How to Soften and Remove Hard White Epoxy

Soak the encapsulated part in a chlorinated solvent such as methylene chloride for several hours. This will soften the epoxy, allowing you to scrape it off. Methylene chloride, however, may be hard to come by, as it has been listed as a carcinogen. Several epoxy solvents are available. Check a hardware store. Tell the clerk what type of epoxy you're trying to remove to be sure to get the appropriate solvent.

Apply heat to the cured epoxy. Epoxy has a softening point that if exceeded will allow you to pry it away more easily. Use either a heat gun held an inch or two away from the part or a soldering gun applied directly to the epoxy. Scrape and pry the material loose as you go. Place the part that you are trying to free in an oven if extreme heat will not damage it. Turn the oven past 400 degrees and wait; epoxy has a degradation point at which it disintegrates or burns away.

Immerse the encapsulated part into boiling water for a couple of hours. In most cases, this will soften the epoxy and allow it to be lifted from just about any surface. Pry the cured, softened epoxy away with a flat chisel. Re-immerse it in the boiling water as needed until all the epoxy is removed.

Place the part first in hot, then in cold to cause a thermal shock. Epoxy cannot withstand abrupt changes in temperature, as the thermal expansion rate is too great. Transfer the part between the two temperatures several times. Allow enough time for the part to either heat or cool before switching its temperature again. Watch for joint separation and bond line lift. Chisel the material away as it separates.