How to remove JB Weld

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Recently, I was looking at my glued steel pipe wondering, how to easily remove J-B Weld. So I did an internet research and summarized all of the results in this article.

To quickly sum it up, you can use chemicals, mechanical abrasion or heat to remove J-B weld.

Of course, all of these methods do have their advantages and disadvantages.

So, let’s take a look at the top 3 methods on how to remove JB Weld.

Top 3 Methods to remove JB Weld

Apply extreme heat to JB Weld

The easiest way to remove J-B Weld from metal or other heat resistant materials is to add extreme heat.

JB Weld does not withstand high temperatures. Liquid weld like JB Weld gets unstable when exposed to temperatures higher than 600 degrees Fahrenheit [Source].

An easy way to remove JB weld is to use a heat gun.

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High heat will damage the internal chemical structure which means, the glue will get off a lot easier.

Another possibility to apply heat is to use a propane torch. To get started, use a torch with a low flame and heat the material up. Once the temperature goes above 600 degrees it will come off.

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Another possibility for small surfaces is to use a soldering iron. Although for bigger parts and large areas this will take too much time until the glue is completely hot.

Moreover, you can help with mechanic force and scrape or brush it off.

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Grinding the cured epoxy

If you don’t have a heat source, you can also try mechanical force with a grinder.

Use a tool like an angle grinder, a Dremel and sandpaper to completely remove JB Weld. When grinding, please make sure to wear a mask or respirator to avoid inhaling the dust, because it can be dangerous.

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Remove JB Weld with chemicals

Although we have not tried this ourselves, some people were reporting that chemicals like vinegar and acetone made the weld soft and helped to remove it.

The removal of J-B Weld with chemicals is the preferred option, if the base material does not withstand high heat but is resistant to acids or acetone.

I’d recommend not to mix techniques because applying chemicals and grinding at the same time will result in a huge mess.

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If you have further experience in removing epoxy glue, please don’t hesitate to leave a comment below for those who come after you and are looking for solutions.

What is J-B Weld?

J-B Weld
J-B Weld

Although it sounds like being a real metal weld, it actually isn’t.

J-B Weld is a cold weld two-part epoxy glue. (Manufacturer Homepage)

It helps to repair metals and different surfaces through a permanent bond.

The package of J-B Weld consists of 2 separate tubes where the red tube is the hardener and the black tube is the so-called steel.

How to cure J-B Weld?

Curing the liquid weld is done at room temperature in 15-24 hours. When completely cured, J-B Weld will withstand temperatures up to 550°F.

After curing, you can paint, coat, saw, peg, polish or sand J-B Weld like just any metal. You can buy J-B Weld right here at Amazon:

J-B Weld 8265S Original Cold-Weld Steel Reinforced Epoxy - 2 oz.

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Alternatives to JB Weld

KwikWeld

A very commonly used alternative to J-B Weld is another liquid weld called KwikWeld. KwikWeld gets harder really quick and already sets in less than 5 minutes. Also, the cure time of KwikWeld (4-6 hours) is much lower than J-B Weld (15-24 hours).

Similar to J-B Weld, KwikWeld can bond metals like steel, copper, aluminum, brass, bronze, materials like porcelain, wood, glass and even plastics like PVC, ABS or fiberglass.

On the down-side, the maximum strength of KwikWeld is only approximately 2/3 of J-B Weld.

J-B Weld 8276 KwikWeld Quick Setting Steel Reinforced Epoxy - 2 oz.

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Welding Machine

As an alternative to epoxy glue, you could try to create real weld seams with a MIG welder. Weld seams will withstand much higher temperatures. Of course, you should not glue safety critical parts (like car frames), anyways.

Image Credits: By User:Skarz (Author) [Public domain], via Wikimedia Commons

3 Comments
  1. I’m here to tell you that YES vinegar does do the trick! Took roughly 15 minutes and it softened up enough to remove the piece I had JB WELDED!

  2. I found that hand sanitizer works.
    If you can spare Less than a teaspoon
    Your good to go.

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