Removing 'no more nails' from skirting boards.

lindos90

Previous home owner had laminate fitted in the hallway and glued a trim around the bottom of the MDF skirting boards. Possibly 'No more nails' or something similar. Now we have removed the trim and old laminate we are left with wobbly lines of this glue stuck along them, about a centimetre from the bottom edge. We are not planning to install new laminate, probably cushionflooring or ceramic tiles, so these wobbly lines of glue will be visible whatever we put down.

My other half has tried to use his electric sander to try to reduce/remove the glue but it doesn't seem to have made much of an impact on the glue. We are worried that going courser with sandpaper might start ripping into the skirting boards, but may still make little impression on the adhesive.

Is there a money saving solution to anyone can suggest to remove the glue without further damage to the skirting boards please? 

FreeBear

I've removed NoNails type adhesives in the past with a paint scraper and then finished off with a hand scraper. But on MDF, there is a good chance that you will lift the top layer of "wood" off. Certainly wouldn't recommend sanding.

teaselMay

If it was wood skirting I'd use a scraper or probably an old kitchen knife - this is why I can never find a sharp kitchen knife in the kitchen! It would peel and scrape off. Whatever you do is likely to damage the MDF and so you may need to decide whether you prefer the ghost of the glue or having to repair the MDF

Alderbank

 Unfortunately for you, these type of products are extremely good at doing what this one says on the tin, as you have discovered.

I have removed No More Nails with a wood chisel slid along the surface of the MDF and gently tapping the chisel with a mallet but it is tedious.
If you warm it to above 55°C with a hot air gun set on low or a hair dryer it will soften and come away more easily.

ThisIsWeird

Photo, Lindos?
But good chance you can shift it as described above, and Alderbank's suggestion of some heat might help - worth trying.
Nicely sharp (well used!) scrapers and chisels are your best bet, but keep the attack angle very low - nigh-on flush with the MDF surface. With the scraper, handle low, and press blade so it bends and the blade is flat on the surface. 
With a chisel, use the bevel side to get the tip flush, but chisels need more care in any case as the can easily dig in. 
And always with the blade edge moving away from you...

If you look closely at the adhesive beads, good chance they've squished out as they leave the MDF surface, so hopefully the blade will get in under there and bite. Then gentle taps with a mallet or lump of wood.

Don't try and prise it away, or it'll almost certainly tear the MDF surface away with it.

Also worth trying to knock the bead off towards the direction of the bottom of the skirting, so any resulting damage will hopefully occur lower down the board, where the new floor covering has a better chance of hiding most of it. Your new covering will come up a goodly amount - tiles at least 10mm, I'd have thought?
Is the glue brown or white? The latter is likely to be water-based stuff, and more brittle - probably easier to remove.
Another method, instead of thumping the scraper forwards, is to repeatedly wiggle its handle sideways back and forth an inch or so as you push forwards - this can sometimes help scissor its way through. 
Blade low/flush, tho'.
Examine the resulting finish, use the scraper or chisel again to remove any loose or raised flakes of MDF, prime using MDF primer, and then apply a smear of fine surface filler, using the rest of the flat surface as your guide - Ie, only the smallest smear will be needed. Light sanding with a flat block and 180-ish grit, wipe clean, and a second smear if needed. Sand once more.
Almost certainly will be fine.

[Deleted User]

It might be a silicone or acrylic based product, in which case a solvent remover would work.

Screwfix sell a 'No Nonsense' product for £5.99 - perhaps worth a try?

maisie_cat

I've removed loads of this stuff and found the easiest is a sharp chisel and mallet.
A sharp knock breaks the bond and sometimes long bits can be peeled or "persuaded" with a scraper. 

ThisIsWeird

[Deleted User] said:

It might be a silicone or acrylic based product, in which case a solvent remover would work.

Screwfix sell a 'No Nonsense' product for £5.99 - perhaps worth a try?

I think, from the description, this stuff is hard. 

Silicone type sealants, certainly, should be rubbery and easily removed with a scraper from a flat surface. Any liquid remover would most likely damage the MDF.

lindos90

Wow, thankyou everyone for your suggestions, especially ThisIsWeird for all the detailed advice!
It's a light brown in colour, very hard. I had no idea that some warmth might help top, thanks all so much x

Murmansk

An oscillating multitool with scraper blade might be a good way to do it?

ThisIsWeird

Murmansk said:

An oscillating multitool with scraper blade might be a good way to do it?

Pffft - that's far too easy.

And quite possibly the best solution