iab

Two hours and a pint of acetone removed 3/4 of the glue off of one rim. There has got to be a better way.

The glue is fresh and won't chip off like old glue. I have 1 1/4 wheels to go and the rate I am going it will take 3 1/2 hours, far too long to be handling toxic liquids. Is there anything to do the job quicker? I am sure it won't be any worse than acetone.

Grand Bois

https://www.branfordbike.com/cgi-bin/...R_ID=175131727

Otis

If the glue is fresh why take it off? Just clean and add more of the same. The new glue will re-activate the old stuff if it isn't dried out.

iab

I'm selling the rims and trying to make them pretty.

OrangeOkie

How much is your time worth?

Otis

You can try my favorite method of wire-wheel on a bench grinder, but this works best when the glue is pretty dry. If it works it's damn quick.

cadillacmike68

TEN DOLLARS for FOUR OUNCES !?!?!

I use unleaded regular- been using it for years - on the rims only, not on the tires though. Even a 3 bucks a gallon it is FAR less expensive. Recommend you wear rubber gloves that are solvent proof to protect your hands, and get a small wire brush that will help immensely.

garysol1 

Just today I did the same thing. I used a wire wheel on my dremel to bust through a lot of the residue. I then used Goo Gone to remove what ever was left behind. Took me maybe 10 minutes per wheel.

https://www.googone.com/images/gg_images/GGHS12_big.jpg

unworthy1

We used to use the 3M Adhesive Remover, unknown blend of solvents that also remove brain cells and memory...I think...but I think better than straight acetone, and cheaper than Branfords Brew and GooGone, too.
Ditto on the gloves (NITRILE are the only choice) and use in a well ventilated...uh...
what was I saying?

lotek 

mineral spirits, $4.00 for a quart at home depot or Lowes.
works really well, is pretty much odorless and while not the best thing
in the world for your skin, won't peel it off.

Marty

mattface 

I used mineral spirits and a green scrubby

iab

I tried gas, but the acetone worked better. I tried the wire wheel but since the glue is fresh, it gunks-up the wire pretty quick.

I'll try mineral spirits next.

Sluggo

Volatile solvents + wire wheel that can kick up sparks + sparking motor = DANGER OF BIG EXPLOSION!

Skip the gasoline or acetone if you are using power!!

If I were buying a set of sew-up wheels, I would want a layer of reasonably fresh glue -- saves some trouble in preparing them for use.

rschulze

goof off - get it at a hardware store.

fbagatelleblack

I used to have really good luck with GOOP, or any other "greaseless hand cleaner" that you can get at an auto parts store, especially on newish glue that had not dried out completely. Make sure to get the smooth kind of hand cleaner; you don't want the kind that has pummus or any other abrasive in it. Coat the gluey parts of the rim with GOOP, let it soak a few minutes, scrub with a green scrubby, repeat. I used to use this on red glue, and the results were amazing.

I haven't ridden on a set of tubulars in 20 years. Glue technology might have changed and become Goop-resistant since my time, but I used to get really good results with this technique. The added bonus was that the Goop did not seem to attack tubular sidewalls, so it was also a good method for cleaning up after mounting a tubular.

- FBB

iab

Not easy, but the mineral spirits are definately a step up from the acetone. 1 1/4 wheels in 1 3/4 hours, about half the time it would have taken with the acetone.

I'll try that Goop method next time I need to remove glue.

Oh, I know the can says odorless but IMO, mineral spirits stink nearly as bad as the acetone. A different stink, but none the less stinky.

OLDYELLR

Toluol should work. It's the solvent on Pana Cement, which I use. If the glue is really old, dry and crusty, a wire brush may work better.

Kommisar89

Must have change - I couldn't get the Continental glue completely off my hands with GOOP or mineral spirits let along off the rim and acetone took the sidewall right off the tire. Haven't tried Toluol yet. I found a solution though. They have these new things called clincher rims. I ordered a pair of those.

peabodypride

I use some metal polish (as a light abrasive) and 0000 steel wool, alternated with 1200 grit sandpaper. Got everything off except for the glue which ran in two ditches across the wheel.

Bushman

FYI: Goof-Off contains a mix of xylene and acetone, if your cleaning tubular rims a lot, might be an idea to buy both in bulk (1L or 5 liter containers) and mix 50/50 (saves you some money compared to buying those little containers of Goof-off. A carbon filter mask and rubber solvent gloves, safety glasses are also a good idea.

I use a brass wire wheel on a geared down buffer motor...the brass does'nt scratch the rims like a regular wire wheel.

No_Minkah

Hi dead thread! But still...

I made a mess of gluing on my first set of tubulars, and I'd like to clean the excess glue from the rims with the tires still on. Will mineral spirits eat up my tires?

Thanks

OLDYELLR

Won't hurt them if you don't leave it on too long, but it won't touch the glue either. Toluol will remove the glue if it's not really old and hard, but it will attack rubber pretty quick. It's also highly flammable and probably toxic, so if you're a safety weenie, forget about it. Probably can't buy it at your local pharmacy or hardware store either. Try acetone, which is more easily available, but keep it away from the rubber. Oh yeah, it's also highly flammable and the fumes won't enrich your brain cells either.

dbakl

MEK is the most powerful solvent I know of, as long as you've already had children or don't plan to...

coelcanth

last time i had to do this i used a combination of xylene (which would only soften the glue) and scraping with an old screwdriver..

it still took like 2 hours

sced

Paint stripper - paint it on, let set, wipe off.