what can i use to dissolve silicone?
- Thread starter Miguel4u2
- Start date
I have tried every chemical that I could get my hands on including
acetone
MEK
5% hydrochloric acid solution
mineral spirits
and all the common hardware store stuff
And nothing will touch it.
There are a couple of commercial sustances created to do this job. The one I tried would only soften the top skin of the silicone after a 24hr wait.
The only other method I know of besides a razor blade is a propane torch. Used lightly to melt the silicone. But cleaning still involves a razor.
acetone
MEK
5% hydrochloric acid solution
mineral spirits
and all the common hardware store stuff
And nothing will touch it.
There are a couple of commercial sustances created to do this job. The one I tried would only soften the top skin of the silicone after a 24hr wait.
The only other method I know of besides a razor blade is a propane torch. Used lightly to melt the silicone. But cleaning still involves a razor.
I've tried all the chemicals above, plus some that are much more hazardous, and none of them did jack to the silicone 
. Good ole razor blade is your best friend. Once you get it down to just the thinnest of layers, try using a green scrubbie/scour pad on it. Be gentle so you don't scratch the glass, but it worked to get some of the silicone off for me.
. Good ole razor blade is your best friend. Once you get it down to just the thinnest of layers, try using a green scrubbie/scour pad on it. Be gentle so you don't scratch the glass, but it worked to get some of the silicone off for me.
Third vote here. I've used toxic, military grade chemicals on silicone to no avail. You just have to scrape it off with a razor blade.
Thats kind of the point of silicone. Its impervious to everything. (Except razor blades)
One like this will save your hand the cramps...
And one like this to get in the cracks between the panels..
One like this will save your hand the cramps...
And one like this to get in the cracks between the panels..
you guys are forgetting about the worlds best solvent, gasoline 
as long as you can scrape some of it off, the gasoline will take care of any residue left behind. ive tried it, it works
as long as you can scrape some of it off, the gasoline will take care of any residue left behind. ive tried it, it works
I'm not saying that there are not chemicals for helping to remove silicone residue, but these chemicals will not break down the silicone on a tank in order to tear it down. For removing residue, Goop-Off works pretty well.
We battle with silicone residue that comes from our antifoam we use in our HE laundry detergents. We hired a company to come in that specialized in silicone removal or so they said. They had a patented chemical called silzyme that was suppose to turn silicone back into it's softer state so that you could wipe it off. Needless to say it didn't work. Razor and heat are the best bests. Gas and other chemicals will release its bond but you have to get them under the silicone to do this.