3 Tips for Removing Super Glue from Wood

Super glue can be hard to remove from surfaces that you didn't want it to land on, unless you know the true enemy of the glue: acetone. However, with wood straight acetone does not always work well, since wood is porous and can soak the chemical up, causing permanent staining and discoloration. You will want to be very careful when applying any type of solvent to your wood table top, as it can permanently stain or destroy the table surface.

1. Light Mixtures of Acetone and Water Could Help

When super glue lands on a finished table, it can be more destructive removing it as leaving it where it lays. What you will want to do is use a combination of delicate attempts at regular super glue removal techniques, which would include acetone and a blunt object. Take a rag and soak it with a minimal amount of acetone. Once you have it prepared, gently apply the rag to the glue spot and see if it loosens the eyesore. If you can get the edges of the glue to soften up, you can then try and peel the wad of glue from the tables surface. Oils can be added on table tops that have not been coated in paint. Painted tables, if not handled carefully, may have to be refinished with a new coat of paint if the acetone eats through.

2. Apply Controlled Impacts onto the Glue

In a number of cases you can moisten the super glue with light amounts of acetone and when it gets soft, try to tap the glue loose with a flat hammer head or similar object. The pointed edge of a meat tenderizer could also do the trick. The point is to loosen or stress the super glue so it lets go. Once you get a working edge, you can also use a flat edged tool to try and pry from underneath its edges to get it loose. Repeat the process, exerting caution to avoid permanent damage to your table top. Check it as you go, chipping away at its grip on the table surface until you can remove the bulk of the mess.

3. Residual Super Glue Residue Cleanup

Once you have the bulk of the super glue removed, you can try to get remnant imprints of it from the wood's surface with more acetone. Know that if this is a painted finish, it can very well eat the paint. You want to exert caution if you do not want to refinish the entire table surface. Once the glue and stain have been removed you can wash it out on a varnished or oiled table top by adding some sealant to a rag and rubbing it in. The oils will generally wash into the wood and basically hide or cloak the stain. Mineral oil works really well on table tops that have not been painted, and will assist in the surface appearance on varnished tables. Simply rub the oils in thoroughly to get a good even coat and allow it to dry and your table will be back to normal in 24 hours.