For the love of all things holy, I hate old treadmaster

[George DuBose]

I used a multi-tool with a wide saw blade and flush cut the 30 year old epoxied Treadmaster off of the deck.

Didn't need to heat anything.

Replaced it with Tek-Dek and it looks like a new boat.

[SV Siren]

Well, I have an update. After spending an hour with a heat gun and a scraper...I removed about 5 Sq. Ft. With only another 155 sq ft. to go, I think that I wont be continuing with the heat gun, and will be switching to a multi-tool. I do have to say, if you only had a small area to do, the heat gun isn't so bad, but with a 50' flush deck to do, and so many other jobs to do I will be switching.

Would a knife edge be the best, or would a fine tooth blade be better? I do not wish to start shaving into the actual deck, which is my biggest concern.

[minaret]

Flush cut blade in the multi tool.


No set to the teeth means it gets between stuff better and wont mar up the deck as bad.



https://www.amazon.com/DEWALT-Dwa421...+cut+saw+blade

[UNCIVILIZED]

I'm in the power planer camp. And while there may be merit in the cost of the tool comment. Often times you can pick up lightly used tools for significantly cheaper than new. And or, you can sell a (well cared for) tool once the job's done, for a good portion of what you paid for it.

Personally, I'd be more concerned about gouging the deck, or removing a lot of paint & filler via a Multi-Master. But then I've no experience with them, & plenty with a planer.

Some of the choice boils down to how much frustration, & or learning curve, you're willing to tolerate. As well as how much collateral damage the tool/removal process may generate.

A question for those who are worldly when it comes to the Multi-Master. How quickly is one likely to go through blades when using it for a job like this. As I know that some paints can be awfully dang tough on the cutting edges of tools.
So that if one chooses to go with one of these, then blade costs, & the time to change them also needs to be factored in. Ditto on a planer of course, though I'm guessing that it's less with one.

[fredw]

Try using a vibrating scraper it should help if you keep angle low so it doesn't dig into deck

[SV Siren]

I will wind up buying a multi tool. I planned on buying one anyways as I will have multiple projects for it. Once it arrives off Amazon I will post an update.

I appreciate your inputs everyone!