Getting glue off floorboards?

valk_scot

I've just spent a happy morning ripping up the old frayed sisal flooring in my living room. I'm intending to sand and varnish the floorboards because they're nice old ones in good condition. But...problem. The sisal matting was rubber backed and has been stuck down with what looks like epoxy glue. (If epoxy glue is that sort of rubbery stuff?) There is a huge amount of this to deal with, but I think since it's rubbery it will just jam up a sanding belt so I need to get rid of it first. I've already tried a scraper (no) and picking it off. (Also no.)

I don't mind getting down on my hands and knees for a morning or two to do this, but given that I've got both kids and cats I don't want anything too toxic. Also I don't want it to damage the floorboards.

Any ideas? Some sort of solvent?

boniespook_2

believe it or not put some talc down and it will absorb all the sticky stuff. Just shake it over and brush with a sweeping brush. The residue is then easy to remove. We had this problem in the kitchen and it worked.

tracey

Ionkontrol

Ronsonol petrol lighter fluid in the yellow cans. Dissolves adhesives.

TimBuckTeeth

Ionkontrol wrote: »

Ronsonol petrol lighter fluid in the yellow cans. Dissolves adhesives.

It might be good at dissolving adhesives, but is probably not the best stuff to be splashing over floorboards. :eek:

TimBuckTeeth

valk_scot wrote: »

I've just spent a happy morning ripping up the old frayed sisal flooring in my living room. I'm intending to sand and varnish the floorboards because they're nice old ones in good condition. But...problem. The sisal matting was rubber backed and has been stuck down with what looks like epoxy glue. (If epoxy glue is that sort of rubbery stuff?) There is a huge amount of this to deal with, but I think since it's rubbery it will just jam up a sanding belt so I need to get rid of it first. I've already tried a scraper (no) and picking it off. (Also no.)

I don't mind getting down on my hands and knees for a morning or two to do this, but given that I've got both kids and cats I don't want anything too toxic. Also I don't want it to damage the floorboards.

Any ideas? Some sort of solvent?

Epoxy glue sets hard, araldite is one type. It is likely to be contact adhesive or a rubber based glue (eg. copydex type).
I think mechanical removal (scraping, sanding) etc. is the best way, solvents will be messy, soak into the wood and most likely be flammable or toxic.

If you hire a floorboard stripper machine with a rotating blade then it should take it off easily and remove the top few mm of board giving a flatter surface. Otherwise a hired floor sanding machine should cope with the glue OK.