How do you easily take off those silicon glues on windows?

So an aluminum and glass guy who's a friend, offered to replace a window in our home. But on the glasses were silicon glues and it's kind of hard to take it off. It also takes time to scrape it off. Any tips?

Heat it with a heat gun and scrap it off with a razor blade. Then go over it with 0000 steel wool to polish it up. The fine of wool will not scratch the glass, so don't worry about that.

Ummm how about spraying some solvents ?

Thats what I was thinking DP. They make products specifically for silicone removal but they need hours of dwell time

Just like cleaning carpets, there are different pieces of the pie.

A solvent can break up the adhesive, heat can soften it, scraping is mechanical process, steel wool is mechanical agitation.....it all works.

If you ask any signage shop that places logos on vehicles, they all use heat guns or else a pinkie eraser that attaches to your power drill or air ratchet. Both methods work very well without the fear of etching like a solvent.

Steel wool in 0000 is used as a glass cleaner in the body shops and car show arenas and has been for decades. Remove the adhesive using any method you desire and polish it up.

Scraping and steel wool are the best options for cleaning the glass.

HOWEVER, NEVER scrape glass with a dry blade. NEVER. ALWAYS scrape with the window wetted down with water and soap solution. (a drop or two of dawn in a gallon on water will work).

Be cautious of manufacturing debris on the glass too. It's quite common.

Good call Freemind, I failed to mention that one...pretty important point. Don't scrape dry....just like shaving in the mirror, dry can cause issues.

milspec6 wrote:Heat it with a heat gun and scrap it off with a razor blade.  Then go over it with 0000 steel wool to polish it up.  The fine of wool will not scratch the glass, so don't worry about that.

Thank you so much! Will be working on it as soon as I get what's needed.

25 years as a window cleaner and this is the best stuff for that...
http://www.window-cleaning-supply.com/chemical-solvent-titan-labs-oil-flo-starting-at/

but a lot of guys are liking this too...

http://www.window-cleaning-supply.com/chemical-solvent-bio-solv-starting-at/

I tried the bio-solv and it works if you're into being super green.

Now if you want to go the local route and not order online home depot sells a product called Spot X that combined with 0000 steel wool and a bit of elbow grease will take off all but the most bionic silicone.

Ken Raddon wrote:25 years as a window cleaner and this is the best stuff for that...
http://www.window-cleaning-supply.com/chemical-solvent-titan-labs-oil-flo-starting-at/

but a lot of guys are liking this too...

http://www.window-cleaning-supply.com/chemical-solvent-bio-solv-starting-at/

I tried the bio-solv and it works if you're into being super green.

Now if you want to go the local route and not order online home depot sells a product called Spot X that combined with 0000 steel wool and a bit of elbow grease will take off all but the most bionic silicone.

Thanks! I might actually just go with the bio-solv since I'm kinda lazy with scraping off things LOL