Removing super glue

By NukeMaster, in Star Wars: Legion

I was opening a new bottle of super glue and exploded it all over the back of one of my rebel troop unit leaders. I tried to rinse him ASAP but also had some of my fingers glued together. I ended up tossing him into a cup of isopropyl.

Now I can't tell if it's just glue in every crevice of this dude's backpack or if I've somehow melted him. Any suggestions on how I could dissolve this glue without destroying the mini?

2 minutes ago, NukeMaster said:

I was opening a new bottle of super glue and exploded it all over the back of one of my rebel troop unit leaders. I tried to rinse him ASAP but also had some of my fingers glued together. I ended up tossing him into a cup of isopropyl.

Now I can't tell if it's just glue in every crevice of this dude's backpack or if I've somehow melted him. Any suggestions on how I could dissolve this glue without destroying the mini?

I cant offer any advice and please dont hate me, but I actually laughed by the time you got to the but where you had also somehow melted him.

Hope you get it sorted, been there and done that with new stuff....

9 minutes ago, NukeMaster said:

Now I can't tell if it's just glue in every crevice of this dude's backpack or if I've somehow melted him. Any suggestions on how I could dissolve this glue without destroying the mini?

@NukeMaster

You can probably send a picture of your receipt and the mini showing your ‘handiwork’ to Fantasy Flight Games customer service and they may give you a replacement.

Their customer service was very helpful with me with a missing item from my Imperial Assault core box.

If they do send one just post a thank you.

One can loosen super glue with fingernail polish, but not sure how that would effect these minis as they appear to be different plastic and I've mostly used technique with metal. Maybe their customer service will know something.

Get a replacement. He’s not gonna make it.

Pretty sure that FFG has said that superglue won't melt the plastic on Legion minis, but I could be recalling that incorrectly.

If you think stuff melted, you could fill in gaps with green stuff or use something like a varnish to fill tiny gaps.

If you think you have extra glue where you don't want it, you can use a file or hobby knife to carve it out / off.

Stick him in the freezer overnight. Super gets brittle and can break off easier. Same if you glue part together that you need to correct.

Bacta tank?

@NukeMaster While soaking second hand models in Simple Green to remove paint, I have also had any super glued parts fall apart. Depending on your country, a similar cleaning product may be sold under a different name (Simple Green in the US I used to know some of the other names). I have soaked plastic models in Simple Green for over a month before (I may have forgotten about the model...) with no ill effect besides removing the paint, primer, and super glue.

I would still try contacting FFG's customer service, since that's always worth trying. Then if they send you a replacement, you can try one of these methods and report back! :)

Man, I have never seen so many distinguished glue experts gathered in one spot. I am in awe with your well of knowledge.

Cheers! ?

1 hour ago, Imperial Advisor Arem Heshvaun said:

Man, I have never seen so many distinguished glue experts gathered in one spot. I am in awe with your well of knowledge.

Cheers! ?

When one works with miniatures long enough, you get super glue lots of places you don't want it....

I've lost lots of layers of skin to the dang stuff from my fingertips....

Don’t ever try to clean off wet superglue with water, especially if it’s on your skin. CA glues are activated by moisture and if exposed to water it will set almost immediately and get really hot.

5 minutes ago, mini78 said:

Don’t ever try to clean off wet superglue with water, especially if it’s on your skin. CA glues are activated by moisture and if exposed to water it will set almost immediately and get really hot.

The exothermic reaction is apparently even worse with "natural fibers" such as cotton, wool, or leather, not that I've had occasion to try it. It's best to keep a paper towel handy for quick clean up in my experience, and after it dries on your skin use an exfoliating device. There are cyanoacrylate glues used for medical purposes that take advantage of the quick bond it forms with human skin, so careful what you touch once it gets on you.

Id stick him in Carbonite.

If its actual super glue and not the modeling plastic glue that often gets mistaken as super glue, freeze it. Put the model in the freezer for a day or two and try to pry it off carefully. Unless you completely gobbed it on there it should just snap right off. Super glue doesnt like the cold (often i would leave 40k stuff in the trunk of my car during the winter and sometimes things would just fall off lol)

There are numerous factors to consider before attempting to remove superglue. Below are some tips to consider to removing super glue:

1. Acetone-based nail polish remover

2. Using a lint-free cloth to clean

6 hours ago, carolinafernando said:

There are numerous factors to consider before attempting to remove superglue. Below are some tips to consider to removing super glue:

1. Acetone-based nail polish remover

2. Using a lint-free cloth to clean

Watch out! Acetone will almost certainly dissolve your plastic mini.

Try the freezer, cold water and a bit of picking - shame it was the leader but I'd scratch it up to experience and forget about it.

11 hours ago, Dice lord said:

Watch out! Acetone will almost certainly dissolve your plastic mini.

Try the freezer, cold water and a bit of picking - shame it was the leader but I'd scratch it up to experience and forget about it.

What do you mean???

An acetone based nail polish remover will probably dissolve or "melt" the plastic if applied to the miniature. This may make it look worse than just leaving the glue as is.

By freezing the model, any superglue should become brittle and could flake away more easily; picking with a wooden toothpick or similar would help break it off. Water may also help to soften the dried glue so this could be used if the freezing method is not working.

In my experience, once the model is painted and surrounded by others you'll forget about it - I wouldn't stress over making it look perfect.

I’ve used running water and an old toothbrush before to some success. Also glued part of my eye shut once so I might not be the one to take advice from.

I've used methylated spirits to strip the paint off a couple of Storm Troopers and apparently that will also given sufficient time, dissolve superglue.

Can we get a picture??

On 3/22/2018 at 9:50 PM, Imperial Advisor Arem Heshvaun said:

Man, I have never seen so many distinguished glue experts gathered in one spot. I am in awe with your well of knowledge.

Cheers! ?

......the well of knowledge comes at a cost....

...........................................https://norse-mythology.org/tales/why-odin-is-one-eyed/