solvent for epoxy

I used a 2-part epoxy to repair a long fracture in a wooden chair leg. Unfortunately I got the mixture ratio seriously wrong, with the result that the mixture will never set ! So I have to separate the pieces and remove the unset epoxy mixture before starting again. What solvent would be best for removing all traces of the stuff ?

Reply to
Jim Hawkins
Loading thread data ...

try acetone (nail varnish remover) but I fear it will not be wholly successful

Reply to
The Natural Philosopher

Thanks, but I need to get rid of the stuff completely, else the new mix, when I apply it, will not bond to the wood. There must be a suitable solvent, surely !

Reply to
Jim Hawkins

No need to remove all traces. Just soak up as much as you can with tissue paper and remake the joint with plenty of fresh adhesive. The residues will diffuse into the new mix and probably do no harm.

John

Reply to
John Walliker

Scrape off what you can, then use meths. The new glue will work fine.

Reply to
Mr Pounder

SWMBO's nail varnish remover says "acetone free" even though it smells and feels like acetone.

Acetone is what I would try.

This guide (there's a tiny bit about cleaning at the bottom) might be useful. It may be worth noting that the two types of epoxy that SP Systems produce have different solvents, so it might mean that other makers may have different formulations..

formatting link
f

Reply to
Bill

use heat on the joint to promote mixing and flow.

Reply to
The Natural Philosopher

Too little hardener or what? Its a devil of a job to get anything to reach it if its got into wood etc.

Heat it to see if you can get it to set?

Brian

Reply to
Brian Gaff

Boots do (or did about a year or two ago) a nail varnish remover that has none of the crap in it that many new ones have, AFAIK it's all acetone. Cheap too.

Justin.

Reply to
Justin C

Yes, that might work. Worth a try first.

Reply to
harry

Yes, it was far too little hardener. When I got the joint apart again, I realized there was no hope of putting the two parts in a bath of solvent - it would have needed gallons of the stuff. John (above) gave me the clue what to do ! The fracture surfaces had a coat of the epoxy resin, but with insufficient hardener, so I just painted over them with a brush coated with neat hardener and then clamped the job up again. I won't touch it for a day or two, but I'll post the outcome for anyone that's interested.

Jim

Reply to
Jim Hawkins

brushed with hardener? are you sure you have epoxy?

cant brush that,,and without mixing its not gonna set.

Reply to
The Natural Philosopher

Quite. If it is epoxy, I'd mix some fresh, put lots on the wood and mix again in situ. Then clamp the joint up.

NT

Reply to
meow2222

Yes. Epoxy is Ciba-Geigy MY753 Hardener is Ciba-Geigy HY931

(A wonderful, very-low viscosity product pair, sadly no longer available)

Reply to
Jim Hawkins

HomeOwnersHub website is not affiliated with any of the manufacturers or service providers discussed here. All logos and trade names are the property of their respective owners.