How to Remove Gorilla Glue from Wood

PDF download Download Article
PDF download Download Article

Gorilla Glue is a very strong adhesive, but it can be removed with some household supplies and a little elbow grease. For the best results, wipe up wet glue immediately with paper towels and acetone. Remove dried glue by scraping it off with a blunt tool or knife. Work carefully and soon your wood surface will be free of unsightly glue residue.

Method 1
Method 1 of 2:

Cleaning up Wet Glue

PDF download Download Article
  1. Before attempting to treat the glue, remove as much of it as you can by hand. Use a disposable cloth or else you will end up with another sticky surface to clean. [1]
  2. Acetone is an ingredient in most nail polish remover. Pick up a bottle of nail polish remover at a general store, checking the label to make sure acetone is included. Then pour a little onto a paper towel or cotton swab, enough to dampen it without soaking it. [2]
    • Paint thinner or acetone from a home improvement store can also be used. It is stronger, so you run the risk of fading the color on painted wood.
    • Another option for this is a commercial super glue remover. This product is typically sold at home improvement stores.
    Advertisement
  3. Quickly rub the dampened part of the paper towel back and forth over the glue spot. Press down hard to apply pressure, preventing the glue from settling. Reapply the acetone when the towel begins to dry. Continue scrubbing the spot until no more glue comes off. [3]
  4. Hold the putty knife flat against the wood. Gently dig the blade into the glue to scrape it off. Work slowly to avoid putting any ugly dents in the wood. You can apply more acetone with a paper towel to loosen up the glue again. Eventually, the wood will be back to normal. [4]
    • Sandpaper rated 80-grit or higher is another option. This can damage the wood if you aren’t careful. Rub away at the glue and stop when you reach the wood.
    5. Advertisement
Method 2
Method 2 of 2:

Rubbing off Dry Glue

PDF download Download Article
  1. A paint scraper from a hardware or home improvement store is perfect for removing large chunks of glue. Place the wood on a flat surface, if you can. Hold the blade end flat against the wood. Applying pressure, dig the blade into the dried glue and move it along the wood to shave off most of the glue. [5]
    • Most of the super glue will come off in a long strip. Go back over any spots that still have large amounts of glue.
  2. A chisel works the same way as a paint scraper, except it has a smaller head. Use it to focus on small, difficult areas and corners the paint scraper can’t reach. Hold the blade flat against the wood and scrape off the glue the same way you did before. [6]
  3. Pick up a sanding block from the home improvement store if you don’t already have one. Place the block on top of the glue and begin scrubbing the spot. Apply pressure as you do this to break through the glue. It should begin flaking off right away, so watch carefully to avoid sanding the wood itself. [7]
    • A power sander can also works if you know how to use one.
    4. Advertisement

Expert Q&A

Ask a Question
200 characters left
Include your email address to get a message when this question is answered.
Submit
      Advertisement

      Tips

      Submit a Tip
      All tip submissions are carefully reviewed before being published
      Name
      Please provide your name and last initial
      Submit
      Thanks for submitting a tip for review!

      Warnings

      • When using a sander, wear hearing protection and a dust mask. Make sure the trigger is off before plugging in the sander and unplug it before attempting to replace the components.
        Thanks
        Helpful 2 Not Helpful 0
      Advertisement

      Things You’ll Need

      Cleaning up Wet Glue

      • Paper towels
      • Acetone nail polish remover
      • Putty knife

      Rubbing off Dry Glue

      • Paint scraper
      • Chisel
      • Sanding block

      You Might Also Like

      10 Ways to Get Super Glue off Your Skin, Hands, and Fingers
      How to
      Remove Super Glue Fast
      How to
      Remove Nail Glue from Nails
      The Best Ways to Remove Gorilla Glue from Skin, Plastic, & More
      How to
      Remove Denture Adhesive from Gums
      How to
      Remove Super Glue from Clothes & Fabric
      How to
      Remove E6000 Glue
      How to
      Get Sticky Glue Residue Off of Plastic
      How to
      Get Gorilla Glue off Hands
      How to
      Get Mousetrap Glue Off a Cat
      How to
      Get Nail Glue Off of Clothes
      How to
      Remove Hot Glue
      How to
      Remove Super Glue from Your Nails
      How to
      Remove Epoxy
      Advertisement

      References

      1. ↑ https://www.thriftyfun.com/Removing-Gorilla-Glue-from-a-Countertop-1.html
      2. ↑ https://www.bobvila.com/articles/how-to-remove-superglue/
      3. ↑ https://www.thriftyfun.com/Removing-Gorilla-Glue-from-a-Countertop-1.html
      4. ↑ https://www.bobvila.com/articles/how-to-remove-superglue/
      5. ↑ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D076rtJc8Iw&feature=youtu.be&t=48
      6. ↑ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D076rtJc8Iw&feature=youtu.be&t=37
      7. ↑ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D076rtJc8Iw&feature=youtu.be&t=67

      About This Article

      Thanks to all authors for creating a page that has been read 52,435 times.

      Did this article help you?

      Advertisement