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I did a bad job of placing a deathwatch veteran torso on his legs and I can't get them undone. I used gel superglue, not plastic glue, so it should not be permanent. After I realized I made a mistake I placed the marine in my freezer for 3 hours and tried to pull him apart, I have done it many times before and it has always worked. It didn't work. Back in the freezer overnight this time (12+ hours), and he is still stuck. I tried putting him in warm water with Ajax degreaser for 3 hours, still nothing. I've put the marine back in the freezer 3 times for ~12 hours each time, and each time I try to take him apart with exacto knives, needles, paperclips, tooth picks, etc. He will not come undone. I bought helping hand superglue remover and coated his waist in that and still nothing.

How can I take this marine apart? I've tried everything I have heard about short of cutting the model in two or dropping it on concrete. How do you break superglue bonds?

 Eipi10 wrote:
cutting the model in two

This may be your only way. Use a piercing or jeweler's saw, very carefully, very slowly.

Although, you could try finding a small chisel and using it to split the 2 parts along the join.

Fictional wrote:


Although, you could try finding a small chisel and using it to split the 2 parts along the join.

Would a small flat head screw driver work? And what would do the most to loosen it up before hand: freezing or a warm soap bath, or something else? I don't think the superglue remover did anything.

If you absolutely can't get them apart, place a Stanley knife under the belt and cut them apart. You should be able to repose it with a little tidying and shaving/filing.

Would an exacto knife work better or do you need a larger knife? A stanley knife looks a bit thick.

A stanley/craft knife will probably be needed as you'd need the strength and leverage of a larger blade to get through the thick but of plastic.

As you've used superglue, freezing the model makes the bond brittle and you can effectively snap the model at the torso with a big of help from a stanley knife.

I've done it a few times with Tyranids and it's worked pretty well!

I'd be surprised if super glue de-bonder didn't at least loosen it up?

Soaking super glue in denatured alcohol makes it brittle too and should break up pretty easily

Easy.

If its actual superglue and not plasticglue like you claim.

Throw it in the freezer for about 30 minutes. Then just use a hobby knife to pry them apart. Torso should pop right off.

I do this all the time when working with superglue.

Tl;DR FREEZE THE MODEL for 30 minutes.

Op did that for 12hrs already

 Rybrook wrote:
Op did that for 12hrs already

Then he didnt use CA super glue.

OP do you have the exact name, pic or link of the glue you used?

Dynas wrote:

 Rybrook wrote:
Op did that for 12hrs already

Then he didnt use CA super glue.

OP do you have the exact name, pic or link of the glue you used?

This stuff: https://www.amazon.com/Original-Super-Glue-Cyanoacrylate-tubes/dp/B00I4CWHD4
I probably used too much, but super glue is super glue. I don't own plastic glue any more.

Rybrook wrote:Soaking super glue in denatured alcohol makes it brittle too and should break up pretty easily

Would rubbing alcohol work? I know alcohol melts resin minis but plastic will be ok, right?

Slipstream wrote:I'd be surprised if super glue de-bonder didn't at least loosen it up?

I used helping hand super glue remover. I don't think it can reach the inner layers of superglue. It only loosens the outside.

 Eipi10 wrote:

Dynas wrote:

 Rybrook wrote:
Op did that for 12hrs already

Then he didnt use CA super glue.

OP do you have the exact name, pic or link of the glue you used?

This stuff: https://www.amazon.com/Original-Super-Glue-Cyanoacrylate-tubes/dp/B00I4CWHD4
I probably used too much, but super glue is super glue. I don't own plastic glue any more.

Rybrook wrote:Soaking super glue in denatured alcohol makes it brittle too and should break up pretty easily

Would rubbing alcohol work? I know alcohol melts resin minis but plastic will be ok, right?

Slipstream wrote:I'd be surprised if super glue de-bonder didn't at least loosen it up?

I used helping hand super glue remover. I don't think it can reach the inner layers of superglue. It only loosens the outside.

Hmmm... Freezing it should work. It should make it brittle. You may have to pry a bit if you use a lot.

You can use Iso alcohol to strip plastic minis. Bonus if you have a ultrasonic clear. I have had glue bonds break before when stripping minis (but never purposely tried to use it for that purpose).

Perhaps a pic of the model would help?

There is a white film along the joint I want to break, I think it is soap. I will try submerging it in alcohol and freezing it at same time (the freezing point is -100). And failing that I might just accept an unusually flexible marine. It’s not worth cutting it in two without a jeweler’s saw. Unless it’s ok to try with an exacto knife and a xuron.

Alcohol will strip a plastic mini, the only thing it will alter is the shine, it will go dull matt looking

Acetone is a no no,

It came undone! The Stanley knife helped a lot. I think the alcohol helped a bit, keeping it cooler for longer after removing it from the freezer. Thanks for the help everyone.