Removing Vinyl From Interior

[Lizz]

I was at the boat today and the glue your talking about looks and feels like contact cement. Try lacquer thinner and plenty of ventilation.

Thanks, Rick. There's so much vinyl, I'm going to need gallons....

[Paul]

Lizz,

I'd be concerned about safety using lacquer thinner in this manor, it can be quite explosive. Personally I'd use the heat gun & scraper method, it is allot of work however you and the boat will survive it.

[P-Dogg]

You might consider a product called "Bio-Solv". http://www.jamestowndistributors.com/us ... ?pid=53713

A heat gun and a Fein Multimaster or equivalent with a flat scraper blade might be of use too.

[Lizz]

Thanks, guys. I'll definitely try the heat gun/scraper strategy first, then move the chemicals only as a last resort. As soon as I figure out what to replace it with, I'll have a better idea of how to prep the surface. One suggestion was wood veneer, but I feel like there's enough wood already. And I'll need something for the head. Any ideas? I only want to do this once.

[JasonBilly]

Good to read about Removing Vinyl From Interior.

[Misty]

Boiling water is cheaper, but I don't know if it works !

[Lizz]

Haven't gotten back to this but will soon. Our 17 year old daughter accused us of adopting another child, so we took a boat break for the holiday. And yes, we died sitting at home on those 75 degree days!

[Barrie]

Hi Lizz, I've been removing the vinyl from the fiberglass hull inside some of the storage lockers. I've had really good success with pointing a radiant dish heater at it and giving it a pull. The vinyl gets stretchy and comes away from the adhesive.
Then I go back and use acetone (well ventilated) to clean off the glue
I don't know how well this would work for vinyl on wood. All mine was rotten so it got tossed

Good luck

[Lizz]

Greetings! So I finally got back to the vinyl removal project. Thanks for all your advice. First, I am firmly convinced that the good folks at Trojan never intended for any sane person to take the stuff off. On the place where I'd already taken off the top layer, I ended up sanding. Just needed a level surface. The heat gun just made a gunky mess, and scraping it off is definitely not for someone with a short attention span. Where the gun actually helped was where I hadn't taken any off. It didn't come off in sheets, but it did come off. Right now, my OCD side is sulking in the corner with a glass of wine because the rest of me in falling in love with magic erasers and the vinyl that remains. Lol. Hope those of you along the mid-Atlantic are enjoying this beautiful day!

[jimbo36]

Did you try "Gloo Gone"?

[Lizz]

Did you try "Gloo Gone"?

No, I forget about that! I do still have the bathroom to go, so I will. So much vinyl....