Un-glueing models

Same here Waynec. 

I didn't think it would work but was out of options so I tried the freezer method and I'm shocked to admit it worked great.

amazing what can be learned here .............frozen hard drive

Works with computer hardrives too!!!

Well, not to take them apart but to get them working to transfer critical data.

Yep, freezer trick.

Another vote for the freezer trick.

Shellback

 

padakr:

 

Depends on how well the surfaces bonded and how much was used.  A spare amount might result in joins that could yield to a little finessing.  A lot of glue probably means the plastic is now one solid piece and cutting is your only option.

I have had some success using mineral spirits to "loosen" the bond.  Used sparingly along the join and then gently prying to get the parts apart.  I've only ever used this technique with recently glued parts using Testors liquid (purple label), you know, the "oh cr@p!" moment when I realized that I glued it wrong.

Paul

 

 

Gotta be careful with the mineral spirits . Too much and the plastic looses its strength and will get "pulpy" and disintegrate . 

Yep.  The key is "sparingly".  Just a little bit, applied with a paint brush. And again, I've only done this with recently joined parts.  On a fully cured join, I don't know if it would work.

Paul

padakr

Depends on how well the surfaces bonded and how much was used.  A spare amount might result in joins that could yield to a little finessing.  A lot of glue probably means the plastic is now one solid piece and cutting is your only option.

I have had some success using mineral spirits to "loosen" the bond.  Used sparingly along the join and then gently prying to get the parts apart.  I've only ever used this technique with recently glued parts using Testors liquid (purple label), you know, the "oh cr@p!" moment when I realized that I glued it wrong.

Paul

Gotta be careful with the mineral spirits . Too much and the plastic looses its strength and will get "pulpy" and disintegrate . 

tankerbuilder

I have found that in this case,the freezer is the answer. I put the model in the freezer and it seems to " POP " apart.There are times that even this won,t work too. Then I use " MICRO-SAWS".These saws are made of the same stuff as P.E. and are just as thin,so a lot of material will NOT be lost if you have to do it this way.    TANKERbuilder

Gonna have to agree with Tank.  I once purchased an F-80 through eBay.  It came with the wing halves glued together but they were not lined up properly at all.  I popped them in the freezer and I actually forgot them in there for a few days.  I pulled them out and, with a little force, they popped cleanly in half.

Eric

Depends on how well the surfaces bonded and how much was used.  A spare amount might result in joins that could yield to a little finessing.  A lot of glue probably means the plastic is now one solid piece and cutting is your only option.

I have had some success using mineral spirits to "loosen" the bond.  Used sparingly along the join and then gently prying to get the parts apart.  I've only ever used this technique with recently glued parts using Testors liquid (purple label), you know, the "oh cr@p!" moment when I realized that I glued it wrong.

Paul

I have found that in this case,the freezer is the answer. I put the model in the freezer and it seems to " POP " apart.There are times that even this won,t work too. Then I use " MICRO-SAWS".These saws are made of the same stuff as P.E. and are just as thin,so a lot of material will NOT be lost if you have to do it this way.    TANKERbuilder

I don't think so...anything that would break down a toluene based glue joint would also eat the styrene. If I have to do this and can't snip it or saw it I grab hold and give it a good twist. Sometimes I'm lucky, mostly I'm not.