How to Release Contact Cement

Use acetone to release contact cement on laminates.

Contact cement is used primarily to bond laminates to countertops, differentiating from other glue-like products through its ability to remain sticky and rubbery for years. Contact cement bonds on contact, creating a cement-like adhesion that is almost impossible to remove without proper preparation. You can easily release the bond that contact glue creates by using a common chemical that you can pick up at any home improvement or paint store.

Things You'll Need

• Acetone in squirt bottle
• Putty knife

Instructions

1. Force the tip of a putty knife between the laminate and the plywood.

2. Place the tip of the squirt bottle beside the putty knife and squirt a small amount of acetone into the crack. Wait 1 minute for the acetone to soften the cement.

3. Force the knife deeper into the crack. Squirt more acetone into the crack. Wait 1 minute, and slide the knife sideways as far as you can. Inject more acetone into the crack. Wait 1 minute.

4. Grab the edge of the laminate with your fingers and pull up gently with one hand. Squirt more acetone into the crack as you pull up slowly. Use the putty knife like a sharp knife to cut away strands of glue between the laminate and plywood as you continue to pull up higher.

5. Pull up higher as you continue to squirt acetone into the crack. Continue cutting sideways with the putty knife until the contact cement has completely released the laminate.

Tips & Warnings

• Although contact cement is primarily used for laminates, it sometimes is used to bond plastics, plywood, or composite materials. The acetone method works on all of these in the same manner.

• Never breath contact cement fumes or acetone without proper breathing protection. Use in a well ventilated area if possible.