Caulking Removal...

3M makes a nice caulk remover.

WoodGlue

Try this...also available at Home Depot - Lowes. (I think)

Silicone Remover...LINK

Did you try a heat gun and a scraper to remove the old caulk?

I accidentally smeared a big patch of caulk on the side of my fiberglass trailer while replacing the exterior shower. Nooooooooooo! At first, I couldn't get it off, but what worked was some Turtle Wax and an old credit card. The wax softens the caulk, and the card gently removed it. Also what works is any citrus-based furniture polish/cleaner (I used orange oil furniture polish).

hausfrau wrote:
I accidentally smeared a big patch of caulk on the side of my fiberglass trailer while replacing the exterior shower. Nooooooooooo! At first, I couldn't get it off, but what worked was some Turtle Wax and an old credit card. The wax softens the caulk, and the card gently removed it. Also what works is any citrus-based furniture polish/cleaner (I used orange oil furniture polish).

\\I found that an ole credit card will fix almost any thing on my RV.
MM49

I once bought a used pop-up, that was in nice shape, except for the massive quantity of silicone caulk that the previous owner had slobbered over every body seam. It was a pretty grim situation until a local dealership owner told me that they typically use Coleman fuel as a silicone solvent. It worked GREAT. In places where it was too tough to just loosen up with a wet rag, I used a fuel soaked compress covered by plastic wrap. IF you are not in danger of damaging painted surfaces and decals, Coleman fuel will remove all the silicone with little effort. Good luck.

The real killer is the Proflex caulk that most manufactures use on the exterior. It gets very rigid, unlike silicone.

Will any of the above methods soften or remove it??

dryfly wrote:
The real killer is the Proflex caulk that most manufactures use on the exterior. It gets very rigid, unlike silicone.

Will any of the above methods soften or remove it??

Well as the OP, I'm now convinced that I had encountered Proflex and not silicone...Proflex, some very ridged stuff. got most of it off with mineral spirits, a plastic putty scraper, time and elbow grease. I will say that once renewed, it does result in a superior looking appearance...

3 tons

3 tons wrote:

dryfly wrote:
The real killer is the Proflex caulk that most manufactures use on the exterior. It gets very rigid, unlike silicone.

Will any of the above methods soften or remove it??

Well as the OP, I'm now convinced that I had encountered Proflex and not silicone...Proflex, some very ridged stuff. got most of it off with mineral spirits, a plastic putty scraper, time and elbow grease. I will say that once renewed, it does result in a superior looking appearance...

3 tons

Yep that's Proflex and mineral spirits is about the best you can use I think. It needs a little time to soak and it results in the caulk getting very "STICKY and GOOEY" I have found instead of the plastic putty scrapers, I make my own by cutting some acrylic into 1" strips and then into like 3 to 4" lengths and file the end into a chisel point. You can then take an old broom handle or other large round dowel and cut a slit in one end to put the strip of plastic in to hold it and allow you something comfortable to scrape with. This also allows you to chisel both ends of each strip of plastic. The narrow plastic is better for scraping off caulk. Another hand made caulk removal tool is to take a bamboo chopstick (yes it has to be bamboo to last) and do the same chisel point treatment and this allows you to get into narrow areas and corners where the plastic strip is too big.

Time and patience is the key to caulk removal along with allowing whatever solvent to work on the caulk for a few minutes and then using LOTS OF PAPER TOWELS to take care of the mess you will create.

Removing old hardened Proflex is almost on par with removing Silicon caulking and this is one reason I do not recommend or will use Proflex on my trailer.

Larry

Larry,

Good info. I used a metal paint scraper, very carefully, and got my caulk off. I did not soak it with mineral spirits but will try that next time. I did use mineral spirits to smooth out the new Proflex when I applied it. It is terribly difficult to put on as well, at least difficult to get a good smooth bead.

There has got to be a better caulk to use. Even if it didn't last as long. I would much rather re-caulk more often than to have to mess with Proflex!!!