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03-30-2017, 04:19 PM
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#1
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Senior Member
Join Date: Feb 2013
Location: Santa Rosa County, Florida
Trailer: 2014 Escape 21 Tow: 2024 Toyota Tundra
Posts: 3,105
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Do not mark your Escape with a dry erase marker!
I used a dry erase marker to mark the location on the side of my trailer where I wanted Camping World to install an exterior 12V outlet, and again when planning to install (yet another) antenna mount in the back.
DON'T DO THIS! I discovered that the dry erase marker doesn't erase from fiberglass, at least not if it has been on the trailer for a few days or more. After trying several cleaners I was finally able to remove the marks with Bon Ami. No telling what that did to the finish, though. Nothing good I'll bet.
__________________
Mike Lewis
She don't lie, she don't lie, she don't lie-- propane
Photos and travelogues here: mikelewisimages.com
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03-30-2017, 04:40 PM
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#2
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Senior Member
Join Date: Oct 2008
Location: Calgary, Alberta
Trailer: 2017 Escape 5.0 TA
Posts: 15,552
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Mike Lewis
I used a dry erase marker to mark the location on the side of my trailer where I wanted Camping World to install an exterior 12V outlet, and again when planning to install (yet another) antenna mount in the back.
DON'T DO THIS! I discovered that the dry erase marker doesn't erase from fiberglass, at least not if it has been on the trailer for a few days or more. After trying several cleaners I was finally able to remove the marks with Bon Ami. No telling what that did to the finish, though. Nothing good I'll bet.
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It would be the gelcoat affected, not the fibreglass. As long as whatever used does not penetrate too far, fine wet sandpaper usually will remove any marks. A polishing compound will smooth everything out like new.
I am betting Bon Ami has a mild abrasive in it that did the same thing. I know others have used Comet to remove small marks and scuffs in gelcoat too.
Still, painters tape is a preferred method of marking layouts.
__________________
2017 Escape 5.0 TA
2015 Ford F150 Lariat 3.5L EcoBoost
2009 Escape 19 (previous)
“Most folks are about as happy as they make up their minds to be.” — Abraham Lincoln
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03-30-2017, 04:40 PM
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#3
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Senior Member
Join Date: Jan 2014
Location: North Van., British Columbia
Trailer: 2014 Escape 19, sold; 2019 Escape 21, Sept. 2019
Posts: 8,813
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Another antenna You'll have to change your byline to Mike the antenna man.
Bon Ami and other such cleaners are slightly abrasive but with a good application of wax no one will ever know, well.....
Ron
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03-30-2017, 05:16 PM
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#4
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Senior Member
Join Date: May 2013
Location: ..., New Mexico
Trailer: 2013 Esc19/'14 Silvrado
Posts: 4,193
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When in doubt...
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Myron
"A billion here, a billion there...add it all up and before you know it you're talking real money." Everett Dirkson
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03-30-2017, 05:23 PM
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#5
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Senior Member
Join Date: Oct 2008
Location: North Vancouver, British Columbia
Trailer: 2009 Escape 17B 2020 Toyota Highlander XLE
Posts: 17,136
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I think Barkeeper's Friend also contains mild abrasive. Nothing comes for free.
__________________
What happens to the hole when the cheese is gone?
- Bertolt Brecht
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03-30-2017, 05:40 PM
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#6
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Member
Join Date: Sep 2015
Location: Winnipeg, Manitoba
Trailer: 2017 5.0 TA Sold
Posts: 73
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Although it seems counter intuitive sometimes going over the original dry erase marker again will make it possible to wipe off the original. The compounds / chemicals in the re-application seem to make the first mark more apt to come off.
__________________
Candace and Garry
Sometimes not having any idea where we're going works out better than we could possibly have imagined. Ann Patchett
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03-30-2017, 06:20 PM
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#7
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Commercial Member
Join Date: Apr 2014
Location: Hillsboro, Oregon
Trailer: 2014 Escape 21 - "Felicity"
Posts: 2,945
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The least abrasive tool I've found is Mr Clean Magic Erasers - extremely fine compound that's so fine I use it for removing scuffs from plastic parts.
