How do I remove this "Mystery Glue"?

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Phonofreak
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Re: How do I remove this "Mystery Glue"?

Post by Phonofreak »

I have used Citri-strip. It will remove just about anything including polyurethane. it doesn't smell bad and can be washed off with water.
Harvey Kravitz

steambc
Victor Jr
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Re: How do I remove this "Mystery Glue"?

Post by steambc »

JerryVan wrote:
Curt A wrote:"I've never liked the effect of wire brushing, especially of the powered variety, as that tends to smooth and polish metal..."

Duh... the metal will be covered with new felt so you won't see it and guess what... sanding will "smooth and polish metal". :roll:

Obviously, it's up to you if you want to waste extra time sanding the stuff off, but I have done this many times with absolutely no ill effects... I guess I wonder why you asked for advice in the first place?

After your rude response I'll bet he too is wondering why he asked. Was that really necessary?
There are always going to be deeply insecure people on any forum. I've been around so I can handle (read ignore) that. I knew that by far most of you are decent, helpful guys. I do appreciate everyone's suggestions. The job went great and I'm very happy with the results.

steambc
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Re: How do I remove this "Mystery Glue"?

Post by steambc »

Phonofreak wrote:I have used Citri-strip. It will remove just about anything including polyurethane. it doesn't smell bad and can be washed off with water.
Harvey Kravitz
Now that's one thing I hadn't thought of. I'll keep that in mind for the future. I appreciate the idea.

tomb
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Re: How do I remove this "Mystery Glue"?

Post by tomb »

Try sand paper , a scrapper, a screw driver to get the hard places and a lot of elbow grease. Tom

steambc
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Re: How do I remove this "Mystery Glue"?

Post by steambc »

EarlH wrote:That's interesting about all the trouble you are having with the turntable cement. I always thought they used burnt shellac to stuck the felt down with, but I've never really tried to do what you are doing with your turntable. Hide glue will not stick to the metal so they wouldn't have used that. They did use a glue made out of isinglass in those days, but I don't know why they would have used that for this. That was what they used to use to stick paper, or photographs to glass and it dried clear. I've always just scraped it off as best I could with a cabinet scraper. If you have one of those sharpened nicely, they won't score the metal. They might a little bit if you aren't careful, but a cabinet scraper is really handy for work like you are doing. And it shouldn't disturb the plating on the rim of your turntable.
Good idea. I do have a cabinet scraper, too. That glue was amazingly hard. I would have liked to see how the cabinet scraper would have done. By cabinet scraper, I mean "card scraper". It turned out that the sandpaper worked remarkably well, and quite easily at that. It took me all of a few minutes to get the mystery glue off and all is good in Victrola-Land, thanks to you guys.

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De Soto Frank
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Re: How do I remove this "Mystery Glue"?

Post by De Soto Frank »

Curious - is the mystery glue hard and brittle, or at all soft and resilient ?

If you scrape at it, does it "powder-off", or does the scraper just kind of dig-into to glue mass ?
De Soto Frank

steambc
Victor Jr
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Re: How do I remove this "Mystery Glue"?

Post by steambc »

It was hard and brittle, powdering off. I actually expected it to be slightly soft since it was translucent where it was pooled, but there was no "give" to it whatsoever.

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Curt A
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Re: How do I remove this "Mystery Glue"?

Post by Curt A »

"There are always going to be deeply insecure people on any forum."

I apologize if I made you feel insecure...
"The phonograph† is not of any commercial value."
Thomas Alva Edison - Comment to his assistant, Samuel Insull.

"No one needs a Victrola XX, a Perfected Graphophone Type G, or whatever you call those noisy things."
My Wife

HisMastersVoice
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Re: How do I remove this "Mystery Glue"?

Post by HisMastersVoice »

Curt A wrote:"There are always going to be deeply insecure people on any forum."

I apologize if I made you feel insecure...
Can we not, please?

Phonofreak
Victor VI
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Re: How do I remove this "Mystery Glue"?

Post by Phonofreak »

Citri-strip can be bought at any good hardware or home improvement store. It is a semi-paste and orange in color. It is made with the citric acid made with oranges. I have been using this stuff for 25 years or so. Like I said before, it washes off with water. I'm sure it will dissolve that old glue. If you have to re-finish, it will not do damage to the patina or the original stain. Best of all, it doesn't stink up the work area.
Harvey Kravitz

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