Arthur Marshall Posted May 29, 2020 Report Share Posted May 29, 2020 I made the mistake twenty years ago of painting the front deck with bitumen and then just bunging more on top. I'm now trying to get it off... Any ideas? Sanding disks clog up in seconds and it's stuck too well to scrape. I can't use anything too vile as some is bound to end up in the water. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mrsmelly Posted May 29, 2020 Report Share Posted May 29, 2020 You need a scabbler, will do it very quickly. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
matty40s Posted May 29, 2020 Report Share Posted May 29, 2020 1 minute ago, mrsmelly said: You need a scabbler, will do it very quickly. Scabblers will just stir up a sticky mess in this weather, the teeth will not enjoy it. White spirit and scrapers might be your best bet, and make sure you have plenty of hot water for regular showers. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GUMPY Posted May 29, 2020 Report Share Posted May 29, 2020 Just now, matty40s said: Scabblers will just stir up a sticky mess in this weather, the teeth will not enjoy it. White spirit and scrapers might be your best bet, and make sure you have plenty of hot water for regular showers. Or possibly diesel, seems to do a good job when its on the water. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mrsmelly Posted May 29, 2020 Report Share Posted May 29, 2020 2 minutes ago, matty40s said: Scabblers will just stir up a sticky mess in this weather, the teeth will not enjoy it. White spirit and scrapers might be your best bet, and make sure you have plenty of hot water for regular showers. Ahh, a good excuse not to do it then, too hot this weather and too cold and rainy int winter Oy Matty look what I've got ? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Martin Nicholas Posted May 29, 2020 Report Share Posted May 29, 2020 (edited) Try one of those vibrating multi-tool things with the knife attachment. Perhaps use a knife or chisel to do a small test first. My Lidl special made short work of some PU sealer that needed removing. I expect you will have to use some solvent to get the last bits off. Edited May 29, 2020 by Martin Nicholas speling 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Arthur Marshall Posted May 29, 2020 Author Report Share Posted May 29, 2020 Thanks all. It's giving me something to do... 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mrsmelly Posted May 29, 2020 Report Share Posted May 29, 2020 Just now, Arthur Marshall said: Thanks all. It's giving me something to do... Plenty of stuff to do on mine if yer bored ? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Arthur Marshall Posted May 29, 2020 Author Report Share Posted May 29, 2020 8 minutes ago, mrsmelly said: Plenty of stuff to do on mine if yer bored ? Such a shame I'm not allowed to travel... 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GUMPY Posted May 29, 2020 Report Share Posted May 29, 2020 Just remembered When I had to remove tiles that were stuck down with a layer of bitumen I used a pole scraper and a heat gun, lifted easily once hot and almost all of the bitumen scraped off the concrete. https://www.wickes.co.uk/Wickes-Professional-Heavy-Duty-Scraper-150mm/p/190002 https://www.wickes.co.uk/Wickes-Multi-purpose-Heat-Gun-with-Nozzles-2000W/p/141163 Only downside is it needs power Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
matty40s Posted May 29, 2020 Report Share Posted May 29, 2020 56 minutes ago, mrsmelly said: Ahh, a good excuse not to do it then, too hot this weather and too cold and rainy int winter Oy Matty look what I've got ? 5 litres would only do one side of my proper sized boat, probably enough for 2 coats of yours though...? 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
David Mack Posted May 29, 2020 Report Share Posted May 29, 2020 I have cleaned bitumen of the hull using a wire cup brush on an angle grinder. It does tend to melt, but the wire brush flings it all clear and you end up with a clean polished steel surface to recoat with the blacking or paint of your choice. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Slim Posted May 29, 2020 Report Share Posted May 29, 2020 I removed years of bitumen off the hull of VS using a scrabbler. True, the teeth tended to 'gum' up but I found that a tray of white spirit and an old paint brush cleaned them up in seconds. It took me a day to do a 55' hull. 5 years down the line I need to strip the roof after a rip off professional 'back to metal' re-paint. I've already tried a wire wheel on a 4.5" grinder (slow and v dusty) and 40 grit pad on a 150mm DA sander (very slow and very heavy on discs, maybe 200-300 to do roof) I've ordered a 140mm scrabber off e bay for £125. If needed replacement teeth are £75. Will it work? Don't know. Is it worth the gamble? Yes 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Onewheeler Posted May 30, 2020 Report Share Posted May 30, 2020 Similar problem on our share. The front deck was bitumen coated in the eighties, and has since had umpteen coats of oil paint. It lasts a few months then peels. Hoping to get a quote for scrabbling (must look that up in the French dictionary) if we ever get her to the boatyard for her dry docking. The steel is far too uneven for scraping. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
