Removal of Film on Hatches

[UFO]

The previous owner must have decided to put some form of film over half the hatches - The film has now gone totally opaque with the hatch material beneath in perfect condition and nice and clear - I can see this in areas that the film has flaked off.


What is the best way or substance to remove the film without damaging the hatch material beneath?

[Chenega]

Do a test piece with 3m adhesive remover. Won’t harm the acrylic lenses

[Uncle Bob]

Originally Posted by Chenega

Do a test piece with 3m adhesive remover. Won’t harm the acrylic lenses

Call a graphic arts supply company, they should be able to advise or at least point you in the right direction.

[tkeithlu]

Vinyl itself can be dissolved with isopropanal, tolulene, and xylene. Stay away from acetone and MEK, which will dissolve the acrylic hatches. And, test before you proceed. Find a tiny edge you won't miss, and use a cotton swab.

[thinwater]

Originally Posted by tkeithlu

Vinyl itself can be dissolved with isopropanal, tolulene, and xylene. Stay away from acetone and MEK, which will dissolve the acrylic hatches. And, test before you proceed. Find a tiny edge you won't miss, and use a cotton swab.

The film is almost certainly polyester, polycarbonate, or urethane. Those are the common materials. Polyester is more common. Not vinyl.

[tkeithlu]

Hmm. All the stuff I've used IS vinyl. Such as:

https://www.amazon.com/FILMGOO-Priva...NrPXRydWU&th=1

Are there two different technologies here, and I'm missing one?

[tkeithlu]

OH. Now I remember. I have used rolls that were a harder plastic, and which I used to cover some large windows. Bet they were not vinyl. On the other hand, the stuff I have on my boat, that I use as well to cover bright instrument screens at night, are surely vinyl. Soft.

So, the question becomes, which has the OP got?

[thinwater]

Originally Posted by tkeithlu

OH. Now I remember. I have used rolls that were a harder plastic, and which I used to cover some large windows. Bet they were not vinyl. On the other hand, the stuff I have on my boat, that I use as well to cover bright instrument screens at night, are surely vinyl. Soft.

So, the question becomes, which has the OP got?

I've been testing (about 3 years by now) several films on spare hatches, and I'm about sold that polyurethane is the only material that makes sense on acrylic, for a number of reasons. BTW, the coating on vinyl windows is urethane.


Also, some films are rated for plastic glazing and most are not. I'm guessing the PO used "are not." You really have to search for plastic rated films.

[UFO]

Originally Posted by tkeithlu

OH. Now I remember. I have used rolls that were a harder plastic, and which I used to cover some large windows. Bet they were not vinyl. On the other hand, the stuff I have on my boat, that I use as well to cover bright instrument screens at night, are surely vinyl. Soft.

So, the question becomes, which has the OP got?

Not sure as they were put on by previous owner.


They are though now very brittle and some flaking is occurring around the edges

[marcjsmith]

Motsenbockers lift off

Really great stuff does a great job at dissolving adhesives. Down side is getting the chems to the adhesive. If you’ve got a film over the top. It might take some patience. .

[UFO]

Just a Follow up....


Found something which works :-)


I read on this or another forum about using cloudy ammonia on the hatch and covering it in clingfilm on a sunny day.


Left for an hour and came back and the film was still not removable by peeling with my fingers, but I have a good quality razor blade scraper, which did not work before as the film was too brittle, but now you can run it from one side to the other and it peels off a large strip - Just did my small bathroom hatch in around 5 minutes and managed not to scratch the surface.



There was still a Glue residue there, which wiped off with Orange Power and now the hatch is looking pretty good

[Uncle Bob]

Originally Posted by UFO

Just a Follow up....


Found something which works :-)


I read on this or another forum about using cloudy ammonia on the hatch and covering it in clingfilm on a sunny day.


Left for an hour and came back and the film was still not removable by peeling with my fingers, but I have a good quality razor blade scraper, which did not work before as the film was too brittle, but now you can run it from one side to the other and it peels off a large strip - Just did my small bathroom hatch in around 5 minutes and managed not to scratch the surface.



There was still a Glue residue there, which wiped off with Orange Power and now the hatch is looking pretty good

Good one but here on the east coast sunny days are now hard to find.

[UFO]

Originally Posted by Uncle Bob

Good one but here on the east coast sunny days are now hard to find.

That's why I'm in the Sunshine Coast