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I have a number of models that need to be stripped of paint and/or glue. I've been looking through a couple threads, but the majority of suggestions are for paint removers on metal models. I've got Simple Green for light paint on metal and plastic and Acetone Nail Varnish Remover for deep cleaning metal models, but I really need a quick and reliable glue remover for plastic models. A few metals need glue removing as well, so preferably whatever I get would be safe for both.

I am in the state Michigan, so please try to keep suggestions to things I can get relatively easily, preferably at a local store. Anything I'd have to order from Europe is probably more expensive to ship than the item itself.

What glue was used?

 Eldarain wrote:
What glue was used?

Unfortunately, I do not know. Most of them I obtained years ago from a friend I have since lost contact with. The rest were purchased used. If I ever have to break down any of my own models, have so far only used glue from small bottles I bought at local hobby shops that sold GW products. I think they said they were for metal, plastic, resin, etc. I still have what's left of an old bottle of Un-cure from the same maker which says it dissolves cured Cyanocrylate. Again, that only applies to the models I built. No idea what the rest used. The friend was absolutely terrible at building and painting, so who knows what glue he used. I'm just gonna hope it's not something impossible to get rid of, because that would mean almost all the stuff I got from him is little more than scrap plastic.

If we are talking about plastic models - most people use plastic glue like revell contacta for those. In that case there is no easy fix for that since plastic glue melts the contact surfaces and literally fuses them together. The glue itself then evaporates.

If not too much glue was used then you may be able to jam a scalpel between the pieces and twist them apart. You cant unglue them though.

Superglue bonds for plastic or resin can be made more fragile by freezing (Acetone will also work, but you really don't want to use acetone on plastic models because it WILL eat them).

You will want to let the models defrost before trying to separate them - freezing plastic or resin ALSO MAKES THEM brittle.

Metals you don't have to go so easy on them. There's not a lot short of acids that will damage the metal.

Damn. Well, here's hoping it comes apart then. I'll try the more risky and/or destructive options if it comes to that.

I used to use Cyanocrylate exclusively on my own models, so does that melt the plastic or would it come apart in a Simple Green soak or similar plastic safe solution?

SergentSilver wrote:I used to use Cyanocrylate exclusively on my own models, so does that melt the plastic or would it come apart in a Simple Green soak or similar plastic safe solution?

Answered by chromedog:

chromedog wrote:Superglue bonds for plastic or resin can be made more fragile by freezing (Acetone will also work, but you really don't want to use acetone on plastic models because it WILL eat them).

You will want to let the models defrost before trying to separate them - freezing plastic or resin ALSO MAKES THEM brittle.

Metals you don't have to go so easy on them. There's not a lot short of acids that will damage the metal.

As previously mentioned superglue joins can be made brittle and broken by freezing, and excess super glue can be removed with debonder. I use this 'Everbuild' stuff, which has no adverse affect on plastics in my experience. You don't have to submerge the model, just cover the glue bit and let it sit for less than a minute and it goes kinda gooey and can be removed with a stiff brush.



Plastic glue works by a solvent dissolving the plastic, which then evaporates, leaving the plastic relatively unchanged. There is no 'glue' left in place that can be broken down, anything that would break down a plastic glue bond will also break down the plastic. So in that case, you won't be finding a solvent to remove the bond.

Alright, thanks. Didn't realize that cyanoacrylate was a form of super glue.

 SergentSilver wrote:
Alright, thanks. Didn't realize that cyanoacrylate was a form of super glue.

No. 'Super Glue' is a brand name of cyanoacrylate that has been adopted as a generic trademark for cyanoacrlyate much as 'Kleenex' has for facial tissues and 'Xerox' was in the past for photocopies.

 Ghaz wrote:

 SergentSilver wrote:
Alright, thanks. Didn't realize that cyanoacrylate was a form of super glue.

No. 'Super Glue' is a brand name of cyanoacrylate that has been adopted as a generic trademark for cyanoacrlyate much as 'Kleenex' has for facial tissues and 'Xerox' was in the past for photocopies.

Oh, so all super glue is cyanoacrylate? I've never looked into what's in glues I use, so I never realized.

I've used Citristrip to remove paint from GW plastics and metals. It's weird because I havent noticed it negatively affecting GW plastics, but it has consistently melted plastic bases of Privateer Press models. It also seems to weaken superglue.

Available from hardware stores. I either got it from Lowes or Home Depot.

 bbb wrote:
I've used Citristrip to remove paint from GW plastics and metals. It's weird because I havent noticed it negatively affecting GW plastics, but it has consistently melted plastic bases of Privateer Press models. It also seems to weaken superglue.

Available from hardware stores. I either got it from Lowes or Home Depot.

Thanks, I'll give that a try sometime. Anybody know how well Tacky Glue works for modeling? I have some left over from an art class and am curious if it will work well enough to use with models. It says it's "all-purpose glue for crafts, hobbies, and household repair", but I'm not sure this is the kind of hobby they had in mind.

 SergentSilver wrote:

 Ghaz wrote:

 SergentSilver wrote:
Alright, thanks. Didn't realize that cyanoacrylate was a form of super glue.

No. 'Super Glue' is a brand name of cyanoacrylate that has been adopted as a generic trademark for cyanoacrlyate much as 'Kleenex' has for facial tissues and 'Xerox' was in the past for photocopies.

Oh, so all super glue is cyanoacrylate? I've never looked into what's in glues I use, so I never realized.

Super glue/Kragle/etc are brand names of CA glue.

All Super Glue are CA glue, but not all CA glue are Super Glue.






Automatically Appended Next Post:

 SergentSilver wrote:

 bbb wrote:
I've used Citristrip to remove paint from GW plastics and metals. It's weird because I havent noticed it negatively affecting GW plastics, but it has consistently melted plastic bases of Privateer Press models. It also seems to weaken superglue.

Available from hardware stores. I either got it from Lowes or Home Depot.

Thanks, I'll give that a try sometime. Anybody know how well Tacky Glue works for modeling? I have some left over from an art class and am curious if it will work well enough to use with models. It says it's "all-purpose glue for crafts, hobbies, and household repair", but I'm not sure this is the kind of hobby they had in mind.

If you're referring to Aleene's Tacky Glue, no, it won't work for plastic models.

I use simple green for miniature stripping which I set and forget for more than a month. It seems to corrode the CA glue, making it more brittle. I'm not sure whether it's a chemical reaction with the simple green or simply an effect of soaking CA glue in aqueous solution for prolonged time, but the brittle glue bits then can be removed manually with a xacto.

I haven't come across any solution that melts CA glue without damaging the plastic.

Damn. Would that tacky glue be usable for other parts of the hobby? Like attaching basing materials?

 SergentSilver wrote:
Damn. Would that tacky glue be usable for other parts of the hobby? Like attaching basing materials?

It would work for flock/bushes. Tacky glue is a specific formulation of white glue (i.e. elmer's glue) - this glue requires porous/semi-porous surfaces and will not bind plastic on plastic. I believe the glue bottle tells you the recommended surfaces IIRC.

 skchsan wrote:

 SergentSilver wrote:
Damn. Would that tacky glue be usable for other parts of the hobby? Like attaching basing materials?

It would work for flock/bushes. Tacky glue is a specific formulation of white glue (i.e. elmer's glue) - this glue requires porous/semi-porous surfaces and will not bind plastic on plastic. I believe the glue bottle tells you the recommended surfaces IIRC.

Thanks. It doesn't say anything about types of surfaces. Directions just say "Squeeze onto surface. Press pieces together. Water cleanup."