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I'm putting new tires on my band saw.
I took off the old tires and the idler wheel has a lot of glue on it.
I tried alcohol, didn't touch it.
The next day I tried paint thinner, same thing.
Next day I tried acetone. It made the glue a little gummy, but it's still a pain to get off.
I've been using a stiff brush but rubbing it with my fingers works best, kind of like picking boogers.
Is there a better way to clean the glue off the wheels?

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Say what you do, Do what you say.

What kind of glue? If Titebond you could try Goo Gone. I just use a razor blade. A couple of rotations cleans the tires off pretty good, but then I don't have glue on them.

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A higher purpose for wood.
Rich Smith
Issaquah, WA

I think the OP is referring to the glue residue on the metal which helped to keep the tires on the wheel.

Lacquer thinner is my universal solvent for anything which alcohol, paint thinner, or acetone won't dissolve.

Your right Murray, It's the glue that was used to hold the tire on.
I think it's rubber cement.
I have paint thinner is that the same as Lacquer thinner.

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Say what you do, Do what you say.

you could give oven cleaner a try - I've used that for removing everything from really tough sap and resin on bandsaw blades, to cleaning cast iron cookware picked up on ebay (took 60 years of grime and carbon off the cast iron)

Dave, 3M makes a round disc that is a material similar to a pencil eraser. The kit comes with an arbor to mount in a die grinder and you "spin" the stripes and goo off of auto finishes. It doesn't even damage the clear coat. There are many aftermarket suppliers that offer a similar product. I have found that turning the wheel slowly works better. You could probably turn the wheel with a good cordless drill if it has enough torque. This might work for your band saw wheels.

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jw ( o)===:::

Dave, if it is rubber cement, then lacquer thinner, or I should have said "cellulose thinners" is definitely the stuff to use. Ordinary paint thinner won't shift it.

Contact cement cleaner (not thinner) is another possibility for stubborn rubber/contact cement residue. Any of the solvents tend to make a sticky mess, so lot of paper towels are handy. And, removing as much as possible physically before hitting the solvent is a good idea.

Keep at it!

Cheers
John

Definitely, contact cement cleaner. Get some good solvent resistant gloves, and protect yourself from the fumes. It's nasty!

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Waddy

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Try your heat gun to heat the glue and a scraper or emery cloth to get it off. Most glues and paints hate heat and soften.

Fred

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Fred Tellier
http://www.fetellierguitars.com
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