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  1. #1
    Join Date
    Mar 2007
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    Adelaide South Australia
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    76

    Default solvent for silicone

    Is there such a thing?

    My son is making a stand for a fish tank which he aquired complete on ebay. He stored it in the extension I am building and I hit it with a scaffold plank while flushing the plaster board.

    I tried to slice the silicone with a stanely knife but there was not enough gap between the glass and the side panel cracked.

    How can I get these panels apart without destroying the whole thing.
    Don't force it, use a bigger hammer.

    Timber is what you use. Wood is what you burn.

  2. #2
    Join Date
    Feb 2006
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    Lindfield N.S.W.
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    1,644

    Default

    Don't know about a solvent - perhaps ask Selleys etc.

    But I reckon slowly slicing is the answer. I would use a single-sided razor blade to start it off, that should get into any gap! You can find them in the painting section of the hardware store.
    Cheers

    Jeremy
    If it were done when 'tis done, then 'twere well it were done quickly

  3. #3
    Join Date
    Mar 2007
    Location
    Adelaide South Australia
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    76

    Default

    Thanks, I remember those now but I havent seen them for a long time.

    Will check the green shed on the way home tonight
    Don't force it, use a bigger hammer.

    Timber is what you use. Wood is what you burn.

  4. #4
    Join Date
    May 1999
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    Tooradin,Victoria,Australia
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    2,515

    Default

    I think there is a solvent made by Selleys at Bunnings as well.

    Thinners works well too.

  5. #5
    Join Date
    Aug 2007
    Location
    Brisbane
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    0

    Default

    Bunnings do sell a solvent, but I've never used it so don't know how it works. I have had some decent results with orange based spray and wipe, but that was only to remove residue after it had mostly been cut off - not to remove large lumps.

    Peter
    The other day I described to my daughter how to find something in the garage by saying "It's right near my big saw". A few minutes later she came back to ask: "Do you mean the black one, the green one, or the blue one?".

  6. #6
    Join Date
    Dec 2008
    Location
    Eastern Australia
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    60

    Default

    Car paint thinners or failing that, paint striper should burn the blazes out of that.

  7. #7
    Join Date
    Mar 2007
    Location
    Adelaide South Australia
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    76

    Default

    I have never known how to do searches but I noticed the tag at the bottom of the thread and it lead to previous posts of the same problem.

    The sellys product looks to be the go so I'll get some with the razor blades tonight .

    Thanks for all your replies and help.

    Some times I get in a rut and didn't know what to do but talking to others helps me to think outside the square. I feel more confident about tackling this now.
    Don't force it, use a bigger hammer.

    Timber is what you use. Wood is what you burn.

  8. #8
    Join Date
    Feb 2006
    Location
    Perth
    Posts
    1,174

    Default

    Stanley knives are too thick, use a razor blade to separate the parts.

    BTW pure "glacial acetic acid" (GAC) is a good solvent for Silicone and is very useful (but not essential) for cleaning off the remainder. While acetic acid is the basic constituent of vinegar, domestic vinegar is too dilute and full or other crap to work properly.

  9. #9
    Join Date
    Jun 2007
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    North Of The Boarder
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    68
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    0

    Default

    Quote Originally Posted by BobL View Post
    Stanley knives are too thick, use a razor blade to separate the parts.

    BTW pure "glacial acetic acid" (GAC) is a good solvent for Silicone and is very useful (but not essential) for cleaning off the remainder. While acetic acid is the basic constituent of vinegar, domestic vinegar is too dilute and full or other crap to work properly.

    BobL thanks I have been sitting here going back many years when using sealers for windows and I kept coming up Vinegar also brilliant softens it up use the blade and it eats away as you cut/clean it off.

  10. #10
    Join Date
    Mar 2007
    Location
    Adelaide South Australia
    Posts
    76

    Default Just a followup

    I got it apart ok.

    I let the gel sit for 24hrs then used the thin razor. I'm not sure but I think the gel softened the silicone between the glass joints but definately destroyed the bulk of it on the surface.

    An extra trick suggested by my son was silver glide on the razor blade to reduce the drag caused by the silicone.
    Don't force it, use a bigger hammer.

    Timber is what you use. Wood is what you burn.

  11. #11
    Join Date
    Jul 2005
    Location
    Castle Hill
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    60
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    0

    Default Be careful of glacial acetic acid!!

    Quote Originally Posted by BobL View Post
    BTW pure "glacial acetic acid" (GAC) is a good solvent for Silicone and is very useful (but not essential) for cleaning off the remainder. While acetic acid is the basic constituent of vinegar, domestic vinegar is too dilute and full or other crap to work properly.
    Hi Bob,

    I would be careful of GAC, it is dangerous in that you do not know it is doing you harm until some 3 or so hours hs elapsed, and conventional rubber gloves are no protection. I know it smells so strongly that it is unliekly somebody would spend too much time with it, but it is an acid afterall and should be treated with respect....stick with the vinegar.

    Anthony

  12. #12
    Join Date
    Feb 2006
    Location
    Perth
    Posts
    1,174

    Default

    Quote Originally Posted by Luddite View Post
    Hi Bob,

    I would be careful of GAC, it is dangerous in that you do not know it is doing you harm until some 3 or so hours hs elapsed, and conventional rubber gloves are no protection. I know it smells so strongly that it is unliekly somebody would spend too much time with it, but it is an acid afterall and should be treated with respect....stick with the vinegar.

    Anthony
    Sure I expect people would be careful using GAC as they should with all acids and would refer to an appropriate MSDS. I guess I have spent too many years making, distilling and purifying highly concentrated acids including HF, HCl, HClO4 etc so I assume people will do this.

  13. #13
    Join Date
    Jan 2007
    Location
    Perth, WA
    Age
    57
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    0

    Default

    Petrol will turn the silicone to a jelly like substance.

  14. #14
    Join Date
    Nov 2006
    Location
    Bendigo Victoria
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    80
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    4,565

    Default

    Quote Originally Posted by FXST01 View Post
    Petrol will turn the silicone to a jelly like substance.
    Boy, can I confirm that!

    Some years ago we went for an extended trip up to the Birdsville, through Borroloola and Roper bar, the Gulf of Carpentaria, across to the Kimberleys and back down through the Tanami Desert.

    I installed a 100l long range tank under the 4WD and sealed the fuel sender in with silicone. Halfway up the Birdsville changed over to the auxiliary tank and within a few km's the engine started coughing and spluttering. Sounded like fuel, looked in the carbu bowl and it was full of "snot", you guessed ti silicone.

    Wasn't until we got to Mt Isa that I could clean out the system and get a couple of decent (bowl type) fuel filters. All through the trip we still got snotty bits from time to time, they at times actually passed through the paper filters!

  15. #15
    Join Date
    May 1999
    Location
    Tooradin,Victoria,Australia
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    Default

    When it first came out silicone was a major factor in engine failures.

    As it was supposed to be the "be all and end all" of sealing parts, mechanics used it on sumps and various other engine bits. The excess squeezed out inside and clogged the oil pick up.

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