Cleaning glue under carpet

[INA201]

Hey guys just wondering your thoughts on cleaning the floor pan of old glue and almost 40 years of goop on my 1978 Mooney M20J.  I'm looking for a good cleaning product or products that will remove this stuff and not harm the aluminum?  I was thinking of painting or maybe putting a wing walk type compound on the edges that are exposed from under the carpet.  Have any of you guys cleaned this area up and what seems to work.  It just looks rough.  Thank you in advance for your replies.

[carusoam]

Welcome aboard INA...

There are a few threads regarding installing new carpet that may give you some ideas while you wait.

put the words carpet and glue in the search function above and see what it chugs out...

try a search for Goo Gone as well..?

best regards,

-a-

Edited September 21, 2015 by carusoam

[N201MKTurbo]

The old contact cement used TCE as a solvent. You can still get it as red brake parts cleaner. Give that a try.

For most things try a non polar solvent like MEK.  If that doesn't work try a polar solvent like alcohol. Non of these products will harm the aluminum, but they may strip the paint. What you want to avoid are cleaners that are acid or alkaline. Which include most spray cleaners sold in the grocery store.

[Guest]

Hey guys just wondering your thoughts on cleaning the floor pan of old glue and almost 40 years of goop on my 1978 Mooney M20J.  I'm looking for a good cleaning product or products that will remove this stuff and not harm the aluminum?  I was thinking of painting or maybe putting a wing walk type compound on the edges that are exposed from under the carpet.  Have any of you guys cleaned this area up and what seems to work.  It just looks rough.  Thank you in advance for your replies.

 

 

Try a rag soaked in Toluene laid on top of the glued area, it has a longer dwell time than MEK.   Place a plastic bag over the rag to slow the evaporation.

Clarence

[Yetti]

stainless brush.  Did not get it all just enough so the velcro would stick for the new carpet.   If you are going back with wing walk (which seems to me to be bed liner with some sand mixed in) the old glue will just add to the texture.      Cleaners and enclosed space and summer time heat seemed like a health situation.

[Marauder]

The old contact cement used TCE as a solvent. You can still get it as red brake parts cleaner. Give that a try.

For most things try a non polar solvent like MEK.  If that doesn't work try a polar solvent like alcohol. Non of these products will harm the aluminum, but they may strip the paint. What you want to avoid are cleaners that are acid or alkaline. Which include most spray cleaners sold in the grocery store.

If you folks do use Trichloroethylene, Toluene or Methyl Ethyl Ketone, do me a favor and wear a respirator...

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[Marauder]

And gloves... Nitrile or better...

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[N201MKTurbo]

And a fan to blow in fresh air...

[kortopates]

Instead of painting the aluminum when cleaned up, why not put the in some 1/8" vibration absorbing sound proofing insulator material. Skandia makes some good materials for aviation use that meet burn cert requirements and similar to what the factory used on my K model. Its foil covered on the top with adhesive on the bottom. I used Skandia p/n SK-8240FPSA but they have lots of choices - too many really! See http://www.skandiaupholsterysupplies.com/products/AeroDamp.html

[N201MKTurbo]

I have found that you don't have to glue the carpet down. Just put two sheet metal screws in the back of the passenger side carpet. The fuel selector keeps the pilots side in place and the passengers are always pushing the carpet forwards, so the screws keep it from moving forward. Besides if you don't glue it down you can wash it every few years. I take my carpets out, lay them out in the driveway and hose them down, sprinkle Laundry soap on them and scrub them with my bare feet. Then rinse them with the hose while scrubbing with your feet until the water runs clear. Hang them out to dry for a couple of days and they are like brand new. When they got stained so I couldn't get the stains out I got some RIT dye that was one shade darker then they were origionally and dyed them in a wash tub. They looked great afterwards.

[Andy95W]

 sprinkle Laundry soap on them and scrub them with my bare feet. 

Careful, if you do that too often you could end up with feet like José's (Piloto's).

 

[N201MKTurbo]

Careful, if you do that too often you could end up with feet like José's (Piloto's).

 

It might do him some good to scrub some carpets with his feet!

[INA201]

Is Jose a foot model?

