissolving areas of caulk that I hadn't yet tried to remove. At first I thought that maybe the Goo Gone was simply destroying the adhesion between the clear coat and the caulk, but I am now convinced that it really does (relatively slowly) dissolve the caulk itself. It doesn't appear to have any effect on the clearcoat. I was able to complete the caulk removal with far less effort and with no damage to the paint. As I said, maybe this is a well known maintenance trick, but I sure didn't know about it and maybe others don't know it either. Sandie & Joel 2000 40' Beaver Patriot Thunder Princeton--425 HP/1550 ft-lbs CAT C-12 2014 Honda CR-V AWD EX-L with ReadyBrute tow bar/brake systemWiFiRanger Ambassador Follow our adventures on Facebook at Weiss Travels Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hone eagle Posted October 18, 2018 Report Share Posted October 18, 2018 If you ever repaint every single molecule will leave a fish eye in the paint,Its been years now but in the marine paint trade if silicone was used it added thousands to the job.I only use marine grade products on my RV. Polysulfides or polyurethanes by sikins or 3M silicone will always fail if it is stressed in more then 1 plane, if it gets into your sandpaper while say prepping for paint a whole lot of work and materials will go up in smoke. 2005 volvo 670 freedomline singledNewmar Torrey Pine 34rskswoot woot Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dewilso Posted October 18, 2018 Report Share Posted October 18, 2018 Nothing sticks to silly cone. Dave W. KE5GOH Stuck in the 70's --- In E. Texas Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hone eagle Posted October 18, 2018 Report Share Posted October 18, 2018 1 hour ago, dewilso said: Nothing sticks to silly cone. exactly very close to teflon if not identical, just about the worst material to use as a sealant in a situation with any load or movement whatsoever 2005 volvo 670 freedomline singledNewmar Torrey Pine 34rskswoot woot Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Wrknrvr Posted October 19, 2018 Report Share Posted October 19, 2018 If you can find a product at Walmart called Prepsol, by clean strip. It is a cheap version of a cleaner that auto paint persons use to clean before applying auto paint. Auto paint stores should have it , but they may have it in there version which probably will cost more. I put it in a small container so if you spill it ,then you have not lost the whole container. It may not be available in Californie or Arizona. If you wipe it on silicone it will start to wrinkle the edge in a minute ur two. When I use it on silicone I wipe it on first over several feet. Then use a utility knife to cur the thicker part out. Now if the edge is wrinkle you may take a rag and see how it will remove what is wrinkled. It will not hurt auto paint, or fiberglass. I normally will just apply another coat of Prepsol and let it soak that area as you start working farther away. Give it 5 minutes or so and if the silicone is thin it should start wrinkling and also cut much easier. Apply elbow grease as needed,. Vern Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kirk W Posted October 19, 2018 Report Share Posted October 19, 2018 Do you happen to mean Prep-All as it is available from Walmart. Good travelin !...............KirkFull-time 11+ years...... Now seasonal travelers.Kirk & Pam's Great RV Adventure Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
justRich Posted October 19, 2018 Report Share Posted October 19, 2018 21 hours ago, hone eagle said: If you ever repaint every single molecule will leave a fish eye in the paint,Its been years now but in the marine paint trade if silicone was used it added thousands to the job.I only use marine grade products on my RV. Polysulfides or polyurethanes by sikins or 3M silicone will always fail if it is stressed in more then 1 plane, if it gets into your sandpaper while say prepping for paint a whole lot of work and materials will go up in smoke. "Fisheye remover" is an additive used for lacquers and other coatings to prevent fisheye when the surface has been previously contaminated with silicone. ~Rich Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Wrknrvr Posted October 19, 2018 Report Share Posted October 19, 2018 That's it Kirk. I tried to copy from Walmart . But it did not work. Thanks ,. Vern Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
docj Posted October 19, 2018 Author Report Share Posted October 19, 2018 Amazon has it also. Thanks Sandie & Joel 2000 40' Beaver Patriot Thunder Princeton--425 HP/1550 ft-lbs CAT C-12 2014 Honda CR-V AWD EX-L with ReadyBrute tow bar/brake systemWiFiRanger Ambassador Follow our adventures on Facebook at Weiss Travels Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AbdRahim Posted December 4, 2018 Report Share Posted December 4, 2018 Some manufacturers are now using various types of silicone sealers. some are using silicone on the roof instead of Dicor. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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