Can Super Glue be removed from a lacquer finish?

[Todd Brown]

The title says it all. A little advice needed here, please.
I've Got a steel here with a spot of SUPER GLUE on the lacquer finish.
The glue is OLD, and it is Super Glue. I don't want to do ANYTHING to harm the finish. Nothing extensive. I've done a search and came up with a little bit of information. I just want to know if there are any new INFORMED opinions, or suggestions out here. Not just wild guesses!

A older post dated April '07 from Bill Hatcher, who is reputable in this manner, states "Naptha. Good for cleaning off glue residue from lacquer or other surfaces without harming the finish."

My gut is telling me that Naptha can't be good for an '82 Sho-Bud Black lacquer finish!!

Also, a bit of it is on the aluminum neck. But I think I've got that handled with any basic solvent.

Just wanted to check with you guys.
Thanks in advance!!

[Jerry Roller]

Todd, if the spot is smaller than the length of a single edge razor blade and is on a flat surface you can wrap "Scotch" tape around each end of a razor blade and slowly scrape across the superglue removing a little at a time. The tape will serve to keep the blade from going too deep. Once you have scraped until no more glue is being removed the glue will be only the thickness of the tape. Then you can take a coin wrapped in a cloth and rubbing compound and rub the glue down flush. I don't know of any solvent that can remove super glue without damaging the lacquer so this controlled scraping is the only way I know. If it is on a curved surface of course this will not work.
Jerry

[Todd Brown]

Thanks much, Jerry. I would say that the spot is about 1/4" in diameter. With a little smudge/smear mark near it.

Any else have some more non invasive ideas??

[John Roche]

found this may help...

Remove the Spot from the Countertop with Acetone

Acetone is more commonly referred to as nail polish remover, and if a standard razor blade and soapy water does not work, acetone will breakdown the components of glue to help remove it from a countertop. Instead of just pouring it over the area of the spill, use a cotton swab to apply it to just the dried superglue. This will reduce the chances of damaging the countertop. Allow the acetone to work on softening the dried superglue for about twenty minutes. After it has soaked into the dried spill, a safety razor can be used to easily scrape it away from the countertop.

[Todd Brown]

Maybe if I knew exactly what type of finish Sho-Bud would have used in early '82 on Pro III w/NO see thru grain, that might would help. I Don't think using Acetone would be the answer to my problem. I want to keep the finish. I know you can use just about any solvent to clean something like Super Glue off of Mica, but Lacquer?. I dunno... thoughts?

[Jerry Roller]

Todd, I think there is no other way to get it off other than the way I described to you. Did I explain it well enough for you to understand? Let me know if not and I will try again. The tape keeps the blade from touching the finish. Only the tape touches the finish. Replace the tape before it wears thru. Any chemical strong enough to cut dried superglue is going to remove the lacquer.

[Todd Brown]

Gotcha, Jerry. Thanks!!

[Ron Pruter]

Jerry is correct. I have a love/hate relationship with Cyanoacralate glue. Acetone will desolve it but it will probably desolve your finish too. Scrape it off, level and then lightly wet sand with 600 wet and dry sandpaper then polish the area with a polishing compound. With a little luck, you won't go through the finish. Ron

[Mark van Allen]

Luthiers and repairmen routinely use superglue for drop fills to repair laquer finishes, so I'm thinking Jerry's route is the way to go.

[Todd Brown]

Thanks much, fellers! Not my doin's. I was just trying to see if I could find a way to get it cleaned up for a friend...

[John Billings]

Contact Jim Sliff. He knows this stuff.

[Jr. Watts]

You should be able to take it off the same as removing a run on car paint.Tape the single edge razorblade as mentioned in an earlier post and scrape the glue until is is the thickiness of the tape. Start sanding with 1000 grit sandpaper working your way up to finishing it with 6000. I put a couple of drops of Palmolive dishwashing liquid in a spray bottle of water and use that for lubricant for the sand paper. Just be real light with the paper.When you get thru the 6000 grit paper, good polish should make er shine. Jr. Watts