removing old glue

starmanmm · Post by **starmanmm** » Wed Mar 16, 2005 8:36 pm

Got an old kit that has some pieces glued on wrong. Figure that it was glued on with regular model glue. What is the best way to remove the piece without damaging them?

I did a search and failed to find any listing in the archives on this subject (as strange as it may sound).

mechnut · Post by **mechnut** » Fri Mar 18, 2005 4:24 am

have you tried putting it in some hot soapy water over night. i did it with a starfury that i brought of ebay and it came apart.

starmanmm · Post by **starmanmm** » Fri Mar 18, 2005 1:14 pm

Never thought of doing that?

Tried using the back edge of a knive to scrape some of the glue away, hoping that it would loosen the piece, but no luck.

Jonas Calhoun · Post by **Jonas Calhoun** » Fri Mar 18, 2005 2:33 pm

Depending on the glue, I've also heard putting it in the freezer overnight can do the trick.

Dan

MarkW · Post by **MarkW** » Sun Mar 20, 2005 1:37 pm

CAREFULLY applying turpentine along the seam works well. But, it can weaken the plastic so be very careful and gentle. If the plastic becomes weakened, it will return to normal as the turpentine evaporates. I would try to remove as much as possible by hand and careful cutting if the plastic is old and brittle.

starmanmm · Post by **starmanmm** » Sun Mar 20, 2005 3:38 pm

The freezing idea someone told me about at a show. Figured on giving that a try first.

Buzzbomb · Post by **Buzzbomb** » Sat Mar 26, 2005 4:44 pm

Another method, albeit a little less enviromentally and health friendly, is to drop the model in a bath of Caustic Soda, leave for a day or 2, rinse off and then you should be able to gently start pulling apart the model. The other beneficial (or detrimental) side effect is that it will also take off the paint as well !

Mack · Post by **Mack** » Sat Mar 26, 2005 9:02 pm

Will freezing work for cyanoacrylates?

Mikeym_us · Post by **Mikeym_us** » Sat Mar 26, 2005 11:27 pm

I don't know if freezing will work for CA glues but try soaking the parts in hot water like Bath water and it should come apart seeing as CA glues do not like heat.

Mack · Post by **Mack** » Tue Apr 05, 2005 12:20 pm

Thanks, tried this and it worked. Only broke a few pegs off, but now I can redo that botched gundam and patlabor model.

PillCounterD · Post by **PillCounterD** » Sun Sep 11, 2005 12:46 am

Buzzbomb wrote:Another method, albeit a little less enviromentally and health friendly, is to drop the model in a bath of Caustic Soda, leave for a day or 2, rinse off and then you should be able to gently start pulling apart the model. The other beneficial (or detrimental) side effect is that it will also take off the paint as well !

Sorry to bring back an old tread, but will this do any damage to clear parts?