Help ! How to remove dried silicone !

[LE15-Thumper]

Old set of JBL's, crinkle paint from 1976. Guy installed them and used silicone to make "final" seal. How do I remove this ? Tried 99% alcohol, no effect.

Any ideas ?

[grumpy]

very stiff brush. gonna be a booger to get that out of crinkle paint without
messing it up.

[scorpio]

Agreed, you'll have to use mechanical means. I've worked in the silicone industry for over 20 yrs, once cured, you won't be able to remove silicone sealant with any know solvents without damaging the surface under it. If the paint is very well cured, you can always try to soften the cured sealant, but that will only work well with nasty solvents like toluene or some pet distillates.

[duaneage]

Piano wire under the driver, try and cut the stuff loose. Gasoline softens silicone in seconds, kerosene or wd-40 might do the trick too.

[subwoof]

NO solvet twill work - it only makes the eventual cleanup harder.

If it is old, remove all you can with your fingernail and then use a stiff toothbrush that has the bristles cut to 1/2 length.

Short of a wire brush, this is all the force you can use *inside* the tiny grooves without marring the paint.

sub