David Mack Posted May 30, 2020 Report Share Posted May 30, 2020 (edited) 31 minutes ago, Onewheeler said: Similar problem on our share. The front deck was bitumen coated in the eighties, and has since had umpteen coats of oil paint. It lasts a few months then peels. Hoping to get a quote for scrabbling (must look that up in the French dictionary) if we ever get her to the boatyard for her dry docking. The steel is far too uneven for scraping. You'll probably find much of the lumpiness is in the paint. The steel underneath may be pretty smooth. A flap wheel in an angle grinder will be a bit slow, but will get rid of the paint and bitumen and leave a smooth surface in unpitted areas. Edited May 30, 2020 by David Mack Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Onewheeler Posted May 30, 2020 Report Share Posted May 30, 2020 Nope, it's nigh on 100 years old and has had a hard life. Well-dimpled. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wiltshirewonderer Posted May 30, 2020 Report Share Posted May 30, 2020 Have you tried a carbide blade paint scraper? I used something like this then a soak of paraffin & lots of rags for a similar job. Only downside is that the paraffin then needs thoroughly removing to stop paint adherence issues (I used a blowtorch and then multiple cycles of white spirit, detergent, water....) https://www.amazon.co.uk/Bahco-Carbide-Edged-Paint-Scraper/dp/B000288LP6 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mike Adams Posted May 30, 2020 Report Share Posted May 30, 2020 I have used a chisel bit in a SDS drill (cheepo from screwfix) but I found it best to do it when it is very cold(frosty). It comes off easily when cold and is not difficult to clear up. I am afraid this is not very helpful at this time of year anthing else seems to end in a sticky mess. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
matty40s Posted May 30, 2020 Report Share Posted May 30, 2020 Just now, Mike Adams said: I have used a chisel bit in a SDS drill (cheepo from screwfix) but I found it best to do it when it is very cold(frosty). It comes off easily when cold and is not difficult to clear up. I am afraid this is not very helpful at this time of year anthing else seems to end in a sticky mess. Which is why I didnt recommend a scabbler in these temps. We so use a scabbler on bitumen.....but not above 20celsius... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
blackrose Posted June 1, 2020 Report Share Posted June 1, 2020 Mini angle grinder and some of these, leather gloves, ear defenders and good eye protection. You'll need to give it all a decent vacuum afterwards too and get rid of all the loose wire bristles. Use a sidehandle and keep the cable well away from the wire wheel. Ebay has the best deals and some of these aren't bad quality. https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/4pc-Twist-Knot-Semi-Flat-Wire-Wheel-Cup-Brush-Kit-To-Fit-115mm-Angle-Grinder-Set/283552128312?epid=6035827351&hash=item4205061d38:g:XhUAAOSw9yldMF6i Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BWM Posted June 1, 2020 Report Share Posted June 1, 2020 One of those 4" Stanley blade scrapers will do the job, if done in warm weather it won't be crispy and end up all over you. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Arthur Marshall Posted June 1, 2020 Author Report Share Posted June 1, 2020 I'm using a combination of scraper and grinder attachment, got a wire brush attachment now to try out. Unfortunately did my back in last week doing it so have lost a few days. But still a month to go before liberation. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jonesthenuke Posted June 1, 2020 Report Share Posted June 1, 2020 Dry ice blasting would be an industrial solution. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Arthur Marshall Posted June 1, 2020 Author Report Share Posted June 1, 2020 22 minutes ago, jonesthenuke said: Dry ice blasting would be an industrial solution. Would probably do my back good too... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
WotEver Posted June 1, 2020 Report Share Posted June 1, 2020 22 minutes ago, Arthur Marshall said: Would probably do my back good too... Well, it’d make it cold if nowt else... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Featured Posts
Create an account or sign in to comment
You need to be a member in order to leave a comment
Create an account
Sign up for a new account in our community. It's easy!
Register a new accountSign in
Already have an account? Sign in here.
Sign In Now