Removing super glue from plexi: possible?
- Thread starter Treadwell
- Start date
JonCorfield
New Member
Brake Fluid is also very corosive. Dont get it on your clothes. I would be trying it on an inconspicuous section first.
Scotophor
Active Member
IMO what you want to do is technically impossible. Cured cyanoacrylate "super glue" and "plexi" plastic are both acrylics; the bond is molecular between essentially identical materials, so there is no way to "undo" it chemically without damaging the item.
However, with the right selection of abrasives it should be possible to sand and polish the "goof" away. Depending upon how thick the glue smear is, you might start by wet-sanding with 600 grit paper (or coarser or finer as needed), then as you get the blemish out, repeat wet-sanding with finer grits of paper, then finish off with a plastic polish such as Novus #2. If the Novus #2 treatment reveals scratches left behind from the sandpaper, you can go back over it with Novus #3 (scratch remover), then #2 again for a perfect finish.
However, with the right selection of abrasives it should be possible to sand and polish the "goof" away. Depending upon how thick the glue smear is, you might start by wet-sanding with 600 grit paper (or coarser or finer as needed), then as you get the blemish out, repeat wet-sanding with finer grits of paper, then finish off with a plastic polish such as Novus #2. If the Novus #2 treatment reveals scratches left behind from the sandpaper, you can go back over it with Novus #3 (scratch remover), then #2 again for a perfect finish.
YenChih Lin
Master Member
Unfortunately Scotophor is right - Cyanoacrylate is the chemical name for Superglue and Polymethylmethacrylate (PMMA) for Plexiglas aka Acrylic Glass. The similar chemical parts are the crystallized acryl bond. Differing them is the Cyano C=N bond and the mesh-like Methlymeth bond.
USS Endeav
Sr Member
Nice. I'll be keeping this trick in mind.
