Removing varnish from sheets
Posted by burn_in_flames@reddit | sailing | View on Reddit | 7 comments
Hi all,
I have two sheets which were stored with a can of varnish on them (accidentally of course). The varnish leaked so now there are patches of hardened varnish on the sheets in various places (as they were coiled).
I can peel away a lot of it by hand but obviously it's soaked into the polyester sheath. I'm hesitant to use any solvent on them as I'm worried it damages the lines. The sheets are relatively new so I am prepared to put some work in to save them. Are they salvageable? What is the best way to remove this?
AeroRep@reddit
Those lines are ruined. Would not use them.
burn_in_flames@reddit (OP)
Why are they ruined?
jfinkpottery@reddit
At first I thought you meant bed sheets, and I'd say buy new bed sheets.
Now I realize you mean lines. Buy new lines. A solvent might damage the lines, and the varnish might also damage the lines.
sailingtroy@reddit
I would buy new sheets, but I'm pretty meticulous about my lines. I coil and hang all the "nice" lines every winter. Probably not the answer you want, nor what most would do.
7seascompany@reddit
I would spot test lacquer thinner on the end of the sheet. Worst case, time, the sun and use will likely break it down.
Haunting-Yak-7851@reddit
As anyone who's ever prepped their boat knows, what really removes varnish is sunlight :) I would just leave the sheets as-is and I bet at the end of the season it will be hard to see the stains.
strangefolk@reddit
Acetone?