[TheForge] My latest discovery - cleaning up wet epoxy cement

[Bruce Freeman]

So, I was working with J-B Weld, an epoxy glue/filler, when a breeze
flips foil I had the stuff on onto my hand.  And it was downhill from
there.

I kinda figured I'd get the stuff off about the time this layer of
skin wore off, but I diligently rubbed away as much of the wet stuff
as I could with an old rag.

Then I decided to try a solvent I've used to clean up lots of things -
tape adhesives, paint, asphalt, etc.  What did I have to lose?  I put
some on a small cloth and started rubbing.  No shit - the stuff
actually removed wet epoxy cement (J-B Weld, anyway.  I assume that's
typical epoxy)!  I've never found anything else that would touch that
stuff!

The solvent is ethyl acetate.   I consider it a miracle stuff-remover,
and it's reputation has just been enhanced in my book.   It's
"non-toxic" (meaning that traces won't poison you - but don't drink
it!).  Its smell is strong, but not all that unpleasant, like a
slightly fruity acetone.  It's quite flammable, but less so than
acetone.   You're not likely to find it in your local paint store, but
it is available though scientific supply houses.  Try Thomas
Scientific.

-- 
Bruce
NJ