Forum adverts like this one are shown to any user who is not logged in. Join us by filling out a tiny 3 field form and you will get your own, free, dakka user account which gives a good range of benefits to you: No adverts like this in the forums anymore. Times and dates in your local timezone. Full tracking of what you have read so you can skip to your first unread post, easily see what has changed since you last logged in, and easily see what is new at a glance. Email notifications for threads you want to watch closely. Being a part of the oldest wargaming community on the net. If you are already a member then feel free to login now.

So, i got this real badly built baneblade, like, i wanna throw it out or ignore the project for another 3 years.
But no, im working on it.
Does anyone know anything that can remove or soften superglue that wont damage plastic?

I don't know about softening superglue but you can put it in the freezer which should make the superglue more brittle and easier to snap/break/work at.

You might also want to hunt around a hobby store or ebay and find a saw blade for a scalpel and use one of them to help cut out the parts as you might have to work on the join areas (since the glue might well, even when brittle, stronger than the plastic itself).


I'm not aware of anything that will dissolve superglue, though I'm sure there are such products out there. The big risk would be that anything that can break the superglue bond might well be harmful to the plastic.

Do you have to tear the parts off, is there a way to work with the glue and keep it on; perhaps scraping it back a bit to the join and then covering it with battle damage or camoflage. You could cover the tank in camo cloth (well not really, but look up how to do it for a model and use that effect) .

Acetone dissolves super glue (cyanoacrylate).

You can find it in nail polish remover. You can get that anywhere, so I’d try a bit on a hidden spot to see if that works.

Acetone also melt plastic, so the best way is the freezer method mentioned above.

Simple green often softens superglue and is safe for plastic.

I used brake fluid to strip my GK army and bought bits for the parts that I couldn't unbond. Turned out well.

I had this problem a few months ago. Freeze it for a few hours (longer won't help), use a Stanley knife as a level when needed (smaller knives don't have enough leverage), and if you have a really tough bit, submerge it in a solvent and freeze it at the same time.

https://www.dakkadakka.com/dakkaforum/posts/list/778844.page

I use a superglue remover combined with a quick wash as soon as you get the parts separated and then use the knife to remove the excess. It will damage the plastic if left on too long, but mostly discolouration rather than actual plastic damage.

Examples are in my Tau log where you can see me repair second hand Tau tanks.

Hope that helps,

CB

Soaking in Simple Green will weaken the superglue to the point where the pieces can be easily pulled apart. Wait a few weeks to months and it'll fall apart on its own.

I would highly recommend not using acetone, as it will melt the plastic.

A few things. I work with superglue/resin a lot.

Put the model in the freezer to weaken the bonds. 1 hour should do it, though you can go longer. This should help you break apart the joints where the glue is. After this you can use a hobby knife to scrape away the excess or files ot file it down.

This is usually sufficient.

If some pieces are stubborn you can throw them in an ultrasonic cleaner with some LA totally awesome and run it about a dozen times and it will slowly break down the glue.