__________________
Charlie Y
Need custom storage to your design? Don't drill holes!
www.RVWidgetWorks.com
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03-30-2017, 06:27 PM
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#8
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Site Team
Join Date: Nov 2008
Location: Portland, Oregon
Trailer: 2014 Escape 5.0 TA
Posts: 11,051
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I've gotten permanent marker off a white board using water-less hand cleaner. Makes me question what it's doing to my skin... wonder how it would work on fiberglass?
__________________
Donna D.
Ten Forward
2014 Escape 5.0TA
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03-30-2017, 06:32 PM
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#9
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Senior Member
Join Date: Feb 2013
Location: Santa Rosa County, Florida
Trailer: 2014 Escape 21 Tow: 2024 Toyota Tundra
Posts: 3,105
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Jim Bennett
I am betting Bon Ami has a mild abrasive in it that did the same thing. I know others have used Comet to remove small marks and scuffs in gelcoat too.
Still, painters tape is a preferred method of marking layouts.
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Yep, it's painter's tape from now on. I had a kitchen once with a porcelain sink that was recommended to be cleaned only with Bon Ami, which implied to me that Bon Ami has a milder abrasive than other cleaners. The name Americast rings a bell for the sink type.
What is gelcoat? And can it be restored if it is damaged/removed?
__________________
Mike Lewis
She don't lie, she don't lie, she don't lie-- propane
Photos and travelogues here: mikelewisimages.com
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03-30-2017, 06:39 PM
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#10
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Senior Member
Join Date: Feb 2013
Location: Santa Rosa County, Florida
Trailer: 2014 Escape 21 Tow: 2024 Toyota Tundra
Posts: 3,105
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Ron in BC
Another antenna You'll have to change your byline to Mike the antenna man.
Ron
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Yes, my Escape is now an antenna-festooned nerdwagon. This one is particularly obvious-- it's a fiberglass ham radio antenna that will extend 38 feet in the air. I'll try not to embarrass anybody.
__________________
Mike Lewis
She don't lie, she don't lie, she don't lie-- propane
Photos and travelogues here: mikelewisimages.com
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03-30-2017, 06:43 PM
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#11
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Senior Member
Join Date: Feb 2013
Location: Santa Rosa County, Florida
Trailer: 2014 Escape 21 Tow: 2024 Toyota Tundra
Posts: 3,105
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Donna D.
I've gotten permanent marker off a white board using water-less hand cleaner. Makes me question what it's doing to my skin... wonder how it would work on fiberglass?
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Something like Gunk might work, but I don't think hand sanitizer would, as I tried rubbing alcohol and it did nothing.
__________________
Mike Lewis
She don't lie, she don't lie, she don't lie-- propane
Photos and travelogues here: mikelewisimages.com
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03-30-2017, 06:46 PM
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#12
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Senior Member
Join Date: Feb 2013
Location: Santa Rosa County, Florida
Trailer: 2014 Escape 21 Tow: 2024 Toyota Tundra
Posts: 3,105
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Quote:
Originally Posted by runnergirl
Although it seems counter intuitive sometimes going over the original dry erase marker again will make it possible to wipe off the original. The compounds / chemicals in the re-application seem to make the first mark more apt to come off.
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This makes sense when you think about it. I'll be sure to try it when I leave dry erase on my whiteboard for too long.
__________________
Mike Lewis
She don't lie, she don't lie, she don't lie-- propane
Photos and travelogues here: mikelewisimages.com
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03-30-2017, 06:52 PM
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#13
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Senior Member
Join Date: Oct 2012
Location: Longview, WA, Washington
Trailer: 2013 Escape 15B - 2014 Nissan Frontier SL
Posts: 854
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Mike Lewis
I used a dry erase marker to mark the location on the side of my trailer where I wanted Camping World to install an exterior 12V outlet, and again when planning to install (yet another) antenna mount in the back.
DON'T DO THIS! I discovered that the dry erase marker doesn't erase from fiberglass, at least not if it has been on the trailer for a few days or more. After trying several cleaners I was finally able to remove the marks with Bon Ami. No telling what that did to the finish, though. Nothing good I'll bet.
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But did you try the dry erase cleanser specific to cleaning white boards?
__________________
Tim and Julie
2013 Escape 15B
2014 Nissan Frontier, Previous 2012 Santa Fe
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03-30-2017, 07:01 PM
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#14
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Senior Member
Join Date: Feb 2013
Location: Santa Rosa County, Florida
Trailer: 2014 Escape 21 Tow: 2024 Toyota Tundra
Posts: 3,105
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Quote:
Originally Posted by techfan
But did you try the dry erase cleanser specific to cleaning white boards?
