Red Hermetite – half life of plutonium?

[elebub]

My son recently bought a 2004 SEAT Leon Mk 1 and we decided to head off the well-known door leak problems by resealing all four doors. We had noticed in the various garage invoices that one of the rear doors had been resealed in March 2013, at a cost of £60 inc VAT, so we left that one 'till last. This is what we found.



I have tried isopropanol, methylated spirits, white spirit, turpentine, white vinegar, lighter fuel, Ferrosol & GT-85 (someone suggested WD40, these were the closest relatives I had), DeoxGel, Acetone (very carefully); all left on for at least 20 minutes and then scraped with various pieces of plastic and wood. I have looked at silicone sealer remover but the reviews online don't look that promising. Does anyone know of any way to remove this awful stuff and leave the paintwork intact?
Thanks in advance.
Andy

 

[rich r]

It's meant to be resistant to oil - so anything oil based isn't going to do anything. It's possible that if you freeze it (aerosol of freezer spray maybe) it might solidify enough for you to peel it off, though it might take the paint with it. But I suspect you're going to have to resort to a razor blade and repaint the area afterwards.

 

[rtbcomp]

That looks like silicone sealant rather than Red Hermatite, which is (was) a jointing compound, used for gaskets and pipe threads.

 

[doubleboost]

It is not Hermatite
The only way to remove it is the hard way

 

[gordon stephenson]

I think rtbcomp is correct,Hermatite red silicone sealer, Made for warped sump pans/rocker boxes etc Sold as RTV, (room temperature vulcanising )

 

[ben8vgte]

Have you tried a toffee wheel on it?

 

[elebub]

Have you tried a toffee wheel on it?

No, but some guy on a detailing forum tried one when a previous owner of his present car stuck the rear number plate on with silicone. He said the silicone was too soft for the toffee wheel.

 

[jimmyspeed]

whilst flicking through my toolstation catalogue- i saw there was a silicone dissolver designed for bathroom use - might be worth a go ?

http://www.toolstation.com/shop/Silicone+Eater/p45066

 

[500e]

Try cloth soaked in Diesel,
PS do you want a Leon shell complete with boot doors glass etc no damage in black , in Somerset, scrap value will secure, if interested send pm.

 

[Lawnmowerboy]

Try a hot air gun. Or 2k thinners may well be tigerseal or sikaflex or similar polyurethane gkue

 

[doubleboost]

sikaflex that rings a bell

 

[elebub]

Thanks for the replies. Tomorrow I will be mostly trying the hot air gun and 2k thinners, but not at the same time. The fall back position will be the silicone remover or indeed 500e's body shell - it might be easier. Stay tuned.

 

[brightspark]

whats the deal on not having to touch it up if the paintwork gets damaged ?? just clean it off with a razor blade and touch it up it will have to be re sealed anyhow its not as if its the main bodywork

 

[the snooper]

you need to find out if its silicone or some other type similar to tiger seal, slice a piece off, if silicone it will stretch easily where as seam sealer wont, also silicone usually breaks up if you keep rubbing with a cloth

 

[Hitch]

Looks like the heat proof silicone... Is be slicing the majority off with a blade carefully, then trying some silicone eater on the residue. The thinner the layer, the better it works I find.

 

[elebub]

Looks like the heat proof silicone... Is be slicing the majority off with a blade carefully, then trying some silicone eater on the residue. The thinner the layer, the better it works I find.

Yes, I think you are right. Off now to get some silicone eater. In answer to the snooper - it's stretchy.
Thanks to all of you and will report back.

 

[Shox Dr]

Why the need to remove it? Once the door card is back on you'll never see it again.

(Although I do suffer from the condition "Although no one can see it I know it's there" syndrome so do kind of understand )

 

[MattF]

(Although I do suffer from the condition "Although no one can see it I know it's there" syndrome so do kind of understand )

It's like "The tell tale heart" Poe story, ain't it. You know it ain't a problem, it's hidden, but it just keeps badgering away at you.

 

[elebub]

Why the need to remove it? Once the door card is back on you'll never see it again.

(Although I do suffer from the condition "Although no one can see it I know it's there" syndrome so do kind of understand )

Well I would go along with that but we need to reseal the inner door panel (all the way round this time) so the surface has to be clean.

 

[elebub]

Well, bought some Wickes Silicone Remover, scraped off the major chunks and applied, left it for an hour and most of it came away very easily. Result. Putting on a last layer now to get the residue off and job done.

Many thanks for all your help.