How to get silicone off winter jacket

[coldmeat]

I have a Columbia Ski jacket thats 100% nylon, and I accidentally got silicone all over the front of it. How do I get it off? I've been picking it off, which works but it's taking forever.

It's a $250 jacket, so I don't really want to give up on it.

 

[rudeguy]

gonna needs pics on this one

 

[coldmeat]

I can try with my cell, i don't know how well it will turn out

 

[spidey07]

What kind of silicone? Like caulking stuff? You could try the same way you'd remove wax - heating it with a hairdryer and wicking it off paper towels.

 

[0roo0roo]

gonna needs pics on this one

this

 

[lxskllr]

If you're very careful, a razor blade might work. After it's peeled up, is the color different? That could be a problem, and it may not come out.

 

[Rubycon]

You said peeling off which leads me to believe this is RTV (room temperature vulcanizing) compound like sealant used to build fish tanks and seal windows, etc.

RTV is thermosetting so heat will not make it any softer. It's also very resistant to attack by common organic solvents. The best way is abrasion - just rubbing and peeling off the bits. Of course with cloth some material will stay in between the fibers and can be very hard to remove. If this was pourable RTV then getting it completely out of nylon fabric (without damaging the base material) is next to impossible.

Good luck with that one.

 

[rudeguy]

You said peeling off which leads me to believe this is RTV (room temperature vulcanizing) compound like sealant used to build fish tanks and seal windows, etc.

RTV is thermosetting so heat will not make it any softer. It's also very resistant to attack by common organic solvents. The best way is abrasion - just rubbing and peeling off the bits. Of course with cloth some material will stay in between the fibers and can be very hard to remove. If this was pourable RTV then getting it completely out of nylon fabric (without damaging the base material) is next to impossible.

Good luck with that one.

And THIS is how you reply to a thread folks.

 

[coldmeat]

Can't figure out how to get pictures off my phone.

http://www.homehardware.ca/Products/index/show/product/I2031205/name/seal_sil_clr_300ml

that's what we were using, don't know if the link will work though

 

[lxskllr]

Picking it off is probably the only way. I'd be very leery of trying any solvents on nylon.

 

[coldmeat]

We were changing a rooftop HVAC unit, and I accidentally leant over some duct work that was freshly sealed. It's going to take hours to pick this stuff off.

 

[lxskllr]

We were changing a rooftop HVAC unit, and I accidentally leant over some duct work that was freshly sealed. It's going to take hours to pick this stuff off.

How many hours? If it takes you 5 hours to take it off, your pay rate will be $50 per hour. Not too shabby ;^)

 

[coldmeat]

How many hours? If it takes you 5 hours to take it off, your pay rate will be $50 per hour. Not too shabby ;^)

I doubt I could do it in 5, I literally got almost the entire front of the jacket and under the left sleeve covered.

If I rub it with my thumb really hard and fast, it comes off but leaves my thumb sore.

 

[surfsatwerk]

Looks like you got a new "work" coat.

 

[lxskllr]

I doubt I could do it in 5, I literally got almost the entire front of the jacket and under the left sleeve covered.

If I rub it with my thumb really hard and fast, it comes off but leaves my thumb sore.

Try out different gloves, or finger coverings. You might find something that helps lift it without making your fingers sore. The bottom edge of a bottle might work also. Try a few different things.

 

[destrekor]

I doubt I could do it in 5, I literally got almost the entire front of the jacket and under the left sleeve covered.

If I rub it with my thumb really hard and fast, it comes off but leaves my thumb sore.

sore thumbs or new coat?
sucks but that might be a helpful way to look at it.
Tackle it a little at a time. Scratch some off until your fingers are sore, do something else for awhile, scratch some more off, nef some, nef some more, scratch, nef, repeat.

 

[rudeguy]

Looks like you got a new "work" coat.

Yep. And don't throw it away...that way every time you look at it you will remember not to wear nice stuff when doing that kind of work.

 

[coldmeat]

Yep. And don't throw it away...that way every time you look at it you will remember not to wear nice stuff when doing that kind of work.

It was my last day, and it's my only warm coat, so I thought what the hell, how much damage could I do to it.

 

[Newbian]

Stop squeezing implants so hard next time man.

Just because she likes it rough doesn't mean you should pop them off.

 

[BoomerD]

Looks like you got a new "work" coat.

Agreed. Re-read rubycon's post.

If the silicone penetrated the fibers of the coat, it's there pretty much forever.

I used to build aquariums with silicone. I can't guess how many shirts and pairs of pants I ruined with silicone.

One positive note...the coat will be waterproof in those areas...:biggrin:

 

[TonyH]

My best suggestion would be to gently scrub it with a nylon scrubbing pad (Scotchbrite or something similar)

 

[Jumpem]

Stop hugging strippers.

 

[iGas]

polyurethane and arcrylic sealants can be remove by freezing. 100% silicone remain pliable at extreme temperature, thus it requires solvent to remove and that may remove the dye and/or melt the fabric of the coat.