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Techniques for CollectorsHow to Remove Glue from Rutiles

6th Apr 2016 18:00 UTCPatrick D'Elia

Hello,

I recently purchased some very nice rutile crystals from North Carolina that were part of an old collection. Unfortunately, they are all glued down to an old piece of styrofoam in a plastic box with some kind of white glue. I'd like to remove them from the box and put them in a new, nicer display but am worried about damaging them. Does anyone have any suggestions for removing the glue without hurting the rutiles?

Thanks for the help!

-Patrick

6th Apr 2016 18:47 UTCRobert Rothenberg

Hi Patrick,

Some white glue is soluble in water, although it may take a while to soften enough to remove the specimens from the styrofoam. I would try soaking the entire item in water for a day or two and see if they can be gently pried off the foam.

Bob

6th Apr 2016 18:51 UTCRonald J. Pellar Expert

If the water does not work try alcohol or acetone or some other glue solvent. Rutile is titanium oxide and should not be affected by solvents, with, maybe, the exception of hydrofluoric acid.

6th Apr 2016 20:00 UTCAlan Pribula

If it's white glue like Elmer's, water will soften it and the crystals will be easy to remove. Let them soak for an hour or two and then check to see if they have loosened. If that doesn't work, I'd try alcohol next. Alcohol is much less likely to affect either of the plastics than acetone would. Acetone will dissolve/soften Styrofoam and make something of a mess. It also might very well soften the plastic of the box and make it a sticky mess. If you need to try acetone, I'd cut as much of the Styrofoam as possible away from the crystals before the soaking.