What solvents to use on main lift reterm????

[liddelljohn]

we have been doing a couple of mainlift reterms on a new 36mm Nexans umbilical cable and the glue used to bind the copper and inner core does not respond to usual solvent Alcohol, contact cleaner, carbon tet , diesel ,WD 40 ,or any thing we have on board , the cable are a horrible sticky gunge usable but not nice at all I want some ideas of safe solvents that may shift this muck…yeah elbow grease helps but we need something effective

[luckyjim37]

I had the same problem. I contacted Nexans and they just sent me out the manual.

From experience of these I have found that safeclean 3 works well on the outer grease. I normally use a heat gun to soften off the copper coating.

The glue I normally heat up a little and use just about any combination of cleaners I have to hadn. It is really difficult to get off.

I am not sure how to post a PDF file on here but if you want I can email it to you.

[Rons_ROV_Links]

Best solvent to use and recommended by Nexans is clear lamp oil. The best is to heat up the oil to 25-35 degrees Celsius.
Once I used kerosine with an ambient temperature of 35 degrees Celsius, worked very well.

As luckyjim37 mentioned its best to use a heatgun for the copper polyester laminate.

[Rons_ROV_Links]

See page 7

tr_01_01_08handling_guidelines_849.pdf

Filename: tr_01_01_08handling_guidelines_849.pdf

Download

[Sit Rep]

I have done quite a few re-terms on these cables and have always used diesel as the primary cleaning agent followed by CRC Electraclean.

It is still a bastard of a job but with a lot of patience and elbow grease it works.

I’ve noticed it also seems to be a lot more effective in warmer ambient conditions, e.g. on deck in the tropics, than in a cold environment; so the use of a heat gun would definitely help if you are out in the cold (so to speak).

I had never read the Nexans document before but thanks for the post, I know that I’ve never seen any white spirit in use anywhere that I’ve worked. Zippo lighter fluid is basically the same thing but I would obviously urge extreme caution using it in combination with an ignition source such as a heat gun! A recent IMCA safety flash comes to mind.

I’ve often wondered whether one of the citrus based (citric acid) products would work better (and be more environmentally friendly) but I haven’t tried as yet myself. I seem to recall a telecoms company using something similar years ago.

Cheers

[rover37]

Try DETERMELT 2. Not perfect but works ok especially if you have time to let it soak for a bit.
Designed as a solvent for cleaning glue guns.

[liddelljohn]

thanks guys

[liddelljohn]

We have found that simple White spirit seems the best cleaner after testing 14 items .

[mustafa bigen]

I find that;
4 parts WD40
3 parts blood of afresh faced trainee.
1 parts the urine of an overweight hung over Geordie rigger.
2 eye of OIM. ( he doesn’t use them)
A soup song of tears from a stressed client rep.
2 carton of UHT milk, because let’s face it that’s all its good for.
As many cold half drank brews you can find in the van.
Add that bit of water that never drains away in the shower. You know the one you step in having a off shift pi£$.
If that doesn’t work drink it. When you wake up the reterm will be done!!

Hope this helps.

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