Teardrops n Tiny Travel Trailers

Trying to remove window - Sealant stuck!

I have a ’71 Shasta camper and whoever installed the replacement glass did a horrible job because the sealant they used is all over the window itself, the frame and everywhere. It doesn’t leak but looks horrible. I want to take it out, clean it up and put it back together properly and nice looking but the sealant is too too good and is sticking like crazy. It is fairly new which is the problem. It looks like caulk but it is sticking like a high grade polyurethane sealant. It is plyable but very difficult to get a blade between the skin and the frame and I tried a wide chisel and tapped it in trying to get some bite and it just went through the body!! Now I have a hole I have to fix.

So… options:

1. What can I used to get the frame out? Better razor blade and two days of labor and worn out fingers?
2. It doesn’t leak so what can I use to just get the extra sealant off the body, window frame and window glass and not R&R the window?
3. What can I use to patch the 1/4” hole that I now have in the body at the edge of the frame?

Man I an out of practice!!

Can you call/email the person you bought it from and ask them what they used as a caulk/sealant around that window? That may give you some help.

Thomas,

Don't know if this works, but have you tried applying heat with a heat gun? This may make it more pliable to where you could use a putty knife to remove the excess. (Or the heat may make it take an even greater hold.

Take care,
Tom

What can I used to get the frame out? Better razor blade and two days of labor and worn out fingers?

I like the heat gun idea. You might try sawing the sealant with a long piece of picture-hanging wire (cable) that is looped on both ends so that you can put your (gloved) fingers through the loops.

Sheeeeeeesh....

Tony

I like both of those ideas, I have a heat gun that I can take out for a spin too, Unfortunately it is 30' outside today!

I picked up some caulk remover (spray) when re doing seams on Compass Rose. One some of the long stuck on, sprayed it on a covered it with aluminum foil to keep it from evaporating.
Using heat gun, use caution.
Another possibility is Goof Off which is closer to a paint stripper. The try in an inconspicuous spot applies.
Let us know what worked

I'm thinking that the last owner may not have used caulk but rather something like a very strong sealant such as 3M 5200?

Thomas has done his fair share of trailer builds and updates; and, if he doesn't know......

Maybe the heat gun trick will work.

Unfortunately it is 30' outside today!

I wish it were 30' here, right now it's -10º.

Tony

Many/most 3M sealants are removable using orange removers, found that out removing some VHB tape. That would be an easy one

I'll be getting out there this weekend!

I'm also wondering how it will look if I don't do anything and paint over it all!!