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Can you use Nail Polish Remover to unglue parts without destroying the parts? If not what can you use?
Thnxs
A recent similar post got lots of thumbs up for placing the part in the freezer.
Nail polish remover will only work on CA (super glue) as it doesnt "melt" the styrene. The only time I've tried it was only a parcial success. I'd give it a go but dont expect to save any paint if the kit is already painted. As already mentioned the freezer may be a better option for you, but I just used a micro saw in the end and took my time
Phil
"If anybody ever tells you anything about an aeroplane which is so bloody complicated you can't understand it, take it from me: it's all balls." R J Mitchell
The problem with Nail Polish Remover is there are two basic kinds.
1. The pollitically correct kind that doesnt contain any acetone.
2. The kind that contains acetone.
In my experience #1 doesnt do much of anything.
kinekx Can you use Nail Polish Remover to unglue parts without destroying the parts? If not what can you use? Thnxs
You don't say what kind of glue you used.
Plain old water will dissolve white glue.
Some nailpolish removers will soften joints glued with cynaoacrylate (CA - super glue). CA Debonders also work to some extent. Test first.
Tube glue joints are made brittle by freezing. An old model glued with tube glue may also 'fall apart' due to the glue aging.
Joints glued with modern liquid glues (Tenax, Tamiya Extra Thin Thin, MEK) are welded. The solvents soften the pieces and when squished together the pieces fuse into one. No solvent will cause them to separate without causing more damage. Sawing or cutting becomes the option.
If it is a styrene with styrene part, you can unglue with the same glue you used to glue the parts in the first place.
Sorry for being so vague. Yes the parts are glued with super glue. What I'm wanting to do is to separate the parts so, I can clean them, I have a box of models that i got online that are in need of some TLC. Missing/broken parts, scratched up paint, torn decals. Here's a couple
I've had some luck with "hot" (not so hot as to warp the plastic) soapy water. It softens the glue enough to be able to prise the pieces apart using a sharp knife (and some patience). It also helps to remove the old decals and some paint.
The qualifier to this is:
1. The glue was regular styrene model cement (Testors).
2. I apparently didn't believe in wasting glue, so only some areas were actually glued together.
3. The glue was almost 40 years old.
I've never tried the freezing technique. Give them both a try and let us know how things work out!
I have run into an issue in which I glued parts in the wrong place so am trying the freezer method... who would have known?? Thanks to this fine forum!!
Danny
Building 1/144 H.M.C.S. Snowberry by Revell of Germany
Danny ;
We just used Ice Water on some very old and not so old railroad structures .As long as you keep a lot of cubes in it , it works . T.B.
As Ed said, there's no way to undo a solvent caused styrene joint if it was done properly. If it was done improperly, i.e. it's held together by the glue (see "glue bomb"); possibly.
I learned a trick from a sign maker friend. Epoxy can be softened and removed with turpentine. The real old fashioned smelly kind. I have no idea why, but it works.
Modeling is an excuse to buy books.
Hey " G "
Could it be , because old fashioned turpentine isn't politically correct ? T.B.
CA (super glue) joints come apart quite well from CA debonder. Most hobby shops carry the stuff. It does not hurt the plastic.
Don Stauffer in Minnesota
I broke one of the stabilators off the 1/72 Academy F-86F that I'm building. I installed a tiny brass pin and re-glued it with Insta-Cure Super Thin cyanoacrylate glue, but checking it this evening I realize that its dihedral was a degree or so too steep and the trailing edge was a bit too low. I've succeeded in loosening it with crazy glue debonder, but...
How long does it take debonder to "dry". I assume it just evaporates, but I don't want to reglue it too soon. Suggestions?
Bob
On the bench: A diorama to illustrate the crash of a Beech T-34B Mentor which I survived in 1962 (I'm using Minicraft's 1/48 model of the Mentor), and a Pegasus model of the submarine Nautilus of 20,000 Leagues Under the Seas fame.
kinekx Can you use Nail Polish Remover to unglue parts without destroying the parts?
Can you use Nail Polish Remover to unglue parts without destroying the parts?
The active ingredient in nail polish remover is acetone, a relatively hot solvent. It'll melt the plastic.
The freezer tip is probably the best one.
The bigger the government, the smaller the citizen.
the Baron kinekx Can you use Nail Polish Remover to unglue parts without destroying the parts? The active ingredient in nail polish remover is acetone, a relatively hot solvent. It'll melt the plastic. The freezer tip is probably the best one.
If you take the time to read the warnings and cautions on a package of CA debonder [Yeah, I know real modelers don't read freekin instructions!] they point out that it can damage surrounding surfaces. Always test on an unobtrusive surface before committing to your current masterpiece.
Freezing may be your best bet
In a partial answer to my own question, it seems that when the debonder evaporated the cyanoacrylate glue reasserted itself, although the bond is not not as strong as it was when I first attached the stabilator. I'm going to apply a bit of gap filling cyanoacrylate glue and hope that I can the get dihedral and the pitch right this time, although I don't think I'll ever be completely happy with the outcome. But I started building the F-86F model to practice some techniques that are new to me, so it hasn't been a waste of time, or money, I guess.... At least I know more about debonder, which I hadn't previously used.
I do find ca debonder softens the plastic. I have to work fast and be careful not to bend parts. And thoroughly wipe and clean area after removal. Try not to take more than fifteen seconds or so.
I bought a semi-built Fujimi GT-40 a while back and used the freezer method with good results. Have no idea of what the original builder used but the freezer cant do any harm and is worth a try.
On Ed's bench, ???
True. It softens the plastic, but if you are carefull and fast, and daub the parts with kleenex or towel immediately afterward it does work well
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