dissolving epoxy?

[pikeman666]

I have some 28mm cavalry that are mounted 1 per on metal bases with epoxy. The adhesive is covered with a nice terrain mix. They're 25mm wide, and I don't think I can cut them down to 20mm.
So has anyone ever dissolved epoxy without dissolving the figure? I've heard that heat softens epoxy, but that much heat would probably ruin the figure too.
Pete

[ravenflight]

I have some 28mm cavalry that are mounted 1 per on metal bases with epoxy. The adhesive is covered with a nice terrain mix. They're 25mm wide, and I don't think I can cut them down to 20mm.
So has anyone ever dissolved epoxy without dissolving the figure? I've heard that heat softens epoxy, but that much heat would probably ruin the figure too.
Pete

I think heating it would cause more problem for the paint than the figure. Maybe you could try a hot wire to cut through the epoxy.

It's going to be a crappy job.

[pezhetairoi]

Haven't tried it myself, but the following may work:
Lacquer Thinner
Methylene Chloride

Both are bad for you.
If one doesn't work the other should.

[tadamson]

Haven't tried it myself, but the following may work:
Lacquer Thinner
Methylene Chloride

Both are bad for you.
If one doesn't work the other should.

denatured alcohol, mineral spirits (paint thinner), acetone and Toluene all work.
nb acetone is VERY flammable and toluene VERY carcinogenic.

As the poxy has cured, you will have to let them soak in the solvent for a day or so.

A small grinder or jigsaw (with the base/figure held in a vice) would be quicker and likely less hazardous.

[lawrenceg]

I have some 28mm cavalry that are mounted 1 per on metal bases with epoxy. The adhesive is covered with a nice terrain mix. They're 25mm wide, and I don't think I can cut them down to 20mm.
So has anyone ever dissolved epoxy without dissolving the figure? I've heard that heat softens epoxy, but that much heat would probably ruin the figure too.
Pete

Most solvents will do nothing to cured epoxy, but some might soak in eventually and make it a bit rubbery, at which point you might be able to prise the two surfaces apart with a knife.

Methylene chloride is the basis of some paint-strippers and will chemically attack many epoxies, so I would try that one first (assuming you don't mind stripping the paint off the figures).

Another alternative is to put them in a *** freezer overnight and use a hammer and sharp chisel as soon as you take them out.

If you primed the bases with paint before gluing, you might be able to detach the paint from the metal with a solvent for cellulose paint.

Any health hazard from solvents will be negligible unless you are breathing it 8 hours a day for your working life.

Epoxies are difficult to get rid of, so good luck.

Glue: a substance that sticks irrevocably to any surface you don't want it to stick to.

[pezhetairoi]

Another alternative is to put them in a *** freezer overnight and use a hammer and sharp chisel as soon as you take them out.

This will be easy if you live in Canada! You can just leave them outside. The temperature at night has been -20C in the Ottawa area lately. bbbrrrrrrr