Checked and updated on April 7, 2021 by Aaron Barnett
Have you had Gorilla glue stuck on your fingers? Or have you been worried about how to remove super glue from your skin? Getting Gorilla glue on your skin is something woodworkers have to somtimes deal with, especially when joining wood pieces together.
We all know what it’s like trying to get super glue off of skin – it isn’t a pleasant experience. It’s important to know how to get Gorilla glue off your skin in the easiest way because doing so can causes skin irritation.
Furthermore, if you get some on your fingers, your skin could tear as you try to pull them apart.
Methods to remove Gorilla glue from skin
Here are the best methods on how to get water-activated gorilla glue off your skin.
- Acetone or nail polish remover. Acetone is a strong solvent that can easily break down some polymers and effectively dissolves super glue.
- Soaking in warm, soapy water. This can help if the glue is not yet fully dry. After soaking for 5-10 minutes, the glue softens and is easier to remove.
- Glue removers. There are special-purpose glue removers for sale that can easily remove most types of glue from the skin.
Glues to watch out for
There are a lot of glue types out there, but the ones that you need to remove urgently are those that dry quickly. It can damage your skin, your clothes, or your hair.
- Cyanoacrylate. Is the main component of most superglues on the market. It cures quickly upon exposure to air and can cause irritations and sometimes even light burns if it contacts the skin.
- Polyurethane glue. For example, gorilla glue, as another type of glue that should be removed from the skin as can be very irritable and can cause skin tearing once try.
How to get Gorilla glue off your skin with acetone?
Using acetone is one of the best ways on how to remove super glue from the skin. It’s a very strong solvent that easily dissolves all sorts of chemicals. It’s great because it poses little to no threat to your skin; just take care not to get any of it on fresh wounds or cuts as it is poisonous if it enters your bloodstream.
Soak the affected area for about 2-3 minutes or until the glue is completely off your skin. Before using acetone, you can try to remove as much uncured glue as you can with a cloth to speed up the process.
How to get Gorilla glue off the skin without acetone?
Since acetone is potentially harmful when ingested or when its vapors are inhaled, you can go with a safer but slightly less effective alternative.
- Simply soak the affected area in warm water mixed with either hand soap or a dishwashing detergent for 5-10 minutes.
- The solution softens up the glue and makes it easier to peel or scratch off. Because this method usually takes longer, pause for a while if your skin starts to get painful from rubbing or scratching.
- Another good alternative is to soak your skin in isopropyl alcohol for 5 minutes. While this is faster, your skin may get dry afterward, so have some lotion and/or moisturizer ready.
How to get Gorilla spray foam off skin?
Gorilla spray is also available as a spray can which makes for easier insulation in tight spots such as around window frames. While it does offer wider reach, it also has the chance of accidentally getting the glue-like insulation on your skin. Fortunately, it’s quite easy to remove, unless intentionally applied.
Small droplets that may latch onto your skin are easily dissolved in warm and soapy water.
You can also use acetone or isopropyl instead of soap for greater efficiency. Similar to how you remove regular Gorilla glue, simply soak the affected area for about 5-10 minutes and wipe off any remaining small glue bits with a cloth.
But this stuff is seriously hard to remove when wet from your skin, it might be better to wait for it to dry before picking it off.
How to get Gorilla glue off clothes?
Getting Gorilla glue on your clothes may sound like permanent damage, but you can actually remove it without having to destroy your clothing. Before anything else, it’s important to make sure that the Gorilla glue is completely dried up; trying to remove it without ensuring that it’s totally dry can cause permanent staining and can end up just spreading it out.
Lay the piece of clothing on a flat surface and let it soak in acetone or lemon juice for about 15 minutes. This should soften up the glue, making it easier to remove by simple washing afterward.
If you invest in a leather apron it can act as a layer of protection.
How to get Gorilla glue off hair?
Unfortunate as that might be, it’s still possible if you have hair. Tiny droplets can accidentally get on your hair if you touch it while having gorilla glue on your hands.
Luckily, you can simply treat your hair with a cotton ball soaked in acetone or isopropyl alcohol to get rid of small droplets.
Avoid getting acetone on your scalp as it can potentially damage that area of your skin. Have a thorough shower after to remove softened glue that might still be attached; apply shampoo and conditioner generously as acetone or alcohol can dry up your hair.
What is it made and why is it so hard to remove?
Gorilla glue is water-activated and made out of polyurethane and cures and sticks instantly upon contact with moisture such as what’s on your skin. It’s one of the best agents for high-strength adhesion when joining structural wooden boards. You’d want a pretty stronghold, especially when you’re working with quality types of wood for your furniture projects.
This type of glue is perfect for wood as it expands into the wood’s naturally porous structure. The same holds true for other porous surfaces like skin and clothing – the glue basically anchors itself on the microscopic holes on the skin, resulting in a tight and well-held bond.
How to work with Gorilla glue without causing a mess?
Nobody wants a big mess when they’re working on a project, especially when you’re working on woodworking projects that you can sell . Working with super glue without taking necessary precautions can get quite messy. To make sure that you don’t get Gorilla glue on your skin or on any unwanted space, here are a few tips:
- Keep the tube of Gorilla glue away from your work – as much as it’s convenient to keep the glue close to you, it can also lead to potentially inconvenient mishaps.
- Having large amounts of Gorilla glue near you means that you can accidentally knock it over, touch it, or get it on where you wouldn’t want it to be on your piece. Instead, try to funnel a certain amount into a small container such as a tin can or plastic bottle cap.
- You can work neatly and with more accuracy by using toothpicks or popsicle sticks to apply glue on your piece instead of directly from the tube. This gives you more control in terms of amount and helps prevent any excess applications.
Alternatives for glue for joining wood
Now that you know how to get dried Gorilla glue off of your skin, you may just want to avoid the hassle altogether. Thankfully, a good alternative to gorilla glue for joining wood is PVA wood. PVA wood is normal wood glue that’s white and commonly used in woodworking. It’s slow-drying, meaning that it can be easily and safely removed from the skin.
The main drawback to PVA wood is its long setting time. However, this is an acceptable trade-off if it means not having to painfully remove the glue that accidentally got onto your skin.
Where and how to store Gorilla glue?
Storing Gorilla glue properly ensures that it has a longer shelf life and won’t harden with time.
When storing Gorilla glue, make sure that it’s completely sealed to prevent air from getting in or out of the tube which causes it to cure and harden.
Store Gorilla glue in a cool, dry place. It’s recommended to seal the tube in a zip-lock bag with silica gel to eliminate moisture and help prolong its shelf life.
Conclusion
Gloves can really help most of a mess but there’s no surefire way to completely avoid getting glue on your skin if your head is stuck on a job and you’re not paying full attention, or have clamps on hand.
What can we say, accidents do still happen. Fortunately, there are just as many ways to easily get gorilla glue off of skin and with the help of common household items to boot. Acetone, alcohol, nail polish remover, and even soap and warm water all do a decent job at ridding unwanted glue bits.
Prevention is always better than a cure, or so the saying goes. Store and use gorilla glue properly and neatly to avoid messes and accidents.
Now that you’ve learned how to get gorilla glue off of the skin, we hope that you stick (pun intended) around and catch us on the next guide. Keep it together now!
More information:
- The truth about polyurethane glue, posted on https://www.popularwoodworking.com/article/the_truth_about_polyurethane_glue/
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