you do I get rid of mastic

[halfnhalf]

We've taken a sink off our bathroom wall and want to clean it and replace with new taps. But I'm finding it really difficult to get the rubbery mastic off from round the tap holes. I'm using a stanley knife at the moment. Has any got any suggestions of a better method?

You need something like <a class="break-all" href="http://www.google.co.uk/imgres?hl=en&safe=active&sa=X&tbo=d&biw=1097&bih=567&tbm=isch&tbnid=Ayq5rGDLRSGebM:&imgrefurl=www.decoratingdirect.co.uk/viewprod/r/RODHDWSS4/&docid=QTd4jnpA-9-5JM&imgurl=www.decoratingdirect.co.uk/images/product_images/rubber_grip_wall_scraper.jpg&w=350&h=536&ei=qhK-ULn5IYaK0AWL4oCYCw&zoom=1&iact=hc&vpx=278&vpy=89&dur=5527&hovh=278&hovw=181&tx=100&ty=167&sig=109607027754493980800&page=1&tbnh=147&tbnw=96&start=0&ndsp=19&ved=1t:429,r:2,s:0,i:89" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">this

I use this for stripping wallpaper off walls, sealant off tiles, paint off a wooden chest to repaint etc.

A stanley knife has the blade running in the wrong direction, you need something that will go flush to the wall.

Also you can get sealant remover, I have found the best one to be Unibond, you can get it from the likes of B&Q. Do not skimp on the time it says to leave it. It will go sticky again but it will say on the back of the tube what to help clean it off with, I think it is white spirits but double check.

For resealing round the sink when you install one, have a small bowl of water with washing up liquid in it, and dip your finger in that before you smooth the sealant. Also shed loads of kitchen roll to wipe your finger on.

If you are not very good at it, mask off both the wall and the sink.

I meant wall or sink, you need a blade to go flush with the wall or sink, hence the scraper.

It is almost certainly not Mastic, which is a gum obtained from a mediteranean tree called a Mastic bush, which the Greeks used use as chewing gum, hence it is called mastic because you masticate it.

It will be silicone sealant, and you can get silicone remover from places that sell the sealant, for example

that's all true, by the way.

or here

thanks everybody, that's just what I need to know. Interesting about the mastic as well, but isn't there something that we use in DIY that's often called mastic?

Old people still sometimes use the word mastic to descibe a sticky non-setting material, but once you know what material you are really using, it is easy to find out how to use or remove it.

If you search "silicone sealant remover" it is easy to find.

Oh good, I thought I was imagining it. I've got the remover this morning, thanks for the help.