Removing surplus undried epoxy

[Paul75Participant @paul75]

Dear All.

I'm asking this question in anticipation of a potential problem.

I'm about to epoxy some parts to a GRP hull and the epoxy pack I've bought comes with no instructions about how to remove surplus mixed resin from the surface before it dries. Are there any special solvents required to remove any surplus epoxy? The glueing will be done to the outside of the hull so the cosmetic finish is a priority consideration here.

Many thanks,

Paul.

[Paul75Participant @paul75]

[LARRY WHETTONParticipant @larrywhetton68737]

Hi Paul,

mask of surounding areas , and dont over do epoxy, any surplus can be scraped of while semmi tacky ,

if hard with care you can remove with warmed up stanley knife blade or old chisel ,

not to hot i use my blow torch for heat scoures cheers Larry….

[Colin MillerParticipant @colinmiller68338]

I have NOT tried this yet,

but read that white vinegar will wipe off excess epoxy.

it was in an article of someone epoxying brass photo etch deck to a GRP moulding

i have to do the same build and was going to give it a go but I still have a while before I am at that stage

[Paul TParticipant @pault84577]

You can remove dried epoxy by freezing it.

Use a plumbing freezing spray on the offending piece of glue and tap it with a screwdriver blade, it should come free quite easily.

[John Thornton 1Participant @johnthornton1]

If you catch it before it begins to dry, you can wipe off any excess with a damp cloth.

Edited By John Thornton 1 on 15/09/2013 14:26:40

[Dave MilbournParticipant @davemilbourn48782]

Standard Thinners works for me. It's my stand-by for just about any job requiring clean up with a solvent and is as cheap as chips if you buy a 5L can from the local auto-paint shop. Do check on the surface you're cleaning first – it can dissolve more than just the unwanted gunk.
Dave M

[Keith LongParticipant @keithlong89920]

I've used meths. surgical spirits and white spirt for this sort of clean up. Generally they are a bit kinder to existing finishes as well. The trick is to get as much of the surplus off with a spatula first, then a wipe over with kitchen paper wetted with your favourite solvent and then rewipe it with some clean kitchen paper again wetted with solvent to make sure you get any smears off as well. I've done this on polished wooden articles and it works well. Only thing to watch if you're using the quick setting type epoxies, by the time your sure everything you want to stick is in it's right place and isn't going to move the stuff you want to get off is also going to be well on it's way to setting, so make sure all your materials are ready to hand before you start.

As others have said, before the epoxy goes off completely (overnight usually) and is still curing even though it has gelled, you can easily cut the surplus away with a Stanley knife blade or scalpel. It's often the quickest neatest way of cleaning up I find.

Keith

[Paul75Participant @paul75]

Thank you for your replies. I'll try to be as neat as possible with the epoxying but at least I should be able to remove any excess following your sound advice.

Thanks again,

Paul.

[Howard MainParticipant @howardmain91592]

Hi Paul,

I use acetone for hull and any tools,

Regards Howard.

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