Hot melt glue

[J.D.]

How do y'all remove the hot melt glue residue from parts that have been glued to a backing?

Heat and wiping with a rag won't get it  all off. And these parts are real close to finish dimensions, so they don't need filing. Nor do they need much in the way of sanding. So how do y'all get it off.

Thanks,
J.D.

[Dr. Tim-Boone]

I have never had it stick.......but Acetone may do it ..or heat it up and wipe it quickly. It doesn't have to be very hot.  Ususally I just pop mine of the glue when I am doone.  I try not to get any glue over the top to create a mechanical bond.

[P.W.Berkuta]

Zip-Strip or other paint removers (the non-eco friendly kind) will remove cured epoxy. May take a while but it will soften and come off.

[bain]

alcohol.(not the drinking kind)

[Pete G.]

I'm curious as to what this technique is. I am assuming you are gluing a buttplate or something to a backer in order to clean up. Is ths correct ? I have used Bondo to hold a patchbox to a backer for engraving, but I am unfamiliar with hot glue. I am asking because I am almost out of expensive Bondo and my wife has plenty of cheap hot glue.

[J.D.]

I'm gluing liners for folding knives to a wood backing to clean them up prior to assembly. This is a first time for using hot melt glue and it works well to hold small  parts for working, but it doesn't want to release the parts unless it's heated. Maybe I used too much glue, I dunno.

Heating and wiping gets most of it off, but there is still a residue. I'll try alcohol first, then the others.

I'll use less glue next time, and try to pry the parts off of the backing.

Thanks,
J.D.

[RonT]

Maybe try an indirect heat scource.  I've used my old high school disecting kit scalple, heated then c a r e f u l l y  applied and wiped.  Or maybe a needle in a stick (flytiers bodkin), same treatment.  Suggest a gause cloth for wiping.
Good luck,
R

[Sam Everly]

I used it one time to hold a hook breech together. I put it in the freezer over night and popped it apart the next morning . You might try to get a knife under it after freezing, and see if it pops apart. 

[Dr. Tim-Boone]

Your wife will charge you rent on her hot glue gun, but the glue sticks are a lot cheaper than Bondo and you won't asphixiate yourself and others!!

Seriously put a bed of warm melted wax on a board, lay the part carefully on it and press it down so it comes up on the sides but not onto the top and be careful of mechanical bonds in small holes etc.  usually it just pries loose...if not I hit the front with mu propane torch for 15 seconds and then pop it off.........I like the freezer idea!!!

I have gotten a lot of practice as I have been learning to engrave this year.   

[J.D.]

Something clicked as I re-read about "popping"  those parts loose. And something about Sam's  post really clicked to facilitate  putting a few things together.

Years ago, a coworker, who was quite a prankster, would glue quarters to the floor across from his workstation. He got a kick out of watching people try to pick up those quarters. One person who used a hard plastic mallet on his job popped those quarters loose by smacking them, right smartly, with that plastic mallet.

A right, smart smack with a hard plastic mallet might be the ticket to release those glued on parts, either frozen or otherwise.

I'm learning that most of us have all of the answers we need to figure these things out.  However, we sometimes need a little help putting all of the pieces together.

Thanks for everyone's help,
J.D.

[ironwolf]

  J.D., have you tried a 'weaker' hot glue? There are many strengths available. Keep us posted, I like the idea.
 
  Kevin

[bain]

put your part in a container of alcohol and let it soak the glue will rub off with your fingers.