I Got SuperGlue On My Car Paint! How Do I Take It All Off?

[SkyeHack]

I was trying to fix my newly installed side marker because it kept on popping off. I decided to use some superglue to try to fix it. I new how much of a mess it was so I tried to do it very carefully. However, I failed. Now, I can't get it off completely! I tried a bunch of different things but nothing works!!! Can anyone help me? Thanks in advance!

[PCC]

Re: I Got SuperGlue On My Car Paint! How Do I Take It All Off?

While I've used acetone (nail polish remover) to remove Superglue on other surfaces, I've NEVER tried it on a car finish so I'd wait until some of the other more informed members chimed in.

Patrick

[SkyeHack]

Re: I Got SuperGlue On My Car Paint! How Do I Take It All Off?

BEFORE

AFTER

Steps I Used.
1 - Mr. Clean Magic Eraser
2 - Dawn Dish Soap
3 - Meguairs Gold Class Car Was Shampoo & Conditioner
3 - Meguairs Smooth Surface Clay Kit & Meguairs Ultimate Quik Detailer
4 - Meguairs Ultimate Compound
5 - Meguairs NXT Generation Tech Wax 2.0
That Mr. Clean thing stripped off my car wax. It helped take some of the superglue off but it's hard to get into that corner. I'm gonna try again later when I wash my car again when I get my new rims. ops: darn SUPER GLUE = FTL :evil:

[ColonelCash]

Re: I Got SuperGlue On My Car Paint! How Do I Take It All Off?

Hot water over the surface and some plastic razorblades would be my starting point...just get the bulk of it off then use a clay bar to get the remainder off.

There are some threads on getting cement off surfaces, which seems like an equally as troubling task. Try searching for some of those threads on MOL.

[rdblan2]

Re: I Got SuperGlue On My Car Paint! How Do I Take It All Off?

WD-40 will get off pretty much any stain. Got liquid nails or something on your hands? Wash them w/ wd-40.

Not sure how it would work against super glue, but might be worth a try. Will probably strip your wax. I'd spray some liberally on a terry towel or microfiber and blot it with your finger tip.

[Calais]

Re: I Got SuperGlue On My Car Paint! How Do I Take It All Off?

WD-40, body solvent or a passionately worked abrasive sounds like your best bet. That looks like a troublesome problem, I hope you find a way to resolve it.

[JamieR]

Re: I Got SuperGlue On My Car Paint! How Do I Take It All Off?

You can get a super glue debonder that will soften the glue (most hobby shops should have it, if not hardware stores), and acetone will remove the leftover residue. Straight acetone would probably work as well, but nail polish remover may be too diluted to have much affect. Note, I have no idea how either of these could affect your paint. If you try them, test in a inconspicuous area first to see what happens.

Jamie

[Eddie6th]

Re: I Got SuperGlue On My Car Paint! How Do I Take It All Off?

Sorry to hear you done that.
You should have posted a thread first.

How are you going to change a bulb?

I hope the advice given to you already helps in the removal.

I've had to stick on mine(similair),due to an accident which broke the retaining clip.Superglue is too strong.Either use bodyshop doublesided tape or a tiny blob of silicone should hold it.I did this and it holds fine.If I need to change a bulb,I just prise it carefully with a plastic ended screwdriver or a screwdriver with a piece of insulating/electricians tape on it.These bulbs normaly don't need changed that often,if the circuit is okay.
Just make sure you clean the surfaces really good and make sure they are oil free.

[kaptain_zero]

Re: I Got SuperGlue On My Car Paint! How Do I Take It All Off?

Unfortunately, Super Glue aka Crazy Glue aka Cyanoacrylate adhesive, which, when cured, becomes essentially Acrylic plastic as in Plexiglas or acrylic paint. Most solvents that will remove CA glues will also dissolve car paints so be careful. Mechanical removal would be preferred and a good coat of wax before the glue hit the paint would have been very helpful.

Now, at this point I'd suggest as others have, to try and use a wicking oil such as WD 40. It will not dissolve the glue but it might get between the glue and the paint allowing you to remove it by picking at it with your nail or some other gentle but firm device. Any wax in between the glue and the paint surface will dissolve with the application of WD 40 which is mostly mineral spirits of some sort (VOC's) with a small amount of lubricant.

If you attempt to use any of the products meant to soften cured CA glues, make sure you try it on the paint some place where it won't show if it does soften, dissolve or at the very least dull or haze the paint surface. I'm no chemist but I do use a fair amount of CA in my hobbies and have read up on that particular subject.

