How do i remove that Silicone Adhesive used to attach a dash cap from my vinyl dash

[UrQuattro]

Hey,

I have a brown dash that is fairly cracked, but I almost prefer the cracked dash to the crappy blak abs dash cap that is on it.

When I pulled the cap off, there is a ton of silicone left stuck to the dash.

Anyone know the best way to remove it? I started with a putty knife, but it started to scrape up the dash itself.

Thanks in advance

Michael

[Joe Bob]

Silicone tends to peel off, have you tried a low setting heat gun?

[Wilhelm]

I have heard that a product called Silicone-B-Gone (sp?) made by DAP works reasonably well. Might try that CAREFULLY on a SMALL bit of the stuff you are trying to remove to see how it works. I heard it takes a while for the stuff to work though. Sounds like you have a lot to remove. The low temp heat gun idea might speed things up a bit .

[UrQuattro]

Hey,

Thanks guys. I don't have a heat gun, buy when I first tried it, it was during warmer weather. And there were a few prices that I could get off, but the majority of it is on so thick that it's really tough.

I have a burgundy leather dash for an sc - early 85 Carrera that I bought on here a long time ago, but um starting to have doibts about using it.

I have a bunch of alcantara that is closest to the champagne carpeting and vinyl trim color (which is the trim color in my car).

I'm thinking hard about maybe putting the alcantara on the dash cap, the knee pads, door tops, rear panel tops, etc.

But I also have found burgundy tops, knee pads, door pulls, door pocket lids, etc from an 84 Carrera, and it's a hard choice because of what I'm doing with the carpet.

The carpet is the stock champagne carpet, but I have a sliverknit carpet kit in linen w/ leather piping, and I'm going to change to linen vs the champagne. I've installed a linen factory sport seat (vinyl - but definitely the right price, and the condition is pretty good). And the drivers seat is a beige alcantara sparco Milano.

So, basically I'm trying to decide which will look more eye catching and just plain GOOD....

I'll have the champagne door panels and rear panels, along with misc champagne vinyl trim.

So, I kinda think the alcantara solutioncwill be really cool.

But I also know that the burgundy will be nice as well.

I dunno.

Michael

[Wilhelm]

I like the Alcantara idea. Unless you are trying to keep it looking as stock and original as possible. Alcantara has a nice look and feel to it in my opinion. And..it reminds me of a GT3

[kodioneill]

RPM Technology has products to remove cured silicone RTV and polysulfide (PRC) and next generation cleaning products

I sent you a pm but your box is full. This product works very well.
I would be interested in the leather dash if you decide to sell.

[nineball]

you can get a heat gun for under $10 at harbor freight.

[Jim Dorociak]

I know this is a little low tech, but I use an old hairdryer from my wife, not as powerful as a heat gun, but by working slowly I have been able to loosen old silicone and adhesives with this method.

Jim

[Mitch Leland]

Whoa, was it the black ABS you disliked? I ran one of the plastic dash caps for a couple of years until I replaced the leather dash. It was a lot better than the shrunk up leather dash. I painted the ABS dash cap with the appropriate spray paint and at first blush you wouldn't know it wasn't the real thing. I had a good fit on the plastic cap and only put "dime" size dabs of silicone down around the perimeter and openings to hold it down.

[ShakinJoe]

Originally Posted by UrQuattro

Hey,

I have a brown dash that is fairly cracked, but I almost prefer the cracked dash to the crappy blak abs dash cap that is on it.

When I pulled the cap off, there is a ton of silicone left stuck to the dash.

Anyone know the best way to remove it? I started with a putty knife, but it started to scrape up the dash itself.

Thanks in advance

Michael

Silicone is not an adhesive, it is a sealant. What you have is a type of adhesive and I do not think heat will help you. If you have free reign with no obstruction you might need to use chemicals to remove the remains.

[kodioneill]

Originally Posted by ShakinJoe

Silicone is not an adhesive, it is a sealant. What you have is a type of adhesive and I do not think heat will help you. If you have free reign with no obstruction you might need to use chemicals to remove the remains.

OKAY---- I'm gonna give this one more try USE THIS IT WORKS!!!!!!

Read the link for crying out loud.
Please forgive the outburst
RPM Technology has products to remove cured silicone RTV and polysulfide (PRC) and next generation cleaning products

[UrQuattro]

Thank you dude.

Shakinjoe - trust me. This is silicone used as an adhesive and there are long strips of it all across my dashboard.

Mitch - well, i hate the abs-ness of it. But I've seen that at least one other member has covered their abs dash cover in alcantara... Basically doing what I want to do.

Now I just need to figure out how to actually do it. I have the alcantara. I have the dash cap, now how do I cover it using as little excess fabric as possible. Hehe.

Michael

[cnwayland]

I finally got irritated with my plastic cover that had what sounded like 57 cents bouncing around underneath it and that my hand would get caught between the steering wheel and the cover that I ripped it out tonight in a fit of rage.

Now I'm left with the silicon strips. Can't find the RPM product mentioned in the above post and hoping others have good solutions. Hairdryer doesn't seem to help the situation much...

[ben parrish]

Look for a cheese cutter...the wire type. This should allow you to trim it down a little at a time. May even try a vegetable peeler.
Did you use a plastic putty knife? Metal may be too stiff.

[cnwayland]

Tonight, I found the best solution to removing the silicone adhesive:

[tobluforu]

^^^^ lol.