GT6ixer

Methyl Ethyl Keytone, MEK. Used on aircraft to get off some real nasty stuff. Wear gloves and respirator if you use it. If MEK doesn't work then call NASA because whatever that stuff is it is from another planet.

78Silver928

Use Naptha. Available at any hardware store paint section. Essentially lighter fluid, but won't attack paint. I've used it for cleaning many things on painted surfaces.

chart928s4

This is a great thread. Since I make a lot of mistakes, I have a few data points on solvents to correct them.

Seems like this is butyl or asphalt based adhesive. If so:

- Goof-Off is my goto cleaner for anything stuck to a material the Goof-Off won't also dissolve. Xylene and toluene are the main ingredients of Goof-Off. It really works on old glue, but don't breathe it. Haven't tried it on butyl but I think it would work. Goof-Off is OK on paint and ABS up to a point - test first.
- d-limonene (Northwoods) is a killer degreaser and also works great on hands. Gojo orange hand cleaner, Tub o' Towels, Zep Heavy Duty Citrus Degreaser, and many other "citrus" cleaners that I've seen use this. I don't think it will work for butyl though.
- Benzene was what we used in my youth to clean printing presses. Now it's outlawed in California but still available some places. It removes printers ink (which is rubber based) so thoroughly you wouldn't even know it was there. It is one of the ingredients that makes gasoline a great solvent also.
- Stuff that hasn't worked: Acetone and MEK both dissolve a lot of things, especially styrene plastic and enamel, but I haven't had much luck on using them to remove glue. Same with Brakleen Red (perchloroethylene, the dry cleaners "perc", also now outlawed in a few places). Varsol, naphtha, and other mineral spirits all work up to a point on organic adhesives and are somewhat easier on the lungs, but overall better for degreasing and paint thinning.

One thing that I've seen work with butyl is to freeze the stuff with dry ice or liquid nitrogen (a can of cold spray might work) and carefully chip it off.

However, I have never found anything that will remove silicone sealer and if that's what Randy's black stuff is I hope someone can make a good suggestion.

Randy V

OK, it sounds like the general consensus is to use naphtha / mineral spirits / varsol.

Will give it a go and report back!

kiwiokie

Chemtool carb cleaner spray worked for me.

dr bob

Toluene, benzene,perchloroethylene, trichloroethylene are all on the EPA sh!tlists as known carcinogens. They are all obviously fat-soluble and migrate quickly through virtually any body surface (eyes, mouth/nose/lungs, skin) even as vapor, so aren't something you'd want to use on purpose. They cause permanent nerve/brain damage when absorbed, simple as that. Even relatively stable Goof-Off comes with some serious skin-contact warnings.

There are many common solvents that have similar properties but just haven't made the list yet. Yet. MEK is high on that candidate list. Great stuff, does a fabulous job removing almost any organic contaminant from hard surfaces. But does the same to your innards where everything looks like an "organic contaminant".

Full-face mask with separate air supply if a basic guidance. Thick rubber or neoprene gloves. No latex or nitrile painter's gloves thank you. Work outside. Don't inhale, mr prezadent!

GeorgeM

I'll second Oil-Flo. Great stuff and safe on paint.

Randy V

Mineral spirits, aka paint thinner - NOT lacquer thinner - did the trick.

Wore basic mechanic's nitrile gloves to no ill effect.= -= not dissolved by mineral spirits.

Cut through the black snot with no harm to the paint or the vinyl.

Thanks all!