It started out as after-run oil dripping onto my bare-bone balsa wing. I cleaned it all up, but the wood was still slightly discolored. That made me nervous. So I decide to try 3M #77 on it. I tested it on a small piece. Beautiful! I just did it to the wing and it's a mess. I didn't try covering it yet cause of the gummy little bumps. I have no clue what will take it off. Will it harden enough to sand smooth? You think I should just cover it and hope it melt down a little? I need some suggestions!

HELP
Chris

Lacquer thinner or MEK should take it off.

MEK?

Methyl Ethyl Ketone. I get mine at Ace Hardware. Watch out though, this stuff is powerful! It will dissolve some kinds of plastic. Regards.

I too bought my MEK at Ace Hardware. I use it as a plastic solvent to build plastic sailboats. Read the warnings on the side of the container. It can be dangerous stuff. A couple of years ago I lost a flying buddy who in the early days of MEK availability built full sized sailplanes and used a lot of the stuff before its dangers were known.
Be sure you have a good mask, not just a painters mask but a poisonous vapor mask. Use nitrile gloves. Use only outside or in a very well ventilated area. When the 3M#77 has a long chance to dry it will be come sandable to a degree. When it becomes dry enough use wet or dry dandpaper. Just be very careful with MEK.

P.S. Just remembered what one of the results of overuse of MEK can be. In the case of my good buddy it was called peripheral neuropathy. This involves the use of the hands and fingers. You only have to imagine what that means to a guy that built all sorts of models for most of his life. For the last two years of his life I built and rigged his planes and sailboats. He could still fly and sail RC but his mishaps became more frequent as time went on. I did a lot of repairs but was happy to do it. Just be very careful.

To remove 3M#77 I use cigarette lighter fluid, (naphtha). I use 3M#77 to attach patterns to the wood befor I cut the parts out, the lighter fluid cleans the wood completely.

Jerry

what is the process for "hardening scew holes" with CA glues? Do you drill the hole, place the screw then remove it and fill the hole with glue, let it dty and re-install the screw, or replace the screw before the glue drys? Thanks

I let it sit as long as overnight before replacing the screw. Once I put in a nylon wing bolt while the CA was still "waiting". Took a lot of work to remove the bolt and re-tap that hole! Never again. If you need to move on spray accelerator in and give it a chance to harden up before replacing the screw (or wax the screw).

Californians get cancer from MEK. In fact, they get cancer from everything. Don't live in california.

Californians get cancer from salad oil ! Oh they still use it but it has to have a gourmet name and cost 5 times as much as usual to pay the tort taxes and let the sponsoring star get their royalties.

Now here's an idea I've used in the past when you want a really strong tapped hole. Drill the hole oversize by about 1/8 inch. Tap it with the closest tap that will match that hole. Use an NF (fine thread) tap. Now fill the hole with JB Weld. When it cures, drill and tap that. Excellent strong threads everytime.

A few months ago Fly RC magazine had an article on what to use on air frames to help covering stick.........Try some of these:
Spray it with Aqua Net hair spray
Thin some Elmers white glue with water and brush a coat on
Brush on a thin coat of Contact Cement

Of course I know your question was how to get the 77 off.......If you wanted to try something else after you get cleaned up these would be of interest. Personally I have no experience but the hair spray and Elmers sound like something to try.

John...You are right about California. I live in So. Cal and before you know it it will be against the law to sneeze, for fear it will effect the ozone. These are the same people who drive there SUVs to a rally against off-shore oil wells. If I need anything that has been outlawed here, I make a list and pick it up in Las Vegas when we go.