Anyone got any bright ideas about removing a PVA film on a smallish area of 10 year old plaster. Trying with a steamer and scraper but it's taking an age. Probably about 1 sq. m. altogether.
Maris
- posted
16 years ago
Removing PVA
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- posted
16 years ago
This is an outside chance. I discovered by accident that methylated spirit softens emulsion paint (yes the hard way!). I now use it to remove small areas of paint for extending tiling etc. I think that PVA is chemically similar so you might try that. Cover anything likely to be damaged, eg paint. I brush it on several times over a few minutes, then it scrapes off.
Good luck
Peter Scott
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- posted
16 years ago
You were on the right track. Meths, in fact, didn't work (waste of £2.48, I suppose I could drink it) but some Cellulose Thinners, that I had knocking about, did seem to work.
Maris
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- posted
16 years ago
You can a filter to remove the blue colour before you drink it!!! Actually meths is a handy thing to have around. I always clean and degrease hard surfaces with it before I use any glue. Also good as a whiteboard cleaner, and windscreens if you are careful not to spash on the paintwork.
I'll make a mental note about using thinners for PVA. I'll bet that question gets asked again.
Peter Scott
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- posted
16 years ago
More on alcohol. I just read a book about the restoration of an ancient text that had been badly repaired recently including the use of PVA. The restorer used isopropanol and water to release the glue's grip. This was on a priceless and ancient text so time was not a problem. But it does say that this form of alcohol would do the trick in a delicate situation.
Peter Scott
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- posted
16 years ago
Actually, you jogged my memory that I need to undo a poor PVA repair job that I did on the armrest of a William Morris chair that I have!
Maris