Suppose that one were to underestimate the bonding strength of wood glue between tiny metal models and icecream sticks, and was pretty loosey-goosey with the amount of applied glue; what would be the best and least forceful way to debond the models from the stick?

Soaking the sticks in water might help loosen a bit, though i'd probably just take a craft knife and dig the tip in under a bit and prise them up. Could use sprue clippers too if you're liable to lose a thumb with the knife, though they're more likely to score the base.

Yep, if its PVA/Elmers/White Wood glue try soaking the sticks and glued area in a bit of warm water overnight and the figures should then come away freely, or purhaps with a little gentle pursuasion with a craft knife as MMCV suggests.

Done that several times when I've rebased older 6mm stuff and works a treat.

 

I'd just use the craft knife - but carefully.

Just prying them off with the craft knife really was my plan A, but this is when I realised that they had really bonded together too well, and I'll either break the minis and/or loose a finger. I will try soaking the sticks and see how it goes!

Substitute a broad chisel for the craft knife.

Soaking them overnight in warm water presents its own problems, of course. Water cools off after a while.

I've always used white PVA wood glue to mount my figures on wooden lolly sticks for painting.  They always pop off easily when a craft knife is inserted between stick and base.  You may be using too much glue - you only need a blob the size of a pin head.  Make sure the underside of the figures' bases are filed flat and clean in the first place and you should have no problem.   Wood glue will soften if damp unless it is a type intended for exterior use. 

Quote from: John Cook on 07 April 2022, 11:04:28 AMI've always used white PVA wood glue to mount my figures on wooden lolly sticks for painting.  They always pop off easily when a craft knife is inserted between stick and base.  You may be using too much glue - you only need a blob the size of a pin head.  Make sure the underside of the figures' bases are filed flat and clean in the first place and you should have no problem.   Wood glue will soften if damp unless it is a type intended for exterior use. 

Yeah I was quite liberal with the amount of glue, as I was of the impression that it wouldn't bond much at all to metal, I've tried it out before with 15mm metal figs on plastic sprue, which didnt work at all. In hindsight is of course the difference between metal+plastic and metal+wood that I should have reacted on. 

Rather than wood sticks I have thick card stock that I glue to using Elmer's glue (PVA).  Then just tear them off and discard the card stock.  A little cleanup on the bottom.

A slight tangent, if I may.

Instead of PVA or similar try Copydex. Good solid bond, if left to dry properly, with a relatively modest spread of glue and it peels off even months later. Peel the figures off the sticks, rub the Copydex off the sticks and ta-la! sticks are like new ... well apart from the paint I accidentally slop on them.

Quote from: Ithoriel on 07 April 2022, 01:11:22 PMA slight tangent, if I may.

Instead of PVA or similar try Copydex. Good solid bond, if left to dry properly, with a relatively modest spread of glue and it peels off even months later. Peel the figures off the sticks, rub the Copydex off the sticks and ta-la! sticks are like new ... well apart from the paint I accidentally slop on them.

Sounds very useful, but I don't think we have that in Sweden...

Copydex is cow gum, a petroleum based  adhesive. No cows involved, as far as I know, so no idea why it's called "cow" gum.

Amazon's Swedish site carries it.

It was invented by Mr Cow.

https://hullabaloo.co.uk/blog/whatever-happened-cow-gum/

Copydex is available in the UK Amazon as well.

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Copydex-Bottle-Adhesive-125-ml/dp/B0001OZIFW/ref=sr_1_3?
crid=129G5LDTZYH5Q&keywords=copydex&qid=1649344381&sprefix=copydex%2Caps%2C113&sr=8-3

I started using it after a recommendation from this forum, possibly from Ithoriel. Thank you to whoever it was, perfect for the painting stick. 

I am tempted to try it, I tend to just use blu/white tac but can end up peeling a bit of paint away from the base when removing at times.