Is acetone safe for cleaning fiberglas surfaces( windsurfing mast)

[ittiandro]

I thought this topic is within the scope of boating, since windsurfing is a marine/nautical activity..

I found a couple of small hairline cracks towards the bottom of my windsurfing mast,( probably while dragging the mast ). Nothing structural, only superficial, but I wanted to strengthen it , just in case, by wrapping a 2 “ wide fiberglas patch ( Bondo polyestyher resin) around the dented section..

While working on the fiberglas patch I have slightly smeared the area with resin . It is only some light residuals of hardened resin, small lumps at most . They are almost imperceptible visually, but I want to remove them because they have taken away some of the glossy surface of the object and are a bit rough at the touch.

Can I clean them with acetone without risking to damage ( or even dissolve ) the underlying original material?
The mast is 75% carbon and 25% fiberglas ( or epoxy, I'm not too sure) and I don’t want to clean by sanding because this will defeat my purpose and further dullen the glossy surface.

Thanks for your input.

Ittiandro

 

[ondarvr]

Acetone won't damage epoxy or polyester resin if you're just cleaning it, but if it's been painted it could damage the paint.

 

[gm280]

What about a razor blade scraper to remove the resin? If you use a very shallow angle, it would cut the resin off without bothering the surface material. JMHO.

 

[Bondo]

Can I clean them with acetone without risking to damage ( or even dissolve ) the underlying original material?

Ayuh,.... Welcome Aboard,.... Acetone will not effect hardened poly resin, so yer plan ain't gonna work,....

I suggest fine sandpaper, 'n buff it out after to regain the gloss,....

 

[sphelps]

I agree with Bondo ... Post up a picture or two .... We love pics ! :welcome:

 

[ondarvr]

Acetone will normally remove resin that's smeared thin on a surface, heavy drips, no. Resin won't cure well in the thin film, so although feeling hard, it's not fully cured.