Industrial glues and adhesives are all about strong bonding. They bind elements firmly and withstand normal wear and tear to keep things from falling off.
However, on the flip side, such attributes can be a nightmare when you need to remove adhesive from a surface.
They can be very stubborn to come off, and you will require a handful of other tools and external agents to get the job done. In the worst case, all the pulling can result in damaging the underlying material, adding to your expenses.
Well, fret not! We’ve got you covered.
This post will help you learn the basics of working with an industry-grade adhesive, precautions to take, expert advice, and tips and tricks to remove glue from just about any surface.
Always Test Things Before Use
If you are looking to use a residue remover to get rid of the adhesive, it is advised that you try it out in a small portion of the intended surface.
Doing so will let you know whether the clean up solvent does any damage to the area. This is more important when working with painted, wooden, or a high-gloss surface.
In some cases, using the clean up solvent may discolor the object leaving behind a dull and faded appearance.
Soap and Water Does It Right
Since time immemorial, soap and water mix have been used as a clean up solvent to get rid of industrial glues and adhesives.
The soap and water mix particularly works great for most surfaces like acrylic, copper, glass, vinyl, and marble to name a few.
The water you mix with the soap needs to be a bit warmer than normal room temperature, as it works to loosen the glue that’s there behind the adhesive tape. After a thorough application of the mix, follow it up with a clean cloth or a piece of sponge to get rid of the adhesive nice and easy.
Got heat?
This trick works almost similar to that of warm water and soap. What heat does to an adhesive is simply melting the residue for easy removal.
So, a simple hairdryer, a blow torch, or an industrial-grade heat gun can bring about just the same effect.
All you need to do is to gently keep scraping on the surface as you fire the heat alongside.
Don’t wait up for the surface to turn cold, or else the adhesive residue will return to being hard, and attempting to remove the same will damage the surface underneath.
There’s Almost Nothing Alcohol Can’t Solve
Rubbing alcohol happens to be a great non-solvent for any adhesive that responds to pressure.
Upon its application, the adhesive molecules beneath a bond tape tend to loosen and precipitate, which in turn makes the binding grow weak.
Any liquid component that contains acetone like nail polish remover and others can also come in handy.
While all that is good, using alcohol as a clean up solvent can be a tad bit risky, as in some cases it might damage the surface. So, always be careful when using it, and when you do, go in small quantities as and when needed.
Time To Show Your Scraping Skills
If you are looking to get rid of small construction adhesives from surfaces, you will need to have a steady hand in scraping.
It is recommended that you use a putty knife to start scraping at the adhesive.
However, be very careful and refrain from using the edgy end of the knife when working on glass surfaces which might attract scratches readily.
Understanding Adhesives
Knowing about different kinds of adhesives and how they react with a range of surfaces is always a good thing.
Almost all the time, people end up using multiple adhesives in the same manner. For instance, trying to duct tape an object on drywall is probably the worst idea you can have.
Also, there are some basic ground rules that need to follow before you can start using the adhesives:
- Always clean the area before you apply glue or adhesive tape. Accumulation of grease, oil, or dirt only makes the adhesion turn stronger than you actually need. Later, when you are looking to remove the adhesive, things can be pretty annoying.
- When looking to re-tape things, it is advised that you take off the old adhesive tapes and then proceed with new ones in place. This is more important when you are working with masking tapes where the adhesive used is quite different from other kinds.
Wrap up
Working your way to remove adhesives and glues from the surface doesn’t have to be an overwhelming affair. While the tips and tricks mentioned here almost work every time, it all boils down to one’s personal handling of things to get the job done.
Sometimes, getting the glue and adhesives from a surface can be a lot harder than you imagine. It might need repeated visits to help save the surface underneath from being damaged.
So, it is recommended to take things slow, and if need be, invest in a good quality universal industry-grade clean-up solvent when everything else fails.
