# Super glue in car door lock. **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [September 2, 2012, 8:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/super-glue-in-car-door-lock/633473 "2012-09-02T20:02:56Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Carlarm](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/b5e925/32.png) [@Carlarm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Carlarm)\ **Post date:** [September 3, 2012, 1:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/super-glue-in-car-door-lock/633473/21 "2012-09-03T01:18:45Z")
Acetone is usually the primary ingredient in nail polish remover. I agree with several other posts saying that trying to put acetone in your lock while it is still installed in the car will almost certainly cause more costly damage then having a professional remove and clean or replace the cylinder with a new one. ---
**Author:** ![johnpost](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/f17d59/32.png) [@johnpost](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/johnpost)\ **Post date:** [September 3, 2012, 2:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/super-glue-in-car-door-lock/633473/22 "2012-09-03T02:44:29Z")
remove the lock and replace or soak in solvent. with solvents you need to be careful, many will damage/ruin watch crystals, eye glass lenses and other plastic items. ---
**Author:** ![Chief\_Pedant](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/a6a055/32.png) [@Chief\_Pedant](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chief_Pedant)\ **Post date:** [September 3, 2012, 2:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/super-glue-in-car-door-lock/633473/23 "2012-09-03T02:50:44Z")
> [@picunurse](#): > > Yesterday we noticed something on the driver’s door, below the lock, super glue. He put the key in and it met an obstruction, superglue. > > How do we get it out? I know acetone desolves it, but it’s hard to find. Nail polish remover isn’t a substitute. I’m so afraid we’ll have to spend a ton of money to have the lock replaced. Not epoxy? Either way, putting solvents in there is not a viable solution. Don’t do it. ---
**Author:** ![CookingWithGas](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cookingwithgas/32/485_2.png) [@CookingWithGas](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CookingWithGas)\ **Post date:** [September 3, 2012, 3:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/super-glue-in-car-door-lock/633473/24 "2012-09-03T03:02:48Z")
> [@Lynn\_Bodoni](#): > > Some fingernail polish removers are 100% acetone, some aren’t. Acetone is cheaper, per ounce, in the hardware stores, but if you only want a bit of it, it might be cheaper to just buy some acetone fingernail polish remover. I have never seen fingernail polish remover that is 100% acetone. Acetone is very volatile and a strong solvent that strips oils and moisture out of your skin like crazy. Full strength would not be a wise thing thing to use on your hands. It’s not like it will burn your skin off but I use latex gloves to handle it. There is some good advice here about how to deal with the lock. Aside from that, I am not even sure that acetone is a solvent for superglue; instructions never mention it when telling you what to do if you glue your fingers together. Plus it may not be superglue to begin with. Superglue is best for surfaces that fit together tightly and won’t act as a gap filler. ---
**Author:** ![Michael63129](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/3da27b/32.png) [@Michael63129](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Michael63129)\ **Post date:** [September 3, 2012, 3:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/super-glue-in-car-door-lock/633473/25 "2012-09-03T03:15:20Z")
> [@CookingWithGas](#): > > Aside from that, I am not even sure that acetone is a solvent for superglue; instructions never mention it when telling you what to do if you glue your fingers together… According to [this site](http://www.supergluecorp.com/removingsuperglue.html) (Super Glue Corp) it is, and they even mention nail polish remover. ---
**Author:** ![Lynn\_Bodoni](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/e47c2d/32.png) [@Lynn\_Bodoni](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lynn_Bodoni)\ **Post date:** [September 3, 2012, 4:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/super-glue-in-car-door-lock/633473/26 "2012-09-03T04:02:19Z")
> [@CookingWithGas](#): > > I have never seen fingernail polish remover that is 100% acetone. Acetone is very volatile and a strong solvent that strips oils and moisture out of your skin like crazy. Full strength would not be a wise thing thing to use on your hands. It’s not like it will burn your skin off but I use latex gloves to handle it. > > There is some good advice here about how to deal with the lock. Aside from that, I am not even sure that acetone is a solvent for superglue; instructions never mention it when telling you what to do if you glue your fingers together. Plus it may not be superglue to begin with. Superglue is best for surfaces that fit together tightly and won’t act as a gap filler. I got this stuff from one of those beauty supply shops, for about two bucks for four ounces. It DOES strip off oils. I have to moisturize after using it. ---
**Author:** ![grude](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/e47774/32.png) [@grude](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/grude)\ **Post date:** [September 3, 2012, 7:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/super-glue-in-car-door-lock/633473/27 "2012-09-03T07:57:31Z")
[http://aeromicro.com/catalog/handibond\_cyanoacrylate\_\_ca\_\_debonder\_\_2\_0\_oz\_\_2366939.htm](http://aeromicro.com/catalog/handibond_cyanoacrylate __ca__ debonder __2_0_oz__ 2366939.htm) ^That is the product I was talking about, I was told about it by a lock smith who said it was how he dealt with glued locks. I have no personal experience. ---
