Dissolving glue

zooman65 · Post by **zooman65** » Sun Jul 20, 2014 11:46 pm

I am redoing an old desk; however, at some point someone put a laminate cover over the desk top. I was able to remove it using a heat gun, but now there is a ton of glue still on the top. I thought I might be able to sand it off at first but there is just way too much glue. What is the best way to dissolve the glue?

skou · Post by **skou** » Mon Jul 21, 2014 3:26 am

First question.

Do you know what kind of glue it is?

If you do, fill us in.

If you don't, here are some suggestions, but I'm shootin' in the dark here. Acetone. Denatured alcohol. Lacquer thinner. Use any of them outside, or with good ventilation. Try a small area.

Let us know what happens.

steve

beatnik · Post by **beatnik** » Mon Jul 21, 2014 9:15 am

On drums I use a heat gun to remove the wrap and Citristrip to remove any glue residue which is usually from contact cement.

wa2crk · Post by **wa2crk** » Mon Jul 21, 2014 9:17 am

Rather than trying to dissolve the glue I would try to use a good paint scraper to remove the hardened glue. After you work it down then warming the remaining glue and gentle scraping to get the rest.
Sanding should be last, cause the heat generated by the friction will only load up the sandpaper.
Bill V

zooman65 · Post by **zooman65** » Mon Jul 21, 2014 9:30 am

I have no idea what kind of glue it is. I only know it would have been put on in the 70's or earlier. I did try scraping but whoever put the top on used a ton of glue. Warming the glue just makes it gummy and harder to scrape like trying to get hot gum off your shoe. Beatnik that should be next project recovering some drums.

beatnik · Post by **beatnik** » Mon Jul 21, 2014 10:16 am

Recovering drums can be a fun project or a nightmare. No promises on anything getting the glue off, you never know what was used.

Here's an example:

http://www.drumforum.org/index.php?/top ... m-a-shell/

Gene Howe · Post by **Gene Howe** » Mon Jul 21, 2014 3:41 pm

If heat doesn't work, likely not hide glue.
If it's an alphatic resin type, I've had good luck soaking the piece in vinegar.
Usually takes an over night soaking.

zooman65 · Post by **zooman65** » Mon Jul 21, 2014 4:10 pm

The only way to get the vinegar on is to really soak the top of the desk. Do I run the risk of the grain rising by getting it that wet?

JPG · Post by **JPG** » Mon Jul 21, 2014 5:00 pm

zooman65 wrote:The only way to get the vinegar on is to really soak the top of the desk. Do I run the risk of the grain rising by getting it that wet?

Sandpaper will take care of that! I assume the 'finish' is essentially gone.

Gene Howe · Post by **Gene Howe** » Mon Jul 21, 2014 7:41 pm

You could tape around the area to be soaked, taping down waxed paper to protect a wider area. I'm not sure, but I don't think the stickum on the tape would be immediately affected by the vinegar.
If you can, make some knife or chisel cuts in the glue to allow quicker penetration.
Yes, it will raise the grain.

zooman65 wrote:The only way to get the vinegar on is to really soak the top of the desk. Do I run the risk of the grain rising by getting it that wet?