Thank you for your responses!

 It looks like Toluene, MEK, and or Trichloroethylene are the cleaners of choice.  I used the plastic bag method on some plastic practice pieces with orange hand cleaner and it worked better than expected with a couple hours of elbow grease.  I may just give that a shot and see how it goes.  

[Marauder]

Careful, if you do that too often you could end up with feet like José's (Piloto's).

 

And I don't want to hear one more comment from you guys about me posting pictures of morbidly anti-skinny women. José -- that just ain't right... I'm going to create a "Go Fund Me" site for you to get a pedicure. Or least an amputation since it will be cheaper...

[DrBill]

GOOF OFF is available at HD and Lowes (I saw gallons recently at HD)and is relatively safe (read the label).

I used it to clean the weatherstrip cement off the door when replacing the rubber.

BILL

 

[Bob_Belville]

I would not, in fact I did not, glue down carpet. I used several strips of "industrial strength" Velcro. 

http://www.amazon.com/VELCRO-Industrial-Strength-Wide-Black/dp/B00006RSP1

[freff]

I also competed this job recently and used goof off.  It is readily available and worked very well  

[INA201]

Thanks!

Which one did y'all use? 

[carusoam]

Expect the 'adhesive remover' one until further info is supplied...

best regards,

-a-

[jetdriven]

velcro wouldnt do the job but the bolt down snaps screwed into the floor and pressed into the carpet did do the trick. We used 23

[aaronk25]

What about aircraft paint stripper I've seen it used before to clean this off?

[Yetti]

[N201MKTurbo]

Goof Off is xylene, no safer then MEK or Toluene. And way overpriced. Sometimes the home or paint stores carry xylene it is about $20/gal.

[N201MKTurbo]

Goof Off MSDS

Warnings:	Flammable. Harmful or fatal if swallowed. Vapor harmful. Eye and skin irritant. Contains Xylene. Keep away from heat, sparks, flame and static electricity. Do not expose to heat or store at temperatures above 120 degrees F. Avoid frequent or prolonged skin contact or breathing of vapor. Do not get in eyes. If swallowed, contact physician immediately. Do not induce vomiting. In case of eye contact, flush with water for 15 minutes, seek medical attention immediately. USE ONLY WITH ADEQUATE VENTILATION. Vapor is harmful and eye irritant. Stop use immediately and leave the area if strong odor is noticed or if you experience dizziness, headaches, nausea or eye watering. Intentional misuse by deliberately concentrating and inhaling contents may be harmful or fatal.
Acute Health Effects:	From MSDS Inhalation: Excessive inhalation of vapors may cause respiratory irritation, dizziness, nausea, asphyxiation. Eye Contact: Eye contact can cause eye irritation, redness, tearing, and blurred vision. Skin Contact: Skin contact may cause irritation, redness, dermatitis and defatting with prolonged or repeated exposure. Ingestion: Ingestion may cause gastrointestinal irritation, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea. Aspiration of material into lungs may cause chemical pneumonitis, which can be fatal. Medical Conditions Generally Aggravated by Exposure: None listed
Chronic Health Effects:	From MSDS Repeated or prolonged skin exposure may cause dermatitis and defatting. Prolonged or repeated occupational overexposure to solvents may cause permanent brain and nervous system damage. Intentional misuse by deliberate concentration and inhalation of contents may be harmful or fatal.
Carcinogenicity:	From MSDS No information provided.
First Aid:	From MSDS INHALATION: If affected by vapors or spray mists, remove to fresh air at once. Apply artificial respiration if necessary. Contact physician immediately. SKIN CONTACT: Remove contaminated clothing and shoes, wash with mild soap and water. EYE CONTACT: Flush with running water for 15 minutes, holding lid open to expose surface of eye. Contact physician. INGESTION: DO NOT induce vomiting. Get medical attention immediately.
Health Rating:	2
Flammability Rating:	3
Reactivity Rating:	0
HMIS Rating Scale:	0 = Minimal; 1 = Slight; 2 = Moderate; 3 = Serious; 4 = Severe;  N = No information provided by manufacturer; * = Chronic Health Hazard
MSDS Date:	2000-05-16