Chapter 5 - How to Unstick Glued Latex

You’ve got a small window of opportunity to unstick latex before the glue sets too much. Aim to try within 10–15 minutes after bonding. After 24 hours, it’s much trickier, but not impossible — you’ll just need to be extra careful. Plus: different glues behave different.

• Gently try to pull the pieces apart. If it feels too tight, no panic — you’ve got tools to help!
• You also can dab a little thinner on the glued seam (just a touch!), and let it sit for a few seconds. The glue will soften.

• Slowly peel the pieces apart — use your fingers or a soft tool like a bone folder. Go slow and steady!

• Tears & Rips: Latex is strong but delicate. Start at the edges and work your way in to avoid tearing. However, it is a common issue that latex tears during the attempt to separate it again, especially around edges and cuts. Be prepared, that this can happen!
• Dull Finish: Thinner can dull the shine. Use sparingly and touch up afterward with a latex polish or shine spray. Use it as rarely as possible.
• Glue Residue: If you get excess glue, gently wipe it away with a bit of thinner. Don’t scrub, especially if the area should stay visible afterwards.

• It may seem obvious, but sometimes it’s a thing you need to dare: You can cut the wrong glued seam, to avoid the risk of tearing.
• But: This changes the shape of your pieces, think before, if you can afford.
• If the latex tears a bit, you might be able to patch it. For this, first try to give the end of the scratch a round shape, for example with your scissors, to avoid further tearing. Add a patch onto the area. But: don’t forget that the structure in this area is weakened!