Removing old tape adhesive

Dralowid

Dralowid

Michael
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Any suggestions as to how to remove the hard, dried adhesive residue left by sticky tape that must have been removed many years ago?

Without damaging painted surface below?
 
What kind of paint was used for the surface?

First, try in a corner, using benzine or spirit, to see if the paint surface will stand this treatment. If the old paint is on linseed oil base, that should work. If it is modern synthetic resin, it will be difficult.

Erik.
 
Hi,

1, Another bit of sticky tape but not very successful except to remove the loose stuff,

2, roll Blu-Tak over it but it's like the above and

3, surgical spirit but do be careful as it sometimes ignores paint and at other times it doesn't. So test carefully where it won't notice.

I wish there was some way of removing the brown stain you get from some sticky tapes. I've art work ruined by it and it was stuck to the back and soaked through over the years.

Regards, David
 
David Hughes said:
Hi,

I wish there was some way of removing the brown stain you get from some sticky tapes. I've art work ruined by it and it was stuck to the back and soaked through over the years.

Regards, David
Click to expand...

As have I... Yet to find a solution. Sellotape (in the UK) seems to be the worst but then I suppose it is also probably the oldest easily available tape.

I have thought of using acetone but will experiment first.

Have just started using an oxalic acid solution to get rid of rust and rust stains, some success.
 
Like previously mentioned.....it depends.....
If it was simple masking tape, often just clear water will dissolve the adhesive. If not, a product called "Goo Gone" works very well. It is petroleum/orange oil based but very gentle and has no noxious fumes. Also, WD-40 will dissolve a fair amount of adhesives. I have used rubbing alcohol regularly to remove the adhesive and melted camera light seals as well.
Good luck in your endeavor!
 
markk said:
Like previously mentioned.....it depends.....
If it was simple masking tape, often just clear water will dissolve the adhesive. If not, a product called "Goo Gone" works very well. It is petroleum/orange oil based but very gentle and has no noxious fumes.
Click to expand...

Seconding this. Have used it for years and have never had any kind of damage to any paint substrate, and have never encountered a dried or fresh adhesive tape residue it would not cleanly and easily remove. It needs to sit a while on the area, and for really bad situations might need to apply it more than once. Loosened adhesive then just slides right off. I don’t think it is petroleum based because it cleans up with plain water, but could be wrong.
 
An oil is less risky than a solvent. I've used olive oil and tea tree oil on a piece of paper towel and had success with both.
 
Naphtha is also worth a try.

You often need to 'reactivate' the adhesive, get it soaked in your fluid of choice, in order to be able to remove it. So give it time. Get the gunk moist, let it sit, a little more fluid, etc. And of course test any fluid before going all out.
 
I’ve used everything mentioned here, with the exception of tea tree oil. Easiest, fastest, safest and best results any kind of universal tape adhesive remover is still Goo Gone. Seriously.
One of the best tips I ever got about anything, just trying to pay it forward.
 
This is a common problem so there are proprietary products that claims to be able to do this.

The link here is to an Australian store but the product referred to, "Goof off" should be available in other countries possibly under various names (I have seen some in supermarkets too) https://www.bunnings.com.au/goof-off-475ml-adhesive-remover-easy-pour-can_p1581881 Bear in mind it says it removes "dried latex paint" but I assume yours is an oil based object not a latex based painted one.

Another product (sold under various names) is based on the pungent oils found in citrus fruit skins such as orange peel. It comes in various names and the following one is specifically targeted at your problem - adhesive removal . The link is to a USA store. https://www.uscutter.com/Orange-Peel-Adhesive-Remover I am pretty sure I have used something like this to remove old stuck on labels / dried glue and found it works well

A further product that should work is "bug and tar remover" This is commonly available at car accessory stores and is designed for the purpose suggested by its name. But if it safely removes tar from auto paint it should do your job. I believe Maguires (an international brand of car product ) has a version of this.

Many people just use spray lubricant products like WD-40 (it works but might work best if sprayed onto cotton wool and have this applied to the offending area and left for a time (experiment as to duration) so it does not drip and run). White spirit (dry cleaning fluid) applied in the same way should work though I am not sure about its affect on paint if left say, overnight.

And eucalyptus oil (or tea tree oil) is an old time favorite that is said to work well and like the orange peel stuff is wholly natural if this matters. I have certainly used both to remove sticky goop by putting it on a swab and wiping the offending stuff off. But not exactly for the purpose you describe.

A few ideas here but mostly covered above. https://forums.mightycarmods.com/fo...cing-tape-and-sticker-residue-from-vinyl-wrap

What I want is a spray on product that removes people's name engraved into a camera using a dremel tool or similar (I am old enough to recall when cameras all had metal bodies and this was advised to do to prevent camera theft - and some people were silly enough to do it - though not me although I have inherited such cameras now and then) :^)
 
One of the things I have learnt is that when trying to remove the goop with a paper towel and oil rub fairly briskly with a fair amount of pressure. The friction creates heat and softens the stuff you are trying to remove.
 
Dralowid said:
Any suggestions as to how to remove the hard, dried adhesive residue left by sticky tape that must have been removed many years ago?

Without damaging painted surface below?
Click to expand...

Try using a pencil eraser. Either traditional pink/rubber or white/synthetic. Rub rapidly with varying degrees of pressure.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
 
Rehydrate the adhesive and use a hair dryer or low temp heat gun, if you're worried about solvents.

Phil Forrest
 
Another brand name is ‘Goof Off’. Same I think as Goo Gone. We have friends who cleaned up new construction houses and used the stuff to get labels off of tubs, sinks and other surfaces. They said it never damaged any of the surfaces they cleaned.
 
zuiko85 said:
Another brand name is ‘Goof Off’. Same I think as Goo Gone. We have friends who cleaned up new construction houses and used the stuff to get labels off of tubs, sinks and other surfaces. They said it never damaged any of the surfaces they cleaned.
Click to expand...

Goof Off melted my vinyl floor tile. I was trying to remove excess glue at the seam.

Chris
 
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