epoxy resin glues

[Tom B]

Have some metal models obtained recently assemble using epoxy resin glue. Toy soldiered standard painted wish to take apart and refinish to higher standard. Does anyone know how to debond this glue. tried most methods shown on the web.
Help please.
Tom B

 

[urumomo]

Was heat one of the methods you already tried ?

 

[Jakko]

Two-part epoxy? Aside from heating it until it melts, like urumomo mentions above, there's probably not all that much you can do. Well, not if you want to keep the parts reasonably intact. Also, when heating it, be sure not to heat things up far enough to also melt the metal.

 

[the Baron]

I paint figures like that, white metal figures that someone else assembled and I want to repaint. I use SuperClean, an automotive degreaser, to strip the paint. It also serves to soften any adhesive that was used. Sometimes the adhesives will dissolve altogether, other times it's softened enough that the pieces come apart easily. Any residue I can remove with a hobby knife or toothpicks.

Hope that helps!

 

[Tom B]

Jakko,

Thanks for your response so far I have tried Dettol, Isopropyl alchohol, and acetone. without result. Not tried heat as yet a bit wary don't want to melt part will try SuperClean or local equivalent.
Cheers
Tom B

 

[urumomo]

Is it a zinc alloy ?
Tin would have the lowest melting point .

Try immersing in boiling water first .
might take 5 min , or 20
Should weaken it enough to pull apart if not break it loose entirely .

you can put it in a 350 F oven
Stay below 400

Heat and then dropped into room temp water will increase the shock but avoid that if there are thin sections in the castings

There are hi-temp epoxies but hopefully that isn't what was used ,