Camp woof
California
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Joined: 08/26/2014
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Driving myself crazy reading about sealants. I need to reseal the bezel of the fridge access cover. Hopefully I'll never have to replace that plastic bezel. I'd like to use a sealant that can be touched up. Will use painters tape to try to keep sealant contained. Will clean with a mineral spirit
Use the sikaflex, or stick with silicone and hope not to get some pinhole leaks? Im not the best sealer whatever the material! The original silicon looks to have failed because of a mechanical failure. One of the screws used to secure the bezel popped out.
Happy New Year, and thanks.
Dave
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HMS Beagle
Napa, California
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Joined: 08/22/2003
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I wouldn't use silicone for almost anything on an RV. Sikaflex or 3M polyurethane. Tape tight to the flange before you begin, rake ALL the excess squeeze out, peel the tape immediately and then don't touch it until it hardens. Depends on the exact product from Sika or 3M, but the medium to stronger ones will hold the plastic bezel with no fasteners at all.
Bigfoot 10.4E, 2015 F350 6.7L DRW 2WD, Autoflex Ultra Air Ride rear suspension, Hellwig Bigwig sway bars front and rear
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Camp woof
California
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Thanks HMS! I respect your knowledge
of fiberglass from reading this forum for some years. This is for a bigfoot, which I know you have.
Dave
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Fulltimers
Anywhere, USA
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Joined: 07/16/2004
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My RV manufacturer used pure silicone on all joints 19 years ago and it has never failed. I have resealed items I have replaced with 100% silicone and have never had a problem. I do the painters tape deal and it looks perfect.
Fulltimers
Fulltimers Weblog
2003 Rexhall Aerbus 3550BSL
W-22 Workhorse
2005 Saturn Vue (Mr. Toad)
3.5L V6 Automatic
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Camp woof
California
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Thanks Fulltimers, most of my silicone sreals are fine, it's some mechanical stresses that I think did in a few others.
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towpro
Compass PA
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Joined: 02/08/2011
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Geocel Flex RV would be my first choice.
Forest River Forester 2401R Mercedes Benz.
Sold: 2016 Arctic Fox 990, 2018 Ram 3500, 2011 Open Range
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HMS Beagle
Napa, California
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Joined: 08/22/2003
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Fulltimers wrote:My RV manufacturer used pure silicone on all joints 19 years ago and it has never failed. I have resealed items I have replaced with 100% silicone and have never had a problem. I do the painters tape deal and it looks perfect.
You should be playing the lottery with that luck.
My experience is different than yours. My 14 year old camper was sealed with silicone, effectively 100% of that sealant has failed. I have owned 5 largish RVs (3 Bigfeet, one Airstream, one Safari), all had at least some silicone used, with nearly complete failure. In the yachting industry silicone is rarely used to seal any deck fittings, and only on the cheapest of products. 3M and Sika are perhaps the most used sealant brands, both make silicone and polyurethane sealants, and both recommend polyurethane for this use. For critical applications (like boat underwater fittings) both specifically recommend NOT using silicone.
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ScottG
Bothell Wa.
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Joined: 02/25/2005
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Buddy's new Grand Design is slathered all over with silicone. It has two leaks but not sure either is attributable to the silicone or just lousy workmanship (probably the latter).
* This post was
edited 01/08/22 08:45pm by ScottG *
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Geo*Boy
Unknown
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Joined: 04/27/2020
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towpro wrote:Geocel Flex RV would be my first choice.
X2
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towpro
Compass PA
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Here you go
https://www.amazon.com/s?k=geocel+28100&crid=2NZ7SS6J3CN0&sprefix=geocel+28100+%2Caps%2C58&ref=nb_sb_noss
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