# Getting super glue off of your fingers **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [December 16, 2003, 5:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/getting-super-glue-off-of-your-fingers/219343 "2003-12-16T17:19:07Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 18\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![criminalcatalog](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/e68b1a/32.png) [@criminalcatalog](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/criminalcatalog)\ **Post date:** [December 16, 2003, 5:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/getting-super-glue-off-of-your-fingers/219343/1 "2003-12-16T17:19:07Z")
So how do you do it? Hot water and soap don’t work. ---
**Author:** ![gluteus\_maximus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/f17d59/32.png) [@gluteus\_maximus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gluteus_maximus)\ **Post date:** [December 16, 2003, 5:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/getting-super-glue-off-of-your-fingers/219343/2 "2003-12-16T17:36:19Z")
Just like it says on the label… use fingernail polish remover (acetone). ---
**Author:** ![MikeS](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/919ad9/32.png) [@MikeS](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MikeS)\ **Post date:** [December 16, 2003, 5:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/getting-super-glue-off-of-your-fingers/219343/3 "2003-12-16T17:49:41Z")
Try rubbing it on your face – the skin there has special oils that dissolve the glue instantly. (Disclaimer: The previous sentence is entirely false.) Seriously: according to the [Krazy Glue FAQ](http://www.krazyglue.com/faq/faq.asp?question=cat_2), it looks like you need acetone (nail polish remover) and/or patience. ---
**Author:** ![SlickRoenick](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e68b1a/32.png) [@SlickRoenick](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SlickRoenick)\ **Post date:** [December 16, 2003, 5:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/getting-super-glue-off-of-your-fingers/219343/4 "2003-12-16T17:50:18Z")
There is also Super Glue Remover that is usually hanging on the shelf right next to the glue itself at the place you bought it from. Otherwise acetone is the stuff ---
**Author:** ![criminalcatalog](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/e68b1a/32.png) [@criminalcatalog](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/criminalcatalog)\ **Post date:** [December 16, 2003, 5:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/getting-super-glue-off-of-your-fingers/219343/5 "2003-12-16T17:55:04Z")
thanks ---
**Author:** ![Flash-57](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/839c29/32.png) [@Flash-57](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Flash-57)\ **Post date:** [December 16, 2003, 6:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/getting-super-glue-off-of-your-fingers/219343/6 "2003-12-16T18:01:39Z")
\> There is also Super Glue Remover that is usually hanging on \> the shelf right next to the glue itself at the place you bought it from. It’s kind of funny to see customers go into the store to buy the glue remover and notice that their fingers (or other body parts) are stuck together. ---
**Author:** ![SlickRoenick](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e68b1a/32.png) [@SlickRoenick](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SlickRoenick)\ **Post date:** [December 16, 2003, 9:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/getting-super-glue-off-of-your-fingers/219343/7 "2003-12-16T21:59:45Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Flash-57 \* > \*\*\> There is also Super Glue Remover that is usually hanging on > \> the shelf right next to the glue itself at the place you bought it from. > > It’s kind of funny to see customers go into the store to buy the glue remover and notice that their fingers (or other body parts) are stuck together. \*\* It actually happened to me while i was working one day at Ace Hardware. I forget what i was gluing but i was holding the thing together with my hands and it dripped b/t my thumb and index finger. Since i didn’t want to let go and drop the thinger i was holding i told the girl i worked with > [@](#): > > JEN PULL MY FINGERS APART QUICK! C’MON NOW NOW NOW NOW NOW NOW NOOOOO!!! dammit, too late So i decided to try some remover–it worked like a charm. ---
**Author:** ![stevephillips](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/3ab097/32.png) [@stevephillips](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/stevephillips)\ **Post date:** [December 17, 2003, 12:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/getting-super-glue-off-of-your-fingers/219343/8 "2003-12-17T00:40:40Z")
Or you could do like I did. I had a partially used tube, and the lid was stuck. I bit the lid and twisted the tube. Mmmmmmm! Acetone hurts lips. ---
**Author:** ![Ms2001](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ms2001/32/18463_2.png) [@Ms2001](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ms2001)\ **Post date:** [December 17, 2003, 1:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/getting-super-glue-off-of-your-fingers/219343/9 "2003-12-17T01:08:03Z")
You might want to start using [Instant Krazy Glue© Skin Guard All Purpose](http://www.krazyglue.com/products/product_sheet.asp?prodID=29) instead. ---
