The new MTH TTX centerbeams have their loads glued in place and I have been unable to remove them without breaking them. Does anyone have suggestions to soften the glue? I've tried isopropyl alcohol with negligible results.
Original Post
Replies sorted oldest to newest
Depending on the glue used, freezing can work. Put the car in the freezer for a few hours, take it out, then quickly try to break the glue bond. You only have a few seconds of working time before the piece warms up to room temperature. You might be able to break part of the bond, then re-freeze and break the rest. Good luck.
I consulted the MTH Catalog and looked at items 20-95349, 20-95350 and 20-95351 which should be what you're asking about. Under features, it says "Removable Lumber Load." Have a good look at it before you do anything rash.
MELGAR
Have you tried the freezer?
If their glue caused a welded type joint I don't know that you can do what you wish to.
MELGAR posted:I consulted the MTH Catalog and looked at items 20-95349, 20-95350 and 20-95351 which should be what you're asking about. Under features, it says "Removable Lumber Load." Have a good look at it before you do anything rash.
MELGAR
First of all, I haven't tried the freezer yet.
As for the removable part, the BNSF cars are no problem, but for some strange reason the TTX version got glued at the factory.
"Glueing" has at least 2 variations (maybe more; ask a chemist): there is the adhesive situation (Goo, CA, silicone....) where the substance applied interacts minimally with the 2 surfaces being joined. It's "sticky", and theoretically the stickiness can possibly be affected by chemicals or temperature (the freezer), with minimal risk to the pieces.
Then there's the good stuff - "plastic cement" is actually a solvent, and when used on surfaces that chemically are melted by this solvent (depends on the plastic and the solvent), the surfaces are melted, then the reaction runs out of reactant, and the 2 surfaces become one piece of plastic. The joint can actually be stronger than the plastic around it. I know of no way to separate these surfaces without at least some damage, as they have been made into one piece.
Doesn't mean you shouldn't try, but I imagine that MTH's builder used a solvent. A solvent joint can be weak if a minimal amount was used or there was paint in the way.
This works every time!
Attachments
Images (1)
D500 posted:Then there's the good stuff - "plastic cement" is actually a solvent, and when used on surfaces that chemically are melted by this solvent (depends on the plastic and the solvent), the surfaces are melted, then the reaction runs out of reactant, and the 2 surfaces become one piece of plastic. The joint can actually be stronger than the plastic around it. I know of no way to separate these surfaces without at least some damage, as they have been made into one piece.
Based on the way the surrounding plastic broke, this is definitely the case.
Unfortunately, I think the only viable option will be to break the loads off and fashion new mounts for them.
Thanks for the input everybody!
