|
|
| Author |
Message |
Hublocker
Groupie
Joined: 29 Jun 2008
Posts: 11
|
 Posted: Fri May 15, 2009 3:57 am Post subject: Peeling stickers off? |
 |
|
About 25 years ago in a fit of youthful enthusiasm I put stickers all over my black Les Paul copy.
How the heck do you get those ****ing things off so I can look like an adult again?
Varsol?
Methyl hydrate?
Laquer thinner?
Acetone?
WD40?
Hot water and soap?
Blowtorch?
Hammer and chisel? |
|
| Back to top |
|
 |
1bassleft
Lowdown Cack-hander
Joined: 16 Feb 2005
Posts: 3951
Location: "Hit The North"
|
| Posted: Fri May 15, 2009 11:30 pm Post subject: |
|
|
Ethanol.
Pure alcohol would be best for loosening the glue and doing the least to your finish. Ask your pharmacist for "denatured ethanol" (like foot scrub). The denatured bit just means that it's undrinkable (they add "Bitrex" so you don't go on a Friday night bender) and that should do the job. Easier to obtain is isopropylalcohol (IPA), the screenwash you can get from a gas/petrol station to clean your windshield/screen.
Without wanting to get chemically, the longer the carbon chain or the more polar the organic solvent, the greater the risk of damaging the finish. Acetone (nail varnish remover) is next up the list.
It's all about patience. Soap and water works, but it swells the wood so forget that. Ethanol can work well, but let it soak in before scraping with a soft tool. Ditto IPA or acetone.
Come back here before reaching for the blowtorch 
WD40 is cack, by the way. I worked for the MoD in the 80s and I never let it near my car, never mind my guitars. |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
myfoot
Jammin' Hot
Joined: 01 Oct 2006
Posts: 227
Location: Illinois Quad Cities
|
|
| Back to top |
|
|
Tim
Low Frequency Out
Joined: 14 Aug 2005
Posts: 1184
Location: Probably at the bar.
|
| Posted: Sat May 16, 2009 9:58 pm Post subject: |
|
|
| Me other half swears by furniture polish...don't know why but it just seems to dissolve te glue?! |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
SB
Jammin' Hot
Joined: 04 Feb 2005
Posts: 196
Location: USA
|
| Posted: Sun May 17, 2009 6:12 pm Post subject: |
|
|
A step down from the blowtorch is a hair dryer. I've been told the heat softens the glue so the sticker will peel off and the residue removed with one of the solvents suggested above.
Never tried it. Let us know if you do. |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
lee_UK
Rolling Stone No.8
Joined: 04 Feb 2005
Posts: 3386
Location: London, UK
|
| Posted: Tue May 19, 2009 10:13 pm Post subject: |
|
|
i would go down the hot soapy water road first, to me it's the safest.
IPA is always the best option, it dissolves old sticky glue faster than a British MP blaming the 'system' for stealing money from us hard working tax payers. |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
AKC_Underdog
Joined: 27 May 2009
Posts: 1
|
| Posted: Wed May 27, 2009 5:09 pm Post subject: |
|
|
| Newbie to the site here! Be careful with the hair drier. It can damage the finish and loosen glue joints. |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
|
The stuff underneath