Hi All,  I've been running a few tests to find something that really
does make it quite easy to soften and remove PVC-E glue, and you'll
never guess what works.  Try hydrogen peroxide -- I was shocked!

In about 30 minutes, the big glob of PVC-E glue turned milk white and
I pulled it off in one piece.  What I did was saturate a cotton ball
with the fluid and place it on the blob.  Then, about 30 minutes later,
I removed the cotton ball and got under the edge of the blob with a knife.
I was surprised when it pulled right off the raw wood. I intentionally
put the blob on a piece of soft wood, knowing that it would soak in
more easily than if it were hardwood.  Point being, the peroxide should
work even better on hardwood, sealed wood, or painted wood.

By the way, I also tried the rubbing alcohol. It did soften the blob
(on another piece of wood) but, in the same length of time as the
peroxide, I was only able to remove about one-third of the top of the
blob.  Also, the stuff I was able to remove was a gooey mess.  With the
peroxide, the blob came off in one piece and it wasn't sticky at all.

Musically,
John A Tuttle
Player-Care.com
Brick, New Jersey, USA