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No, I did not, and it turns out that I had some. Well, duh.
I'm getting old.
__________________
Mike Lewis
She don't lie, she don't lie, she don't lie-- propane
Photos and travelogues here: mikelewisimages.com
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03-30-2017, 10:16 PM
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#15
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Senior Member
Join Date: May 2015
Location: Seatac, Washington
Trailer: "The Trailer", 2nd Gen 21' & a 2017 Tundra CrewMax in Blazing Blue Pearl
Posts: 2,888
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I use "Kiss-Off" to clean my rubber stamps of hard to clean ink. Heck if I know if it would have worked in your situation, though. The tube says it'll remove "oil paint, grease, make-up, blood, lipstick, coffee, red wine, grass stains"
Just a thought for future cleaning projects.
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03-30-2017, 11:44 PM
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#16
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Senior Member
Join Date: Mar 2016
Location: Albuquerque, New Mexico
Trailer: 2017 Escape 21 - 2016 GMC Canyon 4x4 Diesel
Posts: 118
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For removing ink, tar, adhesives, permanent marker, old dry erase, etc., nothing I know of works quite as well as acetone. Just moisten a clean rag with it and wipe; most things come right off. It is, however, a pretty potent organic solvent, so use latex or nitrile gloves and make sure to have good ventilation. Consensus on other forums is that it won't damage the gel coat if used carefully and judiciously, but I can't vouch for that from personal experience. I keep a quart of acetone in my paint cabinet (get it anyplace that sells paint), but it's also the active ingredient in fingernail polish remover if you have some of that sitting around.
__________________
Stan
"It ain't what you don't know that hurts you - it's what you know for sure that just ain't so.” - S. Clemens
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03-31-2017, 07:47 AM
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#17
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Senior Member
Join Date: Feb 2013
Location: Santa Rosa County, Florida
Trailer: 2014 Escape 21 Tow: 2024 Toyota Tundra
Posts: 3,105
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Quote:
Originally Posted by StanLewis
For removing ink, tar, adhesives, permanent marker, old dry erase, etc., nothing I know of works quite as well as acetone.
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Acetone was going to be my next step. I was saving it for last due to its volatility and not knowing how it would affect the fiberglass or coating. It's probably better than using an abrasive like Bon Ami. Thanks for the info.
__________________
Mike Lewis
She don't lie, she don't lie, she don't lie-- propane
Photos and travelogues here: mikelewisimages.com
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03-31-2017, 08:48 AM
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#18
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Senior Member
Join Date: Feb 2017
Location: Mtns of NC, North Carolina
Trailer: 2013 19' Escape 1977 Trillium 1300
Posts: 311
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+10 on acetone. You can buy it in the form of fingernail polish remover for $1 or less. Get the version that is straight acetone, no additives.
Clean up quickly after using it.
Note, I have not used acetone on fiberglass! I have used it a lot of times removing spray paint and similar on other surfaces.
Obviously, test a very small discrete area first, maybe on the underside of the trailer.
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03-31-2017, 09:23 AM
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#19
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Senior Member
Join Date: Mar 2016
Location: Burlington Twp., New Jersey
Trailer: 2010 Escape 19
Posts: 7,146
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Mike Lewis
What is gelcoat? And can it be restored if it is damaged/removed?
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The gelcoat is simply the smooth, shiny protective surface on the otherwise dull and uneven fiberglass. They do make repair kits.
http://www.westmarine.com/buy/west-m...82?recordNum=1
This Scamp video starting at 7:00 shows how fiberglass molds are made. The difference with Escape as I understand is that they glass the halves together before releasing from the molds.
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03-31-2017, 10:53 AM
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#20
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Senior Member
Join Date: Jan 2014
Location: North Van., British Columbia
Trailer: 2014 Escape 19, sold; 2019 Escape 21, Sept. 2019
Posts: 8,813
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Quote:
Originally Posted by NCBill
Note, I have not used acetone on fiberglass!
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I have, by the gallon. It or lacquer thinner work pretty much equally well. A wipe on, wipe off won't hurt gelcoat in the least. But they do take off wax so re-waxing the spot is a good idea.
The only thing that I've ever found that really, really damaged gelcoat is Easy Off oven cleaner.
Ron
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