How to Remove Super Glue From Metal Miniatures

How to Remove Super Glue From Metal Miniatures

When you are working on a project with miniatures, there is always a chance for accidents. Sometimes, you might run into the problem of getting super glue on them and not realizing until after the glue has already dried. It can be a pain to get super glue off of any surface when it has dried, but it is possible.

There are multiple different ways you can remove super glue from metal miniatures. The most popular is acetone because it is a solvent that can work through the glue. It is also suggested to put the miniature in the freezer, use a sharp knife, or use some kind of disinfectant. 

If you don’t find a super glue spill until after it has dried, don’t worry. It isn’t too late to remove that super glue. It is actually a pretty easy process, and you won’t have to sit around picking at the glue for hours hoping it will lift off of your metal miniature. In most cases, you might already have what you need in your home.

How Do You Remove Dried Super Glue From Metal Miniatures?

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Don’t freak out when you see super glue dried to a metal surface. To remove the glue safely, you will need a nail polish remover or pure acetone, cotton pads, gloves that are rubber, a rag that is clean, a razor blade, a sponge, and a dry cloth.

Clean the surface before you start trying to remove the glue to make sure there isn’t any other chemical on there that could react with the acetone. Put your gloves on and saturate the cotton pad with the acetone or nail polish remover. Press the cotton pad against the dried super glue for at least five minutes or until the glue starts to soften.

Use the razor blade to very gently lift the softened super glue from the surface of the metal. Take extra precaution to ensure that you don’t scratch the surface during the removal. Repeat the process of saturating and lifting until all of the glue has been removed from the surface. If the super glue is being stubborn and you need a stronger alternative, you can also use lighter fluid, hydrogen peroxide, or rubbing alcohol.

After you get all of the glue removed from the surface, use the sponge and some warm, soapy water to clean the surface. Dry the surface with a clean towel and let it sit by itself to finish drying.

If the metal is painted, you might have a little bit harder of a time. You will need to be extremely careful to make sure you don’t scratch the paint during the removal process. The best thing to use is a spray lubricant. Spray it on the super glue and let it soak in for a few minutes. Use a credit card or a putty knife to gently scrape away the glue. 

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How Do You Get Super Glue off Miniatures?

When you are building your miniatures, you might put them together wrong sometimes. This can be discouraging, especially if you feel like you can’t get the super glue off the miniature to fix the mistake. It will be ideal if you catch the mistake before the glue dries, but unfortunately that doesn’t always happen.

Luckily, super glue is much easier to take care of than it seems. First, you will need to take off the parts that were put on wrong. You can do this by firmly holding one part of the miniature while twisting the other piece until it comes off. There will be glue left over, but you can get rid of it quickly and easily.

When you have the pieces removed, you are going to want to grab some acetone and clean away any of the glue that got left behind. You can also use nail polish remover, but make sure it is one that contains acetone, or it won’t work how it should. 

If your miniature is made from plastic and not metal, you will want to avoid using acetone. Acetone sometimes has the tendency to melt plastic, and you do not want to see your hard work melt before your eyes. You will have much better luck if you place the plastic miniature in the freezer overnight to freeze, become brittle, and easily detach from the surface.

You can also try soaking the plastic miniature in warm, soapy water. This will help loosen up the super glue so it can easily come off the surface. Let the miniature soak on its own for a few minutes, then go over to it and rub the super glue on the surface. This will help the super glue break up even more and it will start to slide off the surface.

How Do You Get Super Glue Off Metal Miniatures Without Acetone?

There are several alternatives to acetone for removing super glue from metal. First, you can use rubbing alcohol. Pour a decent amount of the rubbing alcohol onto the glue and let it sit for about 10 minutes. It will start to loosen up the super glue and you can scrape it off with ease.

You can also try vinegar. This is a great way to remove super glue if you don’t want to use any chemicals. It is known as a natural super glue remover and it can be used on multiple surfaces, including metal. 

Sandpaper is another great option. You can use a fine grit sandpaper and gently rub the surface of the metal until the super glue is completely gone. This will take focus and a very light hand because you don’t want to ruin the surface with the sandpaper.

Another natural way to remove super glue from metal is with baking soda and coconut oil. Using equal parts of baking soda and coconut oil, mix them and create a paste. Apply the paste to the super glue spot and let it sit for about 15 minutes. This mixture will help soften the glue, making it easy for you to peel it away from the surface.

Finally, you can try some very hot, soapy water. Fill a bucket with water that is as hot as you can stand it. Mix in a gentle dish soap and add your miniature to the bucket. As it soaks, you will want to rub the spot of super glue to try to loosen it up. 

Final Thoughts

It can be frustrating and discouraging to see dried super glue on your metal miniatures after you worked so hard to make them perfect. Luckily, super glue is much easier to deal with than you would think. It becomes brittle easily, so you just need to manipulate it in the right ways.

One of the most popular ways of getting super glue off miniatures is with acetone. It is a cheap, easy, and effective way to remove super glue from most surfaces, including metal miniatures. There is a slight chance that acetone will melt plastic miniatures, so try to avoid it if you can.

Luckily, there are several alternatives to using acetone for super glue removal. These include hot soapy water, vinegar, and sandpaper. You will need to do your best to take care of the surface underneath the super glue and avoid ruining all your hard work.

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