Removing ancient tape

pgomena · Jan 31, 2010

I have a half-dozen ancient filmholders in need of new tape. I have the replacement tape, but I need to remove the 90-year-old stuff that's on the holders. It's still sticking like mad. The holders are wood, so water does not seem a logical choice. I'm thinking the "orange oil" goo remover, but I'm not sure if it will soak into the wood and cause problems with the new tape. Any suggestions other than ripping, scraping and sanding the old stuff?

Peter Gomena

removed account4 · Jan 31, 2010

hi peter
i have peeled off old tape and sanded
the wood with fine grit paper ..
and then put bookbinders tape right on that ..

seems to work ok ..

good luck!
john

pgomena · Feb 1, 2010

Thanks, John. Looks like elbow grease and patience is the best solution.

Peter Gomena

Denis R · Feb 1, 2010

easy button

heat gun -- soften the goo of adhesive
razor blade -- slide between wood and tape, pry up and pull off
prep-all -- attacks adhesive {makes old crusty masking tape goo dissolve}

Rick A · Feb 1, 2010

I dont know what the adhesive is, but most old glues can be softened with distilled white vinegar. Some glues even break down and dissolve in it. You must then neutralize the residue (wash with mild detergent)when finished.

Rick

David A. Goldfarb · Feb 1, 2010

Naphtha will take off many adhesives without harming wood in general.

Steve Smith · Feb 1, 2010

ralnphot said:
I dont know what the adhesive is, but most old glues can be softened with distilled white vinegar.

Try just water first.

Steve.

pgomena · Feb 1, 2010

Thanks for the ideas, gents. I'll start with some naptha/lighter fluid or paint thinner and see what happens. I don't want to use water on those very thin dark slide "catchers" for fear of warping them. Prep-all, paint remover, etc. might work as well.

Peter Gomena

Drikusniet · Feb 1, 2010

Don't use any of the oil-based fluids you mentioned just now, they will leave a residu in the wood, that you never get out afterwards. Start with the saver ones, and only use these oil-based fluids as the last resort.

illumiquest · Feb 2, 2010

There's some adhesive remover called goo gone or something like that which works very well. Just don't try brake fluid, I did so on a plastic battery once trying to remove some paint pen markings (doh!) and it resulted in a rather ugly blob of plastic. Not sure what I was thinking

David A. Goldfarb · Feb 2, 2010

Naphtha shouldn't leave any residue. It evaporates very quickly. I actually picked that up from a vintage guitar shop in Manhattan.

Lighter fluid is mostly naphtha, but one never knows what else might be in it.

Mike1234 · Feb 2, 2010

I bought a 32 ounce can of naphtha at a local hardware store from their paint department. It cost eight bucks but it'll last me a long time.

Removing ancient tape

pgomena

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Removing ancient tape

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