Removing silicone from glass?
#1
Posted 02 June 2007 - 06:50 PM
Just wondering if there is an easy way to remove silicone from glass? I'm talking about smudgy bits from when the tank was made, just big lumps that can just be scraped off.
Is there a product that is easy to use to clean the front glass of any silicone residue?
Hopefully something that doesn't eat away at the silicone in the joins if I happen to get any on it?
Wacker
#2
Posted 02 June 2007 - 06:56 PM
#3
Posted 02 June 2007 - 08:07 PM
If you find something that dissolves silicone, place that surface flat and use a paper towel, or cotton wool bud to rub at the specific area you need. Then wipe away with another one soaked in water a couple of times before washing it. Though, i doubt acetone will dissolve cured silicone, pretty much nothing does unless you can find yourself some hydrofluoric acid. Though that will dissolve your glass too . Pretty much anything that will eat away silicone will be nasty nasty stuff. Just use a sharp razor.
edit: Now that i think about it, although most things might not dissolve silicone, they might soften them enough for a razor to work. Maybe try soaking the area in acetone or strong vinegar, then try the razor.
#4
Posted 02 June 2007 - 08:13 PM
#5
Posted 02 June 2007 - 08:16 PM
#6
Posted 02 June 2007 - 08:31 PM
#7
Posted 02 June 2007 - 08:32 PM
This is what I do when I remove or replace a panel.
I have been doing it this way for years without any hassle, forget your chemicals.
Any residue can be removed by using Methylated Spirits on a scouring pad.
HTH
Col
#8
Posted 02 June 2007 - 09:11 PM
#9
Posted 02 June 2007 - 09:18 PM
If bunnings stock hydroflouric acid it would be a super-weak solution. Think of hydrochloric acid for cleaning, hydrochloric acid for pools and hydrochloric acid from a chem supplier. Pretty much everything is relatively harmless in low does (like with homeopathy, lol).
Concentrate hydroflouric acid is absolutely nasty stuff. Its corrosive and highly toxic. It cant be stored in glass containers because it eats aways at it. It can burn under your skin for hours before you even notice much pain, but by then it can be too late. Some excepts from wikipedia:
"Symptoms of skin exposure to dilute HF are not felt immediately, but exposure of 10% of the body to it can be fatal, even with medical treatment. Highly concentrated solutions may lead to acute hypocalcemia, followed by cardiac arrest and death and will usually be fatal in as little as 2% body exposure (about the size of the sole of the foot). This substance should be handled with extreme care, beyond that accorded to hydrochloric, sulfuric, or other mineral acids."
"Hydrofluoric acid which comes into direct contact with the fingers can severely damage or destroy the tissue underneath the nail without causing any damage to the nail itself."
"Under most circumstances, hydrofluoric acid exposure results in severe or even lethal damage to the heart, liver, kidneys, and nerves"
"If coming in contact with human skin or bone the acid can severely burn and then decompose the bone, potentially necessitating amputation of the affected limb/s."
Hydrofluoric acid can decalcify bone so it can "dissolve" them. Neakit, its very likely what you are describing.
#10
Posted 03 June 2007 - 07:36 AM
#11
Posted 03 June 2007 - 08:58 AM
#12
Posted 05 June 2007 - 09:34 PM
Looks like Razor is the go, just wasn't sure if it would work on the real thin smudges.. I guess it does.
Thanks for the chemistry lesson too!!
Wacker
#13
Posted 12 June 2007 - 06:38 PM
#14
Posted 12 June 2007 - 11:10 PM
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