RE: Depotting a resin-filled tranny

["Tesla list" <tesla-at-pupman-dot-com>]

Original poster: "Michael Rhodes by way of Terry Fritz <twftesla-at-qwest-dot-net>" <rhodes-at-fnrf.science.cmu.ac.th>

My apologies if it seemed I posted irresponsible information,
just gave a specific answer to a specific question (see below).
I should not have assumed everyone would be aware of the
hazards using it.   We use ether to remove epoxy from high
vacuum line connections, but we have a chemical exaust
hood to do it in.  I agree, if you do not know how to handle
it and do not have appropriate equipment - do NOT work
with it.

> > > > Original poster: "Jason Petrou by way of Terry Fritz
> > > <twftesla-at-qwest-dot-net>"
> > > <jasonp-at-btinternet-dot-com>
> > > >
> > > > Hi
> > > > "Main problem with epoxy is that it sets like rock and i'm
> > not sure of
> > > > anything that can dissolve it. "

Here is some more information, some represent no hazards and
some do.
----------------------------------1-----------------------------------------
---------
The only easy to use solvent we have found for Araldite ( an epoxy resin ) is
Dimethylformamide - soak overnight at ambient temperature and then see
if the epoxy has become slightly soft, if so keep soaking until it eventually
swells and breaks away. Epoxy is not affected by most common solvents -
such as acetone, methanol, chlorinated hydrocarbons, and hydrocarbons -
at ambient temperatures, and I doubt electronic components would like the
elevated temperatures where they do affect epoxy. Note that the DMF
works by swelling and softening the epoxy, which slowly loses its strength
  and flakes off. I have encountered some epoxies that seemed to be
more resistant, but after a couple of weeks they were soft enough for
careful scraping to remove the material.

*** SAFETY WARNING *** Any chemical that munches into epoxy
also does damage to humans under the same conditions, so please read
the Material Safety Data Sheet that comes with the solvent. I use a fume
cupboard and gloves when washing the the DMF from components with
ordinary tap water. A garden hose outside would be a suitable alternative.
The solvent can be reused if carefully decanted from the epoxy flakes.
------------------------------2---------------------------------------------
-------------------
Heat from a hair dryer will soften most epoxies (>140 degrees F).


At 12:58 31/5/2001 -0600, you wrote:
>Original poster: "sundog by way of Terry Fritz <twftesla-at-qwest-dot-net>" 
><sundog-at-timeship-dot-net>
>
>Hi All,
>
>Ether..*shudder* nasty stuff. Used it in Chemistry back in high school
>(advanced classes, they wouldn't trust idiots with it), we only had 1
>flare-off, and it was a demonstration by the teacher on just *how* dangerous
>this stuff is.
>

   -------------------------------
   Michael Rhodes
   Senior Researcher
   Fast Neutron Research Facility
   Chiang Mai University
   Thailand
   -------------------------------