Superglue removal

Er... boiling running water?!

As well as apprentices with tape measures and a computer that did not do what I want it to do I have one final question/post.

I have a bunch of keys covered in dried superglue.

Google says acetone will clean them. Anyone tried it?

One of the keys is a pretty secure padlock key with more dimples on it than on the recent post about getting a key cut.

yes.

Get a polythene pot with a LID and soak them overnight. Lid stops evaporation.

Acetone, but acetone can attack some plastics so test first.

Yes acetone does work but be aware that some nail varnish remover isn't acetone and doesn't work.

Acetone will also dissolve some plastics so if the keys or keyring has plastic parts then these could be at risk.

Have you recently upset an apprentice?

Acetone cannot hurt unless any of the parts are plastic, in which case it will melt it. Beware do not pour your acetone into a small plastic yoghurt pot to soak the items in. In half an hour the acetone will be gone and the pot firmly glued to the table! Brian

Use a glass jar. Brian

I believe that nitromethane is good for dissolving superglue. 'Nitro' is used in model aeroplane engine fuel - probably the easiest way of getting hold of it - so I am a little surprised that superglue is also used in aeromodelling, but there you go.

TNP will probably be along in a minute to lay down his law on the matter...

But polythene as TNP originally said will be fine. Also polypropylene (e.g. Chinese take-away boxes).

Many takeaway food boxes are PLA as its compostable.

A jam jar is safest for the container but you still need to test the keys.

Any nitromethane left over can be dumped into the work's van fuel tank to get 0 to 300mph in 4 seconds.

Nitromethane is indeed a solvent but much harder to get than acetone

It is indeed about 5% of glo - fuel.

Bot concentrated enough to be of much use.

Not much superglue is isued in real aircaft modelling

It sets too fast, its too brittle and its expensive

Of course.

But this was just a leak of some super glue in the drivers door pocket of the van where I keep the keys.

Just a thought but could you stick them in boiling water?

I superglued two of my fingers by mistake. I thought I had a problem on my hands (literally!) but it came off fairly quickly just by putting my hand under running water.

But you probably noticed that your fingers were stuck together:-)

The keys have probably been stuck for a week.

But it's easy enough to find out.

You probably just removed a layer of skin

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It does go mushy in water but takes a long time. I'd probably start by tapping the keys with a hammer, cyano is somewhat fracturable. And if you can get a blade in a crack between them, you should be able to bend them to complete uselessness.

NT

Not a great idea with modern electronic car keys.