breaking Elmer's glue bond

Message 303 of 836

My friend has a gun stock broken years ago and badly glued with Elmers. Does anyone know how to break the old glue bond so it can be repaired correctly? thanks

posted by sunrise60

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Maybe you could try steaming it Kath. Maybe that will loosen the grip.

posted by loko
over 2 years ago

I've heard that microwaving will soften it as well - depending on how it's broken, though, you'd need a pretty big microwave :)

posted by madcoder42
over 2 years ago

You want to make sure that the gun is unloaded before microwaving :^)

posted by Massracin
over 2 years ago

Removing the stock is advised here! Make sure there is no metal before microwaving!

posted by loko
over 2 years ago

Microwaving is a problem due to the metal of the firing mechanism. Its an ancient beautiful shotgun and we're still trying to figure out how to separate the stock. They got it on there...we can get it off. thanks for the tips so far :)

posted by sunrise60
over 2 years ago

Hi Kath, glad to see you back in the group. If this shotgun is either a single, or double barrel, there should be three anchor points on the stock. One screw up top in the end of the receiver tang and one underneath in the trigger guard tang. Then, under the butt plate, there should be a recessed through bolt. Remove these and the stock should come off easily.
Now, if this shotgun is only for show, that's one thing, but if it's to be fired that's another. A reglued stock isn't a wonderful thing to have. My advice there would be to find a blank of well figured American Walnut and make another stock. I've made several over the years and though it isn't easy, neither is it that difficult to do.

posted by Thunderhead
over 2 years ago

i cant help much, but i can tell you, if you leave somthing outside in the rain, it will come unglued. seems water works.

posted by hippiemama
over 2 years ago

Just a thought...micro wave and soaking it in water or steaming might damage the wood or the finish.....try soaking the joint with mineral spirits..this may take several coats and days....sounds like the previous owners didn't use clamps....

option 2.....is there enouh room in the joint to work a wedge into the crack and GENTLY and oer time seperate the twi pieces????

Option 3.....and this depends on the break....any way you can saw through the bond and then use dowels or biscuite & glue to refasten ?

posted by GDavid
over 2 years ago

There is a very strong solvent called N-Methyl Pyrrolidone (NMP) that will dissolve the Elmer's glue overnight. It should be availble at a paint store or car parts store. Be very very careful as with any strong solvent, it will burn the skin on contact.
Mike

posted by ellisomr
over 2 years ago

Thank you one and all. Steaming worked. We tried to disassemble the stock but it's so old we were afraid of stripping the threads or destroying the screw heads. I've made a note of NMP for the future and this old over and under shotgun will live out it's life displayed on a wall. Steaming in no way damaged the beautiful finish and hatching on the stock. We held it over a teapot, far enough away from the heat and in just a few minutes it came cleanly apart. The Elmer's glue web recommended using a steam iron but we could get good steam at a greater distance (less heat) with the teapot.

posted by sunrise60
over 2 years ago

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