Asked on Aug 12, 2016

How to remove glass bonded by E6000 glue?

Denise
by Denise
A votive candle holder was glued to an old antique glass plate. Had no idea the plate (my grandmother's), was a priceless piece. I feel awful! Is there any way it can be removed without breaking it? Thanks for the help.
  33 answers
  • Peggy Peggy on Aug 12, 2016
    Try using a single edge razor blade. I have gotten it I off that way. Wear gloves...
  • Denise Denise on Aug 12, 2016
    Thanks so much! FYI love your town. Will try the razor method. Feel so guilty about this faux pas!
  • Janet Pizaro Janet Pizaro on Aug 12, 2016
    I would try soaking it in acetone first to aid in loosening up the glue.
  • Diana Wearing Diana Wearing on Aug 12, 2016
    You could try heating it up with a blow dryer to soften the glue and then use a razor blade or small knife to get it apart - good luck!
  • Mary Mosher Mary Mosher on Aug 13, 2016
    If it's a priceless piece (both literally and figuratively) perhaps it's worth touching base with the manufacturer of the glue for a solution (no pun intended)! You'd hate to damage the plate when there may be a safe, proven method.
  • DORLIS DORLIS on Aug 13, 2016
    I have wondered about this with everyone gluing old glass together and putting them in the yard. First place, glass breaks and then you have a problem cleaning it up. With racoons around and squirrels, I won't even attempt it.
    • Maura 'liz' Imler Maura 'liz' Imler on Oct 22, 2017

      I have been making glass totems for awhile and have them in my yard - animals don't seem to bother them and I have many in the area and all of my structures have been out in snow and rain and heat and freezing temps without a problem and still look fabulous!

  • Lynne Lynne on Aug 14, 2016
    I found the heat from a hair dryer is very effective in separating glued pieces w/out damaging the treasures. Good luck​
  • Karen Johnston Karen Johnston on Aug 14, 2016
    Why separate it - what a great veggie/dip plate, fruit plate with blueberries or boysenberries in the bowl - it's beautiful just the way it is.
  • Joann Joann on Aug 14, 2016
    Use acetone, toluene or naptha; pour some into the depression of the plate and begin working at the edges of the glue, with a knife...CAREFULLY. The liquid will evaporate fairly quickly, so keep replacing it. It will probably take a while, but should work.
  • Elaine Elaine on Aug 14, 2016
    I'm wondering if the old type of acetone nail polish remover would work? If not, you could try the blow dryer idea some have posted. I've never used E6000 glue before but understand it is bondfast. My other option would be submerging it in a pail of very hot water (not boiling though as you don't want to crack the plate) for however long it takes and see if anything loosens. However, keep adding hot water to maintain temperature. After an entire day, lift out and see if there's any softened-glue area where you can wiggle in the tip of a knife - that will then allow further hot water to enter. This could take days but it would be worth it. Good luck!
  • Faye Campbell Faye Campbell on Aug 14, 2016
    Try putting it in the freezer. This certainly works for hot glue gun applications. I've removed E6000 from ceramic wall times with a glass scaper.
  • Mike Mike on Aug 15, 2016
    Here is a link to the E6000 web site. I would ask them before I tried anything else. http://eclecticproducts.com/products/e6000.ht... Mike
  • Donna Donna on Aug 15, 2016
    I know from experience that nail polish remover and hot water won't work - I've tried both. I have a stone glued to ceramic that I want to remove but have yet to anything that will break the seal. That's why we love E6000. Heat would work for hot glue - it remelts it but E6000 is different.
  • Lynn Lynn on Aug 16, 2016
    I used a heat gun to soften and loosen E6000 on a glass block that had small glass tiles glued on it.
  • Sue c. Sue c. on Aug 17, 2016
    Since you said the piece was valuable perhaps you should contact one of the glass collectors clubs. They would know who has done this safely as well as how it was done. If you really value this item find experts for advice not our group of friendly Do-It-Yourselfers. Think of it as surgery; do you get heart surgery from that lady nextdoor that decorates her home so beautifully or maybe a heart surgeon? And when you find out the answer we all need to know what it is! Oh, just thought-- call e6000 manufacturer.
  • Nancy J Nancy J on Aug 18, 2016
    I have removed items from glass platters, take a razor blade and slice through the seal...ring of glue, continue until the item feels loosened, then gently pry with a putty knife, once some air gets under that seal, it should be easier to just lift right off...then scrape the residual from the platter with the blade, follow with alcohol to clean any smudges
  • Knechtel Lori Knechtel Lori on Aug 18, 2016
    If it is hot glued, heat the plate and it will come right off. If it is super glued, soak in acitone. It takes a while to soak through but will work.
  • Gail lichtsinn Gail lichtsinn on Aug 18, 2016
    contact the company that makes E6000..You can try the internet..Look under solvent for E6000..I couldn't get my computer to connect
  • Tina Moore Tina Moore on Aug 20, 2016
    http://www.wikihow.com/Remove-E6000-Glue Use acetone or nail polish remover, alternately. Wash the area with a petroleum-based solvent. Wash your skin thoroughly.
  • Cathryn Holt Cathryn Holt on Jan 10, 2017

