Large Scale Central

Crazy glue softener/remover

Modeling
#1

A friend told me that acetone is the only thing to use to soften Crazy Glue (cyanoacrylate).

Is there anything else?

I have a widget, super glued to a doo-hickey, but now I want to remove it and place it somewhere else. Doesn’t acetone soften styrene and other plastics?

#2

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cyanoacrylate#Solvents_and_debonders

That should do it.

To make stronger bonds with CA add baking soda.

And here some hands-on advise:

  1. some people use acetone, its good for wiping smears of CA or if you can soak something in it eg bottle nozzles, acetone isnt that good a solvent for CA but it does work

  2. Nitromethane works better on some CA than acetone, but tends to damage paints/films in high concentrations and doesnt work on all CA

  3. comenrcial acetone based debonders are far better than either of the above as they contain additives to prevent the glue going tacky as it drys, they work quickly but tend to dry quickly making them good for bdebonding fingers and wiping small bits, not good on large areas, work on all CA and contain no nitromethane but around 90-95% acetone

  4. Solvent free commercial debonders also have anti tack additives, can be put on a surface and left for hours to woek through a lump of CA, once its in the CA the CA is like a soft gel virtualy indefinately, good for thick layers, work on all CA, they work quickly on any CA but can be left if required

Usualy best trying to snap it with a sharp tap after scoring the glue line!

And http://www.hobbylinc.com/ca-super-glue-debonder

#3

Actually, my understanding is that it has to be a mixture of acetone and water to be effective.

#4

Steve

Acetone does work softening ACC but also dissolves or softens styrene big time.

Maybe a heat gun will allow you to get an x-acto ( heat the blade not the part ) between the glue and plastic and slowly cut away the glue.

I don’t know of anything that softens acc but not styrene plastic.

Another thought - if you can bend the plastic part without breaking it ACC doesn’t bend, it shatters.

Bill

#5

Thanks, all. This will help.

#6

Have seen on miniatures game blogs and on plastic model blogs that super glue will be broken down by ultrasonic cleaners.
I have not seen, however, anyone mention an ultrasonic cleaner of proportions suitable for a 1:29 Erie Triplex.

#7

Forrest Scott Wood said:

Have seen on miniatures game blogs and on plastic model blogs that super glue will be broken down by ultrasonic cleaners.
I have not seen, however, anyone mention an ultrasonic cleaner of proportions suitable for a 1:29 Erie Triplex.

It is possible, but change out the usual liquid used in the ultrasonic cleaner to plain tap water. I learned that the hard way 40+ years ago. (http://www.largescalecentral.com/externals/tinymce/plugins/emoticons/img/smiley-wink.gif)(http://www.largescalecentral.com/externals/tinymce/plugins/emoticons/img/smiley-embarassed.gif)