Degluing question

[thatz4u]

anyone ever tried using rubber cement thinner to unglue models?

[Ace-Garageguy]

Rubber cement thinner is usually a cocktail of solvents somewhat similar to some liquid plastic cements...acetone, heptane, toluene, etc. Naptha can also be used to remove rubber cement.

In general, these won't un-glue anything assembled with a solvent type glue (because solvent glues actually 'melt' the plastic parts into each other) but might have an effect on CA. They might also craze the surrounding plastic.

Not much of anything will dissolve epoxy.

 

[zenrat]

I have found that when stripping parts in brake fluid styrene cement joints will sometimes let go.
Not always, and the plastic will get brittle meaning if the glue doesn't let go then parts are more likely to break if force is applied.

 

[Ace-Garageguy]

I have found that when stripping parts in brake fluid styrene cement joints will sometimes let go.
Not always, and the plastic will get brittle meaning if the glue doesn't let go then parts are more likely to break if force is applied.

Agreed, and the potential brittleness problem is very real.

I had an Indy car chassis essentially turn to powder after immersion in brake fluid. Every time I tried to replace a 'tube', a section next to it would crumble.

I ended up deciding it would just be easier to scratch-build an entire new chassis from styrene rod stock.

 

[thatz4u]

thanks guys

[Little Timmy]

I usually just drop it.......... that dis-assemble's it pretty quick.

[Muncie]

Although this doesn't work on everything, I've had some success loosening some glued joints and small parts with a technique I learned here - http://www.modelcarsmag.com/forums/topic/53962-any-way-to-loosen-old-glued-parts/#comment-622964.   Dip the assembled parts/model in water, seal in a zip lock bag and throw it in the freezer for a couple of days.  The expansion of freezing water will loosen some parts.