    Please contact the manufacturer. Your grandmother's piece is beautiful.

    Cathryn Holt

    Amateur Decorating Like A Pro

  • Lyn Buerger Lyn Buerger on Jan 11, 2017

    Hope all works well for you. You had some great suggestions. And I know how you feel. I made a really great hanging plant holder using an old plate only to find out later it was a $32. old plate. And I had cut it in half. ooooops.

  • Ayla Scott Ayla Scott on Sep 07, 2017

    ok, easy! I just did this and it worked like a charm. I had glued magnets to the back of glass marbles and wanted to replace the magnets with stronger ones three days after the E6000 dried. I thought about trying the acetone trick but it seemed stinky so I didn't want that all over my hands. I put the marble/magnets into a pot of water and warmed the water over medium to low heat. I let them sit in the warm water for an amount of time I was convinced any glue would've been softened. Pulled them out with a spoon, took a dull knife and the magnets pried off with no effort whatsoever! The glue peeled right off.

    :)


  • Chubby58 Chubby58 on Sep 07, 2017

    Being that this is a vintage plate, I would take it to someone who specializes in glass and dish repair, just to be on the safe side.

  • Julie Blanchard Julie Blanchard on Sep 11, 2017

    I have successfully removed 4 glass round vases from a glass plate by using WD40. I let it soak on the glue for about a half hour and loosened one side with a razor blade and they lifted safely off the glass. A little scraping with the razor to remove the residual glue.

  • DORLIS DORLIS on Oct 22, 2017

    i did not post this question, someone else using my info did. dorlis grote

  • Barbara D Barbara D on Jan 27, 2018

    It says it was posted by Denise, not Dorlis

  • Alb5888951 Alb5888951 on Mar 15, 2018

    I realize this is an older question but but I just ran across it while researching the same question. After reading all the responses I decided to try the simplest 1st and placed the pieces in a pot of water on medium heat. Allowed it to come to low boil before removing them. Came apart very easily!

  • Brenda Bright Brenda Bright on May 24, 2021

    I used a product called Un-do-it and a dull utility knife. It came off pretty easy.

  • 34354174 34354174 on Jul 09, 2021

    I know this is an old post.....I have the same situation with a wood bowl on a candle votive. The bowl is not a priceless heirloom, but I really like the bowl and did pay $30 for it. It is a large bowl and it sits to high to use

    So these ideas....will they harm the wood? The boiling water sounds like my best bet??

    • 34354174 34354174 on Jul 09, 2021

      Problem solved. If you can find a "weak" spot or an area you can slide a stout putty knife under....just gently manipulate it until the glue releases. I did this with wood on wood in less than 10 minutes without any damage at all to my votive or bowl. I looked closer, the glue was more on the plastic on the votive...Actually, there is a plastic inset in the wood...as you can see in the photo

      Not sure you could manage this with a delicate glass.....but this worked.

  • Susie Hemmick Susie Hemmick on Oct 22, 2023

    I used E6000 to glue some 1940's cut crystal stemware and crystal bowls together.

    I just used equate Moisturizing Hand Sanitizer and poured it on where I had glued it and less than 5 minutes I was able to use a putty knife and it came right off. Kind of bothers me that I have been using it on my hands now. This was fragile stemware I was taking apart. No chips or breaks. The glue then pulled right off in globs. Maybe I was just lucky. Good luck.

  • Johnavallance82 Johnavallance82 on Oct 22, 2023

    If all else fails. Enjoy it as it is!

  • Mogie Mogie on Oct 22, 2023

    Apply acetone nail polish remover or naphtha spirits to the glue. Acetone and naphtha spirits are both solvents that will soften and start to dissolve E6000 bonds. Wet a rag or a cotton ball with either of these liquids and apply it liberally to the glue. These solvents are strong enough to damage some substances.