**Author:** ![astro](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/9dc877/32.png) [@astro](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/astro)\ **Post date:** [September 3, 2012, 8:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/super-glue-in-car-door-lock/633473/28 "2012-09-03T08:41:30Z")
> [@grude](#): > > [http://aeromicro.com/catalog/handibond\_cyanoacrylate\_\_ca\_\_debonder\_\_2\_0\_oz\_\_2366939.htm](http://aeromicro.com/catalog/handibond_cyanoacrylate __ca__ debonder __2_0_oz__ 2366939.htm) > > ^That is the product I was talking about, I was told about it by a lock smith who said it was how he dealt with glued locks. I have no personal experience. Re [http://www.handibond.com/msds/msds-deb.pdf](http://www.handibond.com/msds/msds-deb.pdf) > [@](#): > > Handibond Debonder is a must have for unsticking your fingers from each other, removing CA spots from surfaces and dissolving cured glue joints. We have heard that it is even a good paint remover for plastic parts - although we haven’t tried it yet. Material sheet link above says the active ingredients are acetone and propylene carbonate, the other ingredient is also a solvent but i don’t know much about it/ Hazardous Components (Specify Chemical Identity: Common Name(s) OSHA PEL ACGIH TLV Other Limits Recommended % Optional) Acetone 67-64-1 50-70% Propylene carbonate 108-32-7 30-50% Preparation Propylene carbonate is a byproduct of the synthesis of polypropylene carbonate from propylene oxide and carbon dioxide. It can be manufactured from the same feedstocks, using different reaction conditions. It can be also prepared from, e.g., urea and propylene glycol over zinc-iron double oxide catalyst. [edit] Applications > [@](#): > > Propylene carbonate is used in a variety of syntheses and applications as a polar, aprotic solvent. It has a high molecular dipole moment (4.9 D), considerably higher that those of acetone (2.91 D) and ethyl acetate (1.78 D).[6] It is possible, for example, to obtain potassium, sodium, and other alkali metals by electrolysis of their chlorides and other salts dissolved in propylene carbonate.[7] > > Due to its high dielectric constant of 64, it is frequently used as a high-permittivity component of electrolytes in lithium batteries, usually together with a low-viscosity solvent (e.g. dimethoxyethane). Its high polarity allows it to create an effective solvation shell around lithium ions, thereby creating a conductive electrolyte. However, it is not used in lithium-ion batteries due to its destructive effect on graphite.[ ---
**Author:** ![grude](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/e47774/32.png) [@grude](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/grude)\ **Post date:** [September 3, 2012, 8:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/super-glue-in-car-door-lock/633473/29 "2012-09-03T08:52:21Z")
The bonus there is the applicator tip. ---
**Author:** ![Lavasoap](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/91b2a8/32.png) [@Lavasoap](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lavasoap)\ **Post date:** [September 3, 2012, 9:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/super-glue-in-car-door-lock/633473/30 "2012-09-03T09:11:01Z")
Make sure to protect the paint near the lock, acetone will remove and or discolor the paint. The other issue is that if you do manage to dislodge the superglue, it will just end up seeping elsewhere and may cause problems. So you will ideally have to remove the lock and throughly clean the superglue out. ---
**Author:** ![Seanette](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/seanette/32/9139_2.png) [@Seanette](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Seanette)\ **Post date:** [September 3, 2012, 10:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/super-glue-in-car-door-lock/633473/31 "2012-09-03T10:17:31Z")
> [@picunurse](#): > > Of course it did, but C-5s are notorious for sucking the battery dry. I don’t drive much in the winter. If the battery dies and the car is locked I have a problem. > > Thanks for the suggestions. I’ll look at Home Depot for acetone, but I believe it’s illegal to sell it in Washington. It’s a carcinogen. California allows its sale, and this is one of the worst “nanny” states as far as protecting citizens from themselves goes. I’d be amazed if Washington were worse. ---
**Author:** ![picunurse](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/7bcc69/32.png) [@picunurse](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/picunurse)\ **Post date:** [September 3, 2012, 10:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/super-glue-in-car-door-lock/633473/32 "2012-09-03T10:25:50Z")
> [@Michael63129](#): > > If that is true, then the state of Washington has no idea what acetone [actually is](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Acetone): > > (a quick Google search for “acetone illegal washington” doesn’t get any relevant hits, with this thread being one of the first) Cool, thanks. I was going by what my husband told me, he isn’t always right. 😃 (Acetone and ketone are very closely related, but not exactly the same.) ---
**Author:** ![Chris\_Luongo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/7cd45c/32.png) [@Chris\_Luongo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chris_Luongo)\ **Post date:** [September 3, 2012, 12:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/super-glue-in-car-door-lock/633473/33 "2012-09-03T12:38:17Z")
Are you (or a friend) a AAA Plus member? I believe AAA Plus covers the first $100 of locksmith service. ---
**Author:** ![Bosda\_Di\_Chi\_of\_Tricor](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bosda_di_chi_of_tricor/32/16845_2.png) [@Bosda\_Di\_Chi\_of\_Tricor](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bosda_Di_Chi_of_Tricor)\ **Post date:** [September 3, 2012, 12:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/super-glue-in-car-door-lock/633473/34 "2012-09-03T12:53:26Z")
Again, will crazy glue dissolve in gasoline? If so, I don’t think this will be hard to fix. ---
