How to Dissolve Epoxy Resin

Two tubes are required to properly mix epoxy adhesive.
  • 1-2 hours
  • Intermediate
  • 50-100
What You'll Need
Latex gloves
Face mask
Protective eyewear
Chisel or metal putty knife
Hammer or mallet
Plastic scraper
Rags
Paint stripper
Cleaning solution
What You'll Need
Latex gloves
Face mask
Protective eyewear
Chisel or metal putty knife
Hammer or mallet
Plastic scraper
Rags
Paint stripper
Cleaning solution

Epoxy resin is a very powerful substance that can be found in various products from home paint to glue. The most common epoxy resin you will encounter is in glue that is super bonding. Once the epoxy resin dries, it creates a surface that is nearly impossible to break through. You can chip away at epoxy if you have to remove it but you will never get all of it off. There is a reason why this adhesive is often referred to as liquid nails. The only real option for removing epoxy resin is to dissolve it.

Step 1 - Consider Safety First

Cleaning chemicals are a lot harsher than most people usually think. When using these to try to dissolve adhesive epoxy resin, you can seriously dry out and damage your skin. The fumes can also be damaging to your lungs, so always make sure you are wearing your gloves, mask, and glasses prior to starting this process.

Step 2 - Chisel Dried Adhesive

Epoxy resin will harden like a rock in under a minute, and nothing you have will remove a globule of this material. When this happens there is little recourse but to remove as much of the resin as possible, and for this, you will need to chisel it away. Place a metal putty knife at the base of the glob, at about a 45-degree angle. Gently tap the end with a mallet to start removing pieces of the dried resin. Remove as much as you can in this manner, adjusting the angle of the putty knife as needed. Switch to the plastic scraper during the process to help reduce the profile of the dried mass. The goal is to make it as flat as possible.

Step 3 - Removing the Rest of the Epoxy Resin

two putty scrapers laying next to each other

Even if you're quick to wipe away the resin before it dries, there will still be a film left behind. This is where the chemicals come into play. Take a rag and saturate it with paint stripper first. The chemicals used in home paint strippers are formulated to not dissolve epoxy resin but rather melt it. Ball up the rag and put it on top of the residue. Hold it in place for a minute, and then quickly use the plastic scraper to work at the leftover adhesive. Work quickly because the epoxy resin will re-harden just as fast as it did the first time. Repeat until the debris is completely gone. Never try to rub away epoxy resin because you'll simply spread it out over the affected surface instead of removing it.

Step 4 - Finishing Up

Never leave paint stripper on the floor. Instead, wipe the area down with a clean rag then spray with a cleaner. Let the cleaning solution sit for several minutes before wiping it away. Spray the area more than once if needed.