I suspect in the end that mechanical removal might be best, and most likely, no matter what you do, you'll need to do a bit of correcting to the surface after you are done with one of the abrasive polishes like 105/205 or what have you.... Then again, if the paint was recently waxed... it (the glue) will hopefully just pop off with a bit of coaxing.

Regards

Christian

[rusty bumper]

Re: I Got SuperGlue On My Car Paint! How Do I Take It All Off?

I've had to stick on mine(similair),due to an accident which broke the retaining clip.Superglue is too strong.Either use bodyshop doublesided tape or a tiny blob of silicone should hold it.I did this and it holds fine.

I have some of that myself.

3M makes it, if I remember correctly.

It's the best thing I know of for remounting emblems, etc.

[rusty bumper]

Re: I Got SuperGlue On My Car Paint! How Do I Take It All Off?

Unfortunately, Super Glue aka Crazy Glue aka Cyanoacrylate adhesive, which, when cured, becomes essentially Acrylic plastic as in Plexiglas or acrylic paint. Most solvents that will remove CA glues will also dissolve car paints so be careful. Mechanical removal would be preferred and a good coat of wax before the glue hit the paint would have been very helpful.

Now, at this point I'd suggest as others have, to try and use a wicking oil such as WD 40. It will not dissolve the glue but it might get between the glue and the paint allowing you to remove it by picking at it with your nail or some other gentle but firm device. Any wax in between the glue and the paint surface will dissolve with the application of WD 40 which is mostly mineral spirits of some sort (VOC's) with a small amount of lubricant.

If you attempt to use any of the products meant to soften cured CA glues, make sure you try it on the paint some place where it won't show if it does soften, dissolve or at the very least dull or haze the paint surface. I'm no chemist but I do use a fair amount of CA in my hobbies and have read up on that particular subject.

I suspect in the end that mechanical removal might be best, and most likely, no matter what you do, you'll need to do a bit of correcting to the surface after you are done with one of the abrasive polishes like 105/205 or what have you.... Then again, if the paint was recently waxed... it (the glue) will hopefully just pop off with a bit of coaxing.

Regards

Christian

Excellent suggestion.

If it has to be removed by abrading, I would suggest the area be taped off to protect the surrounding paint.

[akimel]

Re: I Got SuperGlue On My Car Paint! How Do I Take It All Off?

The problem got me curious, as I always seem to have problems in my application of Super Glue. The official Super Glue website recommends the controlled use of acetone, commonly found in nail polish remover, to remove the stuff. I then did a Google search for acetone and car paint and found this one article where the individual suggests the use of acetone to remove spray paint cars, but another site states that the acetone will dissolve the clear coat. You'll be happy to know that you are not the only person who has had this problem. I also found this article, which I'm afraid isn't very encouraging: How to get Super Glue off a car. On the other hand, I did come across the suggestion that one use very hot (perhaps even boiling hot) soapy water. This sounds safer than the acetone, but I don't know.

Good luck and let us know what works and does not work for you.

[rusty bumper]

Re: I Got SuperGlue On My Car Paint! How Do I Take It All Off?

I guess Permatex would be about the same as super glue?

The former owner tried to re-badge a Chrysler star on the back of our vehicle with Permatex and smeared it on the paint a bit. I did manage to remove some of the lighter areas with ScratchX, but not all of it.

[kaptain_zero]

Re: I Got SuperGlue On My Car Paint! How Do I Take It All Off?

As far as Acetone goes...... I just picked up a bottle of touch up paint (the dab it on with a brush kind) made up at the local autobody supplier and the gent behind the counter said that my paint requires a clear coat to finish and he could supply me with a bottle but suggested that I stop by the local drug store and pick up a bottle of acrylic nail polish as it's exactly the same thing they supply, but in spray cans.

Acetone will dissolve nail polish very nicely... no doubt the same with an acrylic clear coat, thus my earlier warning to be careful and test in an inconspicuous area first if attempting a chemical removal. Heat does help break some adhesive bonds but I'm not sure of the temperature required for acrylics.

Just like when deciding how to polish out scratches on a car, try things out using the mildest/safest way first and if that doesn't work, move on up the ladder of aggressiveness but keeping in mind what might be easier to deal with after the glue is gone. Careful wet sanding *will* remove the glue if nothing else works and we know how to polish that out after it's done.... Paint damaged by too high a heat source might be more difficult to deal with, though I don't know how high a heat is too high for car paint... it's probably up a ways considering how hot a black car can get in the desert sun!

Regards

Christian