How do I remove a Traction Pad on my Surfboard?

Question

The Traction Pad on my surfboard is crappy, and the back panel, where it is raised is ripped off. I want to completely take off my current traction pad and buy a new one. But I heard it was hard, and you needed alot of work to take off all the leftover glue so your new pad will stick.

Answer 1

The first three answers are a little off base. Do not start scraping on your board and never use acetone on it, it will melt the finish on your board. Also, never apply heat. It can cause your board to delaminate. Use cigarette lighter fluid or mineral spirits to cut the glue holding the deck patch on. Also, don't try lacquer thinner, it contains acetone. Be careful.

Answer 2

If it is already peeling off try using a hair dryer to heat the exposed edge of the adhesive as you pull on the pad.  If it isn't peeling already use a razor scraper to start one corner.

After you get the pad off you can use acetone as HB suggested or simply take a couple of paper towels and lay them over the glue and soak them with Goo-B-Gone and let it soak for a few minutes.  The glue will come up pretty easy after that.

Answer 3

Unfortunately, what you've heard is true. But so what! In life, what ISN'T hard when it comes to work? Not a bad thing. At least it'll deliver at sense of satisfaction upon completion, right? Anyway, back to the situation at hand. A) It really isn't all THAT difficult. It's just a bit time consuming and demands you to be VERY meticulous. B) Material. Go to Home Depot a pick up a utility knife (or just a pack of razor blades. Whichever you'll be most comfortable working with) and some acetone. C) Procedure. VERY, VERY CAREFULLY use a BRAND NEW razor blade and scrape off the old deck without (obviously) penetrating ANY of your board's fiberglass or finish. You need to remove as much of the old deck as possible with the razor blades, making sure to always use as fresh of a blade as possible. As soon as you feel the razor blade is dulling out, toss it and use a fresh one. Not only will this make the job easier and quicker, a fresh blade will minimize accidental fiberglass damage. This step is the main pain, and what makes this particular project take so d**n long. D) The Big Finish. When you've gotten as much of the old deck off as possible with the razor blades, you'll need to grab a CLEAN rag and your acetone. Add acetone to the CLEAN rag and begin to rub out ALL of the remaining old adhesive. This too, will take some time. Not to mention a fair share of "elbow grease". Be careful here too. Large amounts acetone in one spot with added pressure can break down your board's finish and crack the fiberglass as well. Just make sure to not rush this important final step. As soon as you've removed the final bits and pieces of the old adhesive and your board is as smooth as a Jessica Biel's butt, you're ready to apply your NEW deck or wax. Good luck! If you have anymore questions, feel free to shoot me an e-mail at [e-mail]. By the way, I'm partial to the O.A.M. decks and think they're the absolute best decks on the market that money can buy. Just one man's opinion! Cead Made Failte!