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I've got some CA glue on a cat poly finish, I've used acetone in the past to remove it but for some reason this CA is not coming off....what do you guys use to remove CA, any specific brands might be helpful. After the CA is dry do you have to "soak" the CA in acetone for a period of time?

Thanks,
Greg

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Gwaltney Guitars

Razor blade/scraper/sharp chisel?

Usually anything that will eat CA will eat a finish also, although there may be a solvent safe for your finish that will remove the CA, i dont know what it is.

It is a big drag getting supeglue on a finish, i would probably go the razor blade scraper/ micro mesh rout. As always, FRETS.com is your friend.

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Jordan Aceto
Ithaca, NY

Cat poly (-ester?, -urethane?) is tough stuff, but you will be lot safer to go the scrape and sand route. I like to use utility knife blades instead of single edge razor blades. Remember to wrap each end of the blade with a single layer of very thin tape (regular scotch tape is fine) so you don't risk digging into the finish. You should usually be able to get it right down to a flat surface before starting to sand. Use a small, very hard block for backing up the sandpaper.

I do drop fills in cat-polyurethane all the time, using CA with this method.

Good luck,
Brook

Yeah Todd the finish is impervious(Cat Polyester) to Acetone or similar stuff, so I'm just trying to figure out why the acetone I'm using is not removing the CA....I was hoping to NOT scrape as it is on a finished guitar, maybe I need to try that stuff you are using

Greg

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Gwaltney Guitars

I don't know how the finish would react to it, but I've had great results with Super Solvent.

I'm not sure it's true for all of them, but I know for sure that acetone -WILL- eat certain polyurethanes. I know for sure it won't work on the UV polyester, and probably not on the MEK catalyzed stuff either. Given that, I'd give it more soak time. It could take some time once the CA is fully cured.

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Bob Garrish
Former Canonized Purveyor of Fine CNC Luthier Services

Er... what's good for getting it off your fingers?

Rather than using solvents to get CA off your skin, I prefer to just leave it for a few hours. Natural body oils will allow the dried glue to easily peel off.

That is what I thought when I saw this question earlier - time, if you have it, is pretty benign and sure beats trans dermal absorption and exposure to chemicals. Besides when that stuff is on your finger tips it's a great time to scratch your.... back....

I have gotten so used to CA on my skin, i dont really mind anymore. And it is kind of fun to peel it off.

A few weeks ago i had a drop of CA shoot out of something, grapefruit style, and land in my eyeball. Oddly, it was less of a big deal than i would have expected. Not pleasant, but no permanent damage.

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Jordan Aceto
Ithaca, NY

Use a stiff box cutter razor blade with the corners rounded and carefully burnish a burr on it. Add one layer of scotch tape to each end as a very slight stand off and us this to scrap the CA as low as possible. Once the scraper removes no more take a small sanding block and 800p and sand the CA till it is just a very faint amount higher than the film. You are likely to dull the area around the CA but keep this limited by using as small of sanding block as possible. Then move on to 1000p then 1500p all the way through 2000p till there is no difference in the level of the CA and the film (you can no longer tell where the CA is or where the Cat Poly is). Now polish the area out and buff to desired sheen. CA is often used to repair dings in Cat poly and if you take your time and do the job right you will never know where it was.

Todd, I'm getting nowhere googling for this stuff. Any more clues? Thanks -

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Todd Rose
Ithaca, NY

https://www.dreamingrosesecobnb.com/todds-art-music

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