**Author:** ![antechinus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/fbc32d/32.png) [@antechinus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/antechinus)\ **Post date:** [December 17, 2003, 1:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/getting-super-glue-off-of-your-fingers/219343/10 "2003-12-17T01:12:08Z")
Off the topic, but useful info… To stop the superglue setting in the tube or gluing the lid down, store it in an airtight container with dessicant. I use a small jar with dessicant that I regenerated in an oven. Been useful for several years like that. It is moisture that sets the glue. ---
**Author:** ![Trigonal\_Planar](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/0ea827/32.png) [@Trigonal\_Planar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Trigonal_Planar)\ **Post date:** [December 17, 2003, 2:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/getting-super-glue-off-of-your-fingers/219343/11 "2003-12-17T02:55:09Z")
I have an even stickier (har har) situation: Removing epoxy from wool sweaters. Anyone know how to pull this trick off? ---
**Author:** ![Valgard](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/7feea3/32.png) [@Valgard](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Valgard)\ **Post date:** [December 17, 2003, 6:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/getting-super-glue-off-of-your-fingers/219343/12 "2003-12-17T06:28:31Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Trigonal Planar \* > \*\*I have an even stickier (har har) situation: Removing epoxy from wool sweaters. > > Anyone know how to pull this trick off? \*\* A few aisles over from the super glue remover you’ll find the epoxy remover. It’s in the section marked “Scissors”. Seriously, I think you’ll have to cut stuff off, I’ve never seen “epoxy solvent”. Valgard Who was superglued inside a moving bus. Better than outside I guess. ---
**Author:** ![GaryM](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/garym/32/241_2.png) [@GaryM](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GaryM)\ **Post date:** [December 17, 2003, 1:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/getting-super-glue-off-of-your-fingers/219343/13 "2003-12-17T13:31:51Z")
Nitromethane, as used in model aircraft engine fuel, is an excellant superglue remover. Hobbyshops that sell the superglues used for models should have it. ---
**Author:** ![trabi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/ecae2f/32.png) [@trabi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/trabi)\ **Post date:** [December 17, 2003, 1:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/getting-super-glue-off-of-your-fingers/219343/14 "2003-12-17T13:53:59Z")
If you’re a cheapskate like me, just wait for it to come off by itself. Only takes a day or two, and it’s fun peeling off the little “scabs” of dried glue. Stuck-together fingers will eventually come apart if you soak them in warm water and prise them apart with a teaspoon. ---
**Author:** ![ghostman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/a3d4f5/32.png) [@ghostman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ghostman)\ **Post date:** [December 17, 2003, 1:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/getting-super-glue-off-of-your-fingers/219343/15 "2003-12-17T13:56:19Z")
Heh. This reminds me of my brother supergluing his lips shut back when he was 10 or 11. I’m not quite sure why he did it, but I remember him separating them by using a serrated knife. I remember thinking that is wasn’t all that bright of an idea, but he actually cut only the glue and suffered no apparant damage. YMMV tho. ---
**Author:** ![malaka](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/ecc23a/32.png) [@malaka](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/malaka)\ **Post date:** [December 17, 2003, 3:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/getting-super-glue-off-of-your-fingers/219343/16 "2003-12-17T15:12:40Z")
Lol! I did this a couple days ago. Who designs these super glue tubes anyway?!? “Use the hollow applicator to puncture an opening?” Yeah, _that_ works. I had glue all over my hands. I ran them under warm water, but that didn’t do anything. I soaked and scrubbed them in nail polish remover. Still nothing. I called the hardware store and, after much laughter, they told me to buy “Goop Off” or some such thing. I bought it. It smelled exactly like lighter fluid. Nothing. So, about a week later, it has almost entirely worn off my fingers, but is still coating my fingernails. Good luck… ---
**Author:** ![RadioOrange](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/a9adbd/32.png) [@RadioOrange](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RadioOrange)\ **Post date:** [December 18, 2003, 1:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/getting-super-glue-off-of-your-fingers/219343/17 "2003-12-18T01:55:20Z")
Belt sander 😃 I did nothing and the glue disappeared by the next day. ---
**Author:** ![dylan\_73](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/ecccb3/32.png) [@dylan\_73](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dylan_73)\ **Post date:** [December 18, 2003, 3:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/getting-super-glue-off-of-your-fingers/219343/18 "2003-12-18T15:21:19Z")
You think you’ve got problems? [This guy](http://www.explorerforum.com/forums/showthread.php?threadid=18595) had a similar question… 😉