Zap Z-7 Debonder

[Sidney Schwartz]

Anybody try this stuff?

 

[peteski]

I have not,  but many CA debonders contain acetone or other strong solvents which will craze polystyrene. Just a heads-up.

[NOBLNG]

And don’t get it on any clear parts…don’t ask me how I found that out.?

[Sidney Schwartz]

From the product description on the Micro Mark website:

"Z-7 Debonder dissolves all brands of cyanoacrylate adhesives. Removes residues from hands, tools, clothing, workbenches, etc. Will not attack plastics. 1 oz. applicator bottle. "

Sound possibly "too good to be true", so I'm trying to confirm it before shelling out my quatloos.

[SfanGoch]

I use it and it works as advertised. It's a transparent red gel which doesn't run. Place some on the area to be debonded, wait until it dries and remove the residue with your fingers, brush and rinse the parts off in water.

[Sidney Schwartz]

Great. Thanks, Joe.

[NOBLNG]

This is what the BSI stuff would do to a tail light lens.? I dropped a lens in CA by accident. Before trying to clean it off, I figured I had better do a test with a piece of sprue. Good thing I did!?

[peteski]

That is why I posted a warning in the 2nd post of this thread. Always test first.  If a debonder shows a list of ingredients, that can also be helpful in figuring out whether it will attach polystyrene or not.  The BSI debonder likely uses different solvents from the Z-7 stuff.

I'm always cautions because CA glue is basically acrylic resin (Acrylic is Plexiglas).  In my experience, anything that dissolves Plexiglas could likely also melt polystyrene.  Maybe there are exceptions.

[NOBLNG]

Well this is the Zap gel stuff. It WILL attack the plastic too.?

Edited August 2, 2023 by NOBLNG

[peteski]

The "WARNING" Extremely flammable . . ." on the bottle is also a good clue that the stuff will likely attack polystyrene.

[SfanGoch]

I've used it for years with no adverse effects on parts. It doesn't attack opaque styrene (white, grey, etc.). Clear polystyrene has a different composition and debonder isn't recommended. BSI debonder, on the other hand, has the tendency to melt softer styrene.

[Jon Haigwood]

I thought I would try the BSI and had less than stellar results. Like mentioned above.