How to safely remove super glue from my phone

mof · 29 Jan 2017 at 11:21

I've had a screen protector on my phone for a while which comes with a plastic strip that goes over the button at the bottom to make it easier to press the button with the screen protector around it.

The plastic strip has come off and I tried to re-attach it with some glue but it didn't work and now the button on the phone is sticky and is a lot harder to press.

What would be the best way to remove it without damaging the phone?

I was thinking of using some isopropyl alcohol and q tips to remove it. I have a kit for removing thermal paste from cpus that might work.

It's a samsung s5 mini. The glue contains cyanoacrylate.

JBuk · 29 Jan 2017 at 11:22

A few minutes in some caustic soda should clear it up nicely*

*don't do this!

Mynight · 29 Jan 2017 at 11:25

You put super glue on your screen?

malachi · 29 Jan 2017 at 11:30

If you have a heat gun or a hair dryer then you can use them to heat up the glue and removed it. Or hold it over a gas cooker but be VERY careful not to melt the plastic when doing this, keep it on the lowest temp.

Armageus · 29 Jan 2017 at 11:43

Super glue remover?

https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/aw/d/B0012RGLBM/

JBuk · 29 Jan 2017 at 11:44

Armageus said:
Super glue remover?

https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/aw/d/B0012RGLBM/

Come on now that's far too sensible

NoobCannon · 29 Jan 2017 at 11:45

Thread of the year contender?

degen · 29 Jan 2017 at 11:48

Wait... What? You're desperate to protect your phone from scratches but thought nothing about putting super glue onto it? Haha.

Def thread of the year contender.

mof · 29 Jan 2017 at 11:54

Mynight said:
You put super glue on your screen?

No. It's just on the button.

Mynight · 29 Jan 2017 at 11:56

mof said:
No. It's just on the button.

OOOOO OK that's fine then. Was worried you had done something silly.

Lakeland · 29 Jan 2017 at 11:58

You got superglue in the home button and it's now sticky - your options are pretty limited to be honest, once it's in the gap you're looking at replacing the button

aardvark · 29 Jan 2017 at 12:05

superglue is quite brittle so you may be able to gently scrape it off.
apart from that you're screwed - the solvents that will remove it will also remove your button.

mof · 29 Jan 2017 at 12:08

aardvark said:
superglue is quite brittle so you may be able to gently scrape it off.
apart from that you're screwed - the solvents that will remove it will also remove your button.

Thanks

EGuitarStar · 29 Jan 2017 at 12:12

Maybe check up on the ease and cost of replacing the button as the solvents may leak into other areas of the phone and cause more damage.

Can you post some picures so we can assess the glue and give you a far better solution to the problem?

Redz · 29 Jan 2017 at 12:23

Mustard

JBuk · 29 Jan 2017 at 12:24

Use cotton buds dipped in whichever remover you try

Minstadave · 29 Jan 2017 at 12:28

60 seconds in the microwave on half power will normally soften it enough to remove the glue.

Landy · 29 Jan 2017 at 12:36

try some WD40 on a cotton bud, i use WD40 at work if we ever need to remove sticky patches or dried glue from something, have no idea why it works, but it does usually.

Whitewater · 29 Jan 2017 at 12:39

Minstadave said:
60 seconds in the microwave on half power will normally soften it enough to remove the glue.

This has the added benefit of charging your battery, provided the compatible OS version is installed.

Mynight · 29 Jan 2017 at 12:39

Landy said:
try some WD40 on a cotton bud, i use WD40 at work if we ever need to remove sticky patches or dried glue from something, have no idea why it works, but it does usually.

It's a solvent.

Afaik it wont work on superglue though. I thought only acetone did but that would risk damaging the phone.

Edit:Been a while since I checked. Depends on what plastic it is as to whether acetone will affect it.