×
INTELLIGENT WORK FORUMS
FOR ENGINEERING PROFESSIONALS

Log In

Come Join Us!

Are you an
Engineering professional?
Join Eng-Tips Forums!
  • Talk With Other Members
  • Be Notified Of Responses
    To Your Posts
  • Keyword Search
  • One-Click Access To Your
    Favorite Forums
  • Automated Signatures
    On Your Posts
  • Best Of All, It's Free!
  • Students Click Here

*Eng-Tips's functionality depends on members receiving e-mail. By joining you are opting in to receive e-mail.

Posting Guidelines

Promoting, selling, recruiting, coursework and thesis posting is forbidden.

Students Click Here

Jobs

Conduit Seal (Chico) Removal
2

Conduit Seal (Chico) Removal

Conduit Seal (Chico) Removal

(OP)
A few days ago I posted a question about testing conduit seals (http://www.eng-tips.com/viewthread.cfm?qid=141712).  I have a separate question about conduit seals resulting from the same project referenced in that thread:

Is there a recommended method for removing conduit seals without damaging the conductors and introducing something into the conduit that could cause problems later?

I understand that chipping out the seals works but usually damages the insulation or conductors and almost always leads to repulling the wires.  

I've heard about using vinegar (which I also found mentioned at http://www.elec-toolbox.com/tricks/chico.htm).  This method could be slow and still require chipping, according to one electrician.

Finally, I've been told that Chico (not including SpeedSeal) is essentially plaster-of-Paris, though the MSDS (http://www.crouse-hinds.com/crousehinds/resources/msds/ms_chico_sealing.cfm) says it is only about one-third p-o-P.  A Google search resulted in a link to a site that discussed using "a dilute potassium acetate solution" to remove plaster from molds (http://www.plastermaster.com/usg/plaster201.htm) but I couldn't determine whether this would work with Chico.

I couldn't find anything in the literature on CCH's web site about seal removal.  My question applies to conventional seals; it would appear to be essentially impossible to remove an epoxy SpeedSeal based on CCH's video and support documentation.

RE: Conduit Seal (Chico) Removal

Cut the wire, remove the fitting.  Throw the fitting away and replace.  Your tripping over dollars to pick up a dime.

RE: Conduit Seal (Chico) Removal

You can dissolve epoxy using something like dichloromethane, although it takes a while. The process has the downside that the chemical is carcinogenic and is one of the most aggressive organic solvents available, so any polymer-based material is in for a hard time. BJC is right - scrap the fittings and replace them.

----------------------------------
  Start each day with a smile. Get it over with.

RE: Conduit Seal (Chico) Removal

When I worked in the semiconductor industry, we had a wonderful machine for dissolving epoxy packages.

It was called a JetEtch.

It used boiling concentrated sulphuric acid...

Just a thought...

Scrap it & start again sounds reasonable to me...

Red Flag This Post

Please let us know here why this post is inappropriate. Reasons such as off-topic, duplicates, flames, illegal, vulgar, or students posting their homework.

Red Flag Submitted

Thank you for helping keep Eng-Tips Forums free from inappropriate posts.
The Eng-Tips staff will check this out and take appropriate action.

Reply To This Thread

Posting in the Eng-Tips forums is a member-only feature.

Click Here to join Eng-Tips and talk with other members!


Resources