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Removing covering from perspex?

Posted: Thu Feb 25, 2010 4:49 am
by inonickname
I have two 30cm diameter perspex disks which I just cut using a jig I made. Unfortunately, the perspex I made was donated to me. It is fairly old, and has been in the sun for quite a while. Some of it (small sections) will peel away, while larger pieces wont. I've tried using solvents and a strip of metal to remove it but haven't really gotten good results.

The covering is the papery kind (now the thin layer of LDPE like on some kinds). Any ideas on how to remove this cleanly? The solvents (turps, metho etc.) will get rid of leftover adhesive, but aren't really helpful in peeling of the layers of covering.

Thanks guys

(Incase you're interested, the disks are for a wimhurst generator I'm making).

Posted: Thu Feb 25, 2010 1:59 pm
by jimmy101
You might try just letting it soak in the solvent for a couple days. Straight water might work to remove the paper if given enough time. Then follow up with methanol or some other solvent (that doesn't melt the plastic).

Put'm in a big ziploc bag with a pint or two of solvent and wait.

Posted: Thu Feb 25, 2010 2:32 pm
by jrrdw
Heatgun or maybe a hair dryer then get under it with a scraper tool???

Posted: Thu Feb 25, 2010 4:32 pm
by IMagius
If Lighter Fluid won't seep into the edges and loosen the bond, I'd try boiling them. It works on every label on any type of Jar or whatever else I've ever tried to clean up. 5 to 10 minutes in a nice rolling boil and it usually loosens thigns right up - just make sure they aren't on the very bottom of the Pot. Temps of 100C shouldn't harm the perspex either.