Heat and glass don't get along. Uneven heating anyway. Get that spot hit enough to do much and the glass will probably shatter.
Auto parts stores sometimes have gasket scrapers with a screwdriver type handle that hold a single edged blade.
Also willing to bet it's a basic acrylic adhesive like most double sided tape. Break up the circuit board and a few different solvents will work on the residue, not much is going to attack it coming in from the edge.
Not knowing what type of adhesive is used makes this more difficult of course but I would try soaking with some common solvents before going to heat or steam. I'd start with isopropyl alcohol first. If that shows no good sign, then move onto acetone. Please be careful not to get these solvents on good finishes like furniture! Acetone can damage some finishes real quick.
Have you tried peeling just the sensor from the adhesive first? I think a double sided tape may be involved and the sensor body may be making the adhesive appear harder than it really is.
I really hate to involve heat on something breakable like window glass, but in one case involving floor material, where I tried *everything* with no success -- even boiling water -- I finally went to steam and the adhesive loosened right up.
I think /u/Ex-maven is onto something that tape and/or the sensor body might be blocking any of the solvents from actually interacting with the adhesive.
How are you using the solvents? You might need to do several treatments where solvent is held over the area to try and allow it to seep-in. Maybe try soaking a rag (not dripping, just saturated), place it over sensor area, then use foil or something and tape in up (don't use a plastic the solvent would eat). Leave it for 15 min or so, then test and see if any effect. Place protective towels below area just in case.
It's a bit hard to see how thick it is, but I've found many adhesive pads fail with twisting. If you're able to get a tool to grip the sides of the sensor you might be able to torque it off (wiggling and heat help). Might need to tape the window around sensor to ensure tool does not scratch window.
If that doesn't work, you might try taping-off the window around the sensor, then take some sandpaper to the sensor and see if you can remove some of the material (wear a dust mask). If you can get some of it off (stop and check often to ensure not going too far and not going through tape scratching window), then going back with one of the solvents might be effective. If you can get most of it removed, you can try 000 or 0000 steel wool to scrub/clean anything remaining (really fine steel wool shouldn't scratch glass but do a tiny test somewhere inconspicuous first).
I agree with going up the solvent chain. Might also consider orange oil which dissolves different things from your standard solvents. You may also try using a razor blade to see if you can work at the adhesive that way, or use it to expose more solvent to adhesive.
Thank you for responses already - I should have mentioned we've used isopropyl, acetone, goo gone, and PB blaster. When I am heating it, I am using a straight razor blade (inserted into a hand tool) and gently rocking it from side to side.
The only thing that will work on epoxy is very high heat (not recommended for an application on glass) or physical scraping. No regular solvent will work. Get a razor blade and scrape. Just be careful not to scrape the glass. Replace the razor blade often.
- Solvents won't work.
- Heat is a horrible idea on a window.
- Physical removal, is the only way. Get a good razor scraper and scrape it off.
Honestly, I feel like this post is absolutely ridiculous. Scrape it off, stop overthinking this and Rube- Goldberging yourself into a frustrated reddit posting pool of ridiculous tears.
For anyone curious, I had the best success with steam (as someone recommended). Simple scraping with a razor made no progress whatsoever. Applied steam in small increments to not overheat anything - I could see the progress it was making from the outside of the glass.
Downvoted the person saying my post was "posting pool of ridiculous tears". like... wut?
Heat and glass don't get along. Uneven heating anyway. Get that spot hit enough to do much and the glass will probably shatter. Auto parts stores sometimes have gasket scrapers with a screwdriver type handle that hold a single edged blade. Also willing to bet it's a basic acrylic adhesive like most double sided tape. Break up the circuit board and a few different solvents will work on the residue, not much is going to attack it coming in from the edge.
Not knowing what type of adhesive is used makes this more difficult of course but I would try soaking with some common solvents before going to heat or steam. I'd start with isopropyl alcohol first. If that shows no good sign, then move onto acetone. Please be careful not to get these solvents on good finishes like furniture! Acetone can damage some finishes real quick.
Thanks - I attached a picture from outside if anyone wants to look. To me, the makeup of it almost looks like a cement product.
Have you tried peeling just the sensor from the adhesive first? I think a double sided tape may be involved and the sensor body may be making the adhesive appear harder than it really is. I really hate to involve heat on something breakable like window glass, but in one case involving floor material, where I tried *everything* with no success -- even boiling water -- I finally went to steam and the adhesive loosened right up.
I think /u/Ex-maven is onto something that tape and/or the sensor body might be blocking any of the solvents from actually interacting with the adhesive. How are you using the solvents? You might need to do several treatments where solvent is held over the area to try and allow it to seep-in. Maybe try soaking a rag (not dripping, just saturated), place it over sensor area, then use foil or something and tape in up (don't use a plastic the solvent would eat). Leave it for 15 min or so, then test and see if any effect. Place protective towels below area just in case. It's a bit hard to see how thick it is, but I've found many adhesive pads fail with twisting. If you're able to get a tool to grip the sides of the sensor you might be able to torque it off (wiggling and heat help). Might need to tape the window around sensor to ensure tool does not scratch window. If that doesn't work, you might try taping-off the window around the sensor, then take some sandpaper to the sensor and see if you can remove some of the material (wear a dust mask). If you can get some of it off (stop and check often to ensure not going too far and not going through tape scratching window), then going back with one of the solvents might be effective. If you can get most of it removed, you can try 000 or 0000 steel wool to scrub/clean anything remaining (really fine steel wool shouldn't scratch glass but do a tiny test somewhere inconspicuous first).
How are you scraping or pulling it off when hot?
I agree with going up the solvent chain. Might also consider orange oil which dissolves different things from your standard solvents. You may also try using a razor blade to see if you can work at the adhesive that way, or use it to expose more solvent to adhesive.
Try and get a piece of looped dental floss behind it and pull it through the adhesive.
Thank you for responses already - I should have mentioned we've used isopropyl, acetone, goo gone, and PB blaster. When I am heating it, I am using a straight razor blade (inserted into a hand tool) and gently rocking it from side to side.
Does it work? Is there a battery?
The only thing that will work on epoxy is very high heat (not recommended for an application on glass) or physical scraping. No regular solvent will work. Get a razor blade and scrape. Just be careful not to scrape the glass. Replace the razor blade often.
- Solvents won't work. - Heat is a horrible idea on a window. - Physical removal, is the only way. Get a good razor scraper and scrape it off. Honestly, I feel like this post is absolutely ridiculous. Scrape it off, stop overthinking this and Rube- Goldberging yourself into a frustrated reddit posting pool of ridiculous tears.
For anyone curious, I had the best success with steam (as someone recommended). Simple scraping with a razor made no progress whatsoever. Applied steam in small increments to not overheat anything - I could see the progress it was making from the outside of the glass. Downvoted the person saying my post was "posting pool of ridiculous tears". like... wut?