Best way to clean PVA glue from your clamps

Outright best way to remove dried PVA glue from your Bessey clamps
....
After years of experimentation I believe I have now found the most effective way to clean dried PVA glue from your clamps. Combining several well known techniques, HBomb walks you through the simple and cheap process.

And remember to wipe them down with some bee’s wax when you are done to make it harder for the glue to stick in the first place.


by @StyleAndMadness on Instagram: “Outright best way to remove dried PVA glue from your Bessey clamps .... After years of experimentation I believe I have now found the most…”


YouTube

Cheers
Damien

Best way to 'clean it off' is don't get it on there in the first place. For parallel jaw clamps, virtually irrespective of brand, protect the bar with casing bead, it's easily obtainable, cheap as chips and does an excellent job.

Pure and Simple cooking spray makes an excellent release agent between most glues and metal. A light spray on clamps before use and nothing sticks to them.

Otherwise a scraper!

I use a wire wheel in a drill.
The wire wheel is about $3 from our local purveyor of Chinese junk.

If I think it is going to be a drama I either a) spray it with those cooking oil sprays, or if that's run out, b) chuck a bit of clingwrap around the clamp. I don't get too precious about it, but after the first time I did a canoe build (with epoxy) a roll of clingwrap is always kept next to the glue. I built my first canoe in the carpeted lounge room and I was sold on the idea of using clingwrap and builders vapour barrier plastic.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by rustynail

Pure and Simple cooking spray makes an excellent release agent between most glues and metal. A light spray on clamps before use and nothing sticks to them.

---

I have tried cooking spray, once. It left a gaud awful mess that I had to clean up with mineral spirits.

Blue tape over the area when the glue will drip.

Plenty of messy, labour intensive and destructive ideas here, take your pick. :D I'm sure I've seen the vinegar idea before, it's certainly not new.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by rrich

I have tried cooking spray, once. It left a gaud awful mess that I had to clean up with mineral spirits.

Blue tape over the area when the glue will drip.

---

We don't use other cooking sprays for that reason. Just Pure and Simple. The lightest spray does the job.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by rustynail

We don't use other cooking sprays for that reason. Just Pure and Simple. The lightest spray does the job.

---

OK. But which one? Coconut, Buttery, Canola or Olive Oil?

I am not the kitchen type so I had to google it.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by aldav

Plenty of messy, labour intensive and destructive ideas here, take your pick. :D I'm sure I've seen the vinegar idea before, it's certainly not new.

---

Hi Aldav,

As per my post I am not claiming the vinegar step to be my idea.

I have combined a couple of well known techniques and some new guidance around soak times to get the best outcome.

As some have pointed out, prevention is better than cure and while I do use blue tape it doesn’t always catch all the glue. There is also another prevention out there for all the nah-sayers and that is don’t use glue.

Cheers
Damien

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Damienol

As per my post I am not claiming the vinegar step to be my idea.

---

Acknowledged. My bad.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by rrich

OK. But which one? Coconut, Buttery, Canola or Olive Oil?

I am not the kitchen type so I had to google it.

---

"Original." I haven't tried the others.

We have rolls of kitchen "waxed paper." Called "sandwich paper" in some countries.
Very inexpensive and most wood glues won't stick to it.
OK for bench top stuff like laminating knife handle blanks.

I made theatrical masks from bedroom blankets, soaked with wood glue.
A mess like no wood shop has ever seen.
A bucket with 4 liters of glue was hardly enough.
10' wide vapour barrier construction plastic sheet and be done with the possibility of mess.

The masks are all outstanding. Nobody ever visited my shop to see the mess so it didn't really matter.