Re: Removing Carpet (slsail)
Scott
I've never used Xylene or Xylol, just be careful around plastic products or gel coated areas. Some products damage plastic by disfiguring or discoloring them or remove paint. I use Acetone, which will effect almost every thing it gets near except gel coats. I use a spray bottle and spray the carpet to break down the adhesive. I shield all surrounding areas to avoid over spray. As I work up or across an area, I spray the carpet and follow up by using a 4" wide putty knife. You spray the carpet enough to wet it out and the Acetone penetrates to the glue. You then slide the putty knife between the deck or lid and the carpet and work the carpet free. When you get a section of carpet completely free, be careful lifting it out of the boat. You don't want to drag it across or over anything or let the Acetone drip from it onto the boat. Like I said, Acetone will damage anything and everything it touches. You can try using Mineral Spirits instead of Acetone, but it takes longer and more saturation to break down the glue. Mineral Spirits has very little negative effects that I know of.