Is it safe to use ACETONE to remove built up / excess wax (Collinite) from gel coat ? Or should I use a automotive wax and grease remover (Prep Sol) ?
Removal of excess wax
- Thread starter Dasch Boat
- Start date
You can use acetone. It may dull the gelcoat, but it won't be permanent. Just a little polish/wax will take care of it.
But, before you do that - try putting more wax on and then take it off before it drys. Are you using the gel or paste wax?
EDIT: After reading Kazie's post, it dawned on me... are you removing excess wax from a recent wax job you did, or is this wax that has been sitting on there for some time?
But, before you do that - try putting more wax on and then take it off before it drys. Are you using the gel or paste wax?
EDIT: After reading Kazie's post, it dawned on me... are you removing excess wax from a recent wax job you did, or is this wax that has been sitting on there for some time?
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kazie
Member
Use Interlux 202 Fiberglass Solvent Wash or Pettit 95 Fiberglass Dewaxer and have plenty of clean towels to remove old wax/ polishes. When I purchased a 4 year old 29' dancer I wanted to remove the old wax / polishes on the boat. I used the Interlux 202 which suspends old wax/polish so that it can be wiped from the surface before it dries. Acetone will dry faster than you can wipe off old wax or polish.
33ec
New Member
- Mar 31, 2010
- 86
- Boat Info
- twin detroit 671 TI Westerbeke 11kw 1987/2002. full tower. Saturn 11' inflatable
- Engines
- Detroit 2 strokes. rebuilt
correct . acetone will work fine. dries fast . wipe on and wipe off. do small area's. you may need to compound or use a cleaner wax to get back the very high grade shine after using it. most body shop guy's use acetone on both automotive as well as gelcoat applications to remove wax.
have fun.
have fun.
Nehalennia
Well-Known Member
- Aug 22, 2007
- 10,006
- Boat Info
- 2001 310DA twin 350 MAGs, Westerbeke 4.5KW
- Engines
- Twin 350 MAG V-drives
Wash the boat with Simple Green and a soft brush. It will clean it off and then reapply a polish followed by a wax. Just make sure it gets removed this time.
sbw1
Well-Known Member
- Oct 10, 2006
- 8,189
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Dawn dish washing detergent works well as a wax remover too. It's lots easier on you than acetone. I believe acetone is absorbed through the skin and by your lungs and causes headaches and loss of strength when used for extended periods of time.
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It is new wax (Collinite) that I didn't get off fast enough, now the residue has been sitting for two weeks. So I want to remove the excess before I put on another coat (this time in smaller sections)
Boatingnut
Active Member
Ugh. You will be a testament that the Collinite Paste is like iron. Good luck. It is a great wax, but not the easiest to use, as you are finding out!
If you use ACETONE, do not get any on your decals or striping as it will ruin them !!!!
Dave
Dave
OK, try putting more wax on (no more than a 2'x2' area) and removing it before it dries. I've done too big of an area with Collinite in the past and putting more on always took care of it. BUT, I've never left it sit for 2 weeks so I can't say for sure that this method will work. But, I'd try that first.
Dennis, thanks for the quick reply, the residue is what would not come off with a towel and micro-fiber cloth. I'm thinking of taking Todds advise and wash it off with simple green and then rewaxing. Tomorrow is my last chance to do it as she will be splashed by the 30th and I can't take any time off this week.
Okay it took 9 hours but the end result was worth it. Sprayed the hull one side at a time from the rub rail down with simple green, then scrubbed it in with more dilluted simple green in a 5 gallon bucket with my regular wash brush. Rinsed and went to the other side. After this I dried the hull and repolished with Starbrite and my old "waxmaster" dual action polisher with a terry cloth bonnet. Polished both sides then the transom, when done I started removing the hazed polish with a terry cloth towel followed by a micro fiber towel, end result was all of the residual Collinite was removed and the hull is now shining like it should be. I will be giving the Collinite cleaner polish and wax to the neighbor that recomended it to me, I will also be retiring my new Porter Cable polisher as IMO it was a waste of money.