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How to remove dried on contact cement?

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Tinkerman

Tinkerman

Darth Vader
Offline
I'm working on my used dash capping. I bought it on ebay because it was tan and freshly covered. Of course it was the wrong color of tan and the PO did a klutsy job putting the vinyl on.
So I pulled it off and there is two sets of old contact cement on it.
I have tried all the usual solvents: mineral spirits, lacquer thinner, acetone and Goof Off. All to no avail. The only thing that seems to work at all is WD40, but even with that it is a tedious process.
Does anyone out there have a cure all method they would like to share with me and the rest of the forum?

All ideas greatly appreciated!

Tinkerman
 
I have sometimes been able to coax the stuff off with duct tape. Try a small piece pressed firmly down, then yank it away & see if it takes some of the contact cement with it.

You may also find heat (e.g. a heat gun) will help some of the other methods work better.
 
I would have thought lacquer thinner would have done it, it certainly works well when it is "fresher". I can't think of anything else that wouldn't also remove paint. Perhaps setting it up with something so that it can "marinade" a while? Letting it soak longer (either with a solvent, or maybe an oil) might do the trick.
 
I don't know that it would work every time, but carb cleaner worked reasonably well for me. Wouldn't take it all off at once, just soften the top layer so I could scrape that away.

Haven't had occasion to try it on contact cement, but I suspect that Loctite gasket removal stuff would work too. It's slow, but it has eventually softened everything I've tried it on, including old Permatex.
 
At my work we use a couple of solvents to get contact cement off. Touline will soften and will reactive contact cement when it is dry. Also use MEK. Use some heavy grade rubber glosves with it.

Don
 
3M Adhesive Remover really does the job Don. Thanks for the tip. Have to let it soak 15 to 20 minutes but then it scrapes right off. Tedious but comes clean.

Thanks for the help!

Tinkerman
 
Sorry the alcohol didn't touch it. Like Don said the 3M product does the best job.
 
Since contact cement is actually rubber cement, use rubber cement solvent. You can buy an expensive bottle of the stuff at a hobby store and only get a small bottle, or you can get a gallon can of Coleman camp fuel, which is mostly the same basic chemical. I found this out several years ago when I needed to remove a large label from the front of a vending machine. It just happened that I was working on a training video for a solvent company, and asked the chemist what to do. This is the solution he gave me. It worked well for my application. Just don't buy drano and sudafed on the same trip or they will suspect you of making meth. LOL

Dan B
South Charleston, WV
TR4AIRS EFI
TR7 DHC
 
3M seems like the stuff.

They warn against rubbing or working it in on any vinyl material. Let it set and wipe it off.

The interesting thing about any of these nice products we buy. One can and you're set for life. I'll be looking at the barely used tin one day when I'm ninety.
 
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