**Author:** ![Broomstick](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/broomstick/32/246_2.png) [@Broomstick](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Broomstick)\ **Post date:** [September 3, 2012, 2:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/super-glue-in-car-door-lock/633473/35 "2012-09-03T14:08:04Z")
> [@picunurse](#): > > How do we get it out? I know acetone desolves it, but it’s hard to find. Nail polish remover isn’t a substitute. Yes it is, if it’s an acetone-based polish remover. Some nail polish removers are essentially 95-100% pure acetone. You need to read the label. > [@](#): > > I’m so afraid we’ll have to spend a ton of money to have the lock replaced. It’s going to take quite awhile to dissolve the glue with acetone, and that’s assume you can get into all the nooks and crannies. Much as I hate to say it, replacing the lock might actually be more effective and less time. But it is your choice. You are certainly welcome to try to do it with a solvent. ---
**Author:** ![Broomstick](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/broomstick/32/246_2.png) [@Broomstick](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Broomstick)\ **Post date:** [September 3, 2012, 2:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/super-glue-in-car-door-lock/633473/36 "2012-09-03T14:14:33Z")
> [@CookingWithGas](#): > > I have never seen fingernail polish remover that is 100% acetone. I have. They sell it at my local Meijer’s. > [@](#): > > Full strength would not be a wise thing thing to use on your hands. It’s not like it will burn your skin off but I use latex gloves to handle it. Really? And it doesn’t dissolve the gloves? > [@](#): > > Aside from that, I am not even sure that acetone is a solvent for superglue; instructions never mention it when telling you what to do if you glue your fingers together. It is - I use superglue a lot at work and for minor sticking it will soften it enough to get your fingers apart and remove light films of the stuff from your skin. It’s not the _best_ solvent, but it does work. > [@](#): > > Plus it may not be superglue to begin with. Superglue is best for surfaces that fit together tightly and won’t act as a gap filler. Yes, it will fill gaps. It’s not usually used that way because it’s brittle in such application and there are problems with curing, but it certainly could fill up the interior of a car door lock. ---
**Author:** ![WarmNPrickly](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/d78d45/32.png) [@WarmNPrickly](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WarmNPrickly)\ **Post date:** [September 3, 2012, 2:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/super-glue-in-car-door-lock/633473/37 "2012-09-03T14:51:18Z")
> [@Michael63129](#): > > If that is true, then the state of Washington has no idea what acetone [actually is](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Acetone): > > (a quick Google search for “acetone illegal washington” doesn’t get any relevant hits, with this thread being one of the first) There are plenty of carcinogens, such as formaldehyde, that the body produces, but I don’t think acetone is one of them. ---
**Author:** ![WarmNPrickly](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/d78d45/32.png) [@WarmNPrickly](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WarmNPrickly)\ **Post date:** [September 3, 2012, 2:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/super-glue-in-car-door-lock/633473/38 "2012-09-03T14:52:25Z")
> [@picunurse](#): > > Cool, thanks. I was going by what my husband told me, he isn’t always right. 😃 > > (Acetone and ketone are very closely related, but not exactly the same.) Acetone is a ketone. ---
**Author:** ![Dallas\_Jones](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dallas_jones/32/3277_2.png) [@Dallas\_Jones](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dallas_Jones)\ **Post date:** [September 3, 2012, 2:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/super-glue-in-car-door-lock/633473/39 "2012-09-03T14:54:45Z")
Do not squirt acetone or any other solvents into your door locks! You doors are not made of metal, they are made of a composit material. Solvents are likely to disolve these materials and you are going to end up with bigger problems than a bad lock. Just replace the lock. Please tell me that someone stopped you before you squirted acetone into the lock. > [@](#): > > The C5’s modular body panels make excellent use of a lightweight composite material known in the automotive industry as SMC or sheet molded composite, a type of fiberglass that is blended and bonded with plastics. SMC provides better protection against direct blows because it is very stiff and will not dent. > **[Chevrolet Corvette (C5)](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chevrolet_Corvette_(C5))** > > The Chevrolet Corvette (C5) is the fifth generation of the Corvette sports car, produced by the Chevrolet division of General Motors for the 1997 through 2004 model years. Production variants include the high performance Z06. Racing variants include the C5-R, a 24 Hours of Daytona and 24 Hours of Le Mans GTS/GT1 winner. The C5 Corvette was the first GM vehicle to feature the third generation small block "LS" engines. Pop-up headlights were featured on a Corvette for the final time during this g... ---
**Author:** ![astro](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/9dc877/32.png) [@astro](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/astro)\ **Post date:** [September 3, 2012, 3:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/super-glue-in-car-door-lock/633473/40 "2012-09-03T15:25:29Z")
> [@Bosda\_Di\_Chi\_of\_Tricor](#): > > Again, will crazy glue dissolve in gasoline? > > If so, I don’t think this will be hard to fix. No it won’t. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/super-glue-in-car-door-lock/633473.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/super-glue-in-car-door-lock/633473.md?page=3)