scotch tape residue

Subject: scotch tape residue
From: Charcloth
Date: 27 Nov 01 - 10:31 AM

Hey Folks I am like most other guitar pickers I know who tape a set list to my instrument. Well set list change & when removing the list there is always a bit of the tape glue left behind. Does anybody have any good suggestions on how to get this gunk off? Thanks, Charcloth

Subject: RE: scotch tape residue
From: Sorcha
Date: 27 Nov 01 - 10:34 AM

Would acetone (nail polish remover) damage the finish if you were really quick with it? It's what I use to remove all sorts of gummy residues, but I have never tried it on wood.

Subject: RE: scotch tape residue
From: SharonA
Date: 27 Nov 01 - 10:42 AM

My solvent of choice for tape-residue removal is cigarette-lighter fluid, but again I don't know how it would affect the guitar's finish. I suspect, though, that it might be safer than nail polish remover.

Subject: RE: scotch tape residue
From: jeffp
Date: 27 Nov 01 - 10:51 AM

You might try vegetable oil, that's usually effective on sticky residue and would probably be safe for your finish.

jeffp

Subject: RE: scotch tape residue
From: Jim Dixon
Date: 27 Nov 01 - 11:05 AM

I'd vote for the vegetable oil. I haven't tried it on wood, but I've used it on other surfaces, such as vinyl. Plain old cooking oil will work, or you could use furniture polish.

Subject: RE: scotch tape residue
From: GUEST
Date: 27 Nov 01 - 12:06 PM

Tea Tree Oil (oil of melaleuca) and no, it wont damage wood finish.

Subject: RE: scotch tape residue
From: GUEST,Phillip
Date: 27 Nov 01 - 12:24 PM

As one who's sprayed literally acres of lacquer finishes, some on musical instruments, but mainly on furniture, I'll advise the cigarette-lighter fluid route. Lighter fluid is naphtha, also known as camp-stove fuel. It is safe on lacquer finishes such as guitars. DO NOT USE ACETONE or nail polish remover or any such other stuff, even quickly or you'll etch the finish (or perhaps worse) Oils won't do much to soften the residue of soft adhesives like scotch tape. At best they'll emulsify enough so that vigorous rubbing will remove the stuff by abrasion. Not recommended.

Subject: RE: scotch tape residue
From: GUEST,slackjaw
Date: 27 Nov 01 - 12:33 PM

You might want to not use scotch tape next time. I use thin masking tape (the blue kind) that's made to not pull paint off the wall. It comes right off your guitar without leaving anything behind. Just a thought.

Subject: RE: scotch tape residue
From: Mountain Dog
Date: 27 Nov 01 - 03:16 PM

GUEST Phillip,

Would any of the all-natural citrus-based stickum removers work without causing damage to the finish? Just curious.

Subject: RE: scotch tape residue
From: GUEST,cdkrueger
Date: 27 Nov 01 - 03:33 PM

I like a product called Goo Gone. It has yet to mar anything. I think it is citrus based--it smells like it, anyway.

Subject: RE: scotch tape residue
From: Gypsy
Date: 27 Nov 01 - 08:16 PM

Lighter fluid, hands down. Worked in a gallery with fine woodworking, and that was the ONLY thing that we could use without screwing up the finish. Acetone will definitely chew up most finishes.

Subject: RE: scotch tape residue
From: Charcloth
Date: 27 Nov 01 - 08:38 PM

I just had a thought would Go Jo hand cleaner work? I already have some of that I would have to buy the other stuff

Subject: RE: scotch tape residue
From: GUEST,Phillip
Date: 27 Nov 01 - 09:38 PM

Not familiar with all-citrus stickum removers, but if they're indeed all citrus they shouldn't hurt. Lighter fluid is cheap, available and effective. I don't use anything else.

Subject: RE: scotch tape residue
From: rangeroger
Date: 27 Nov 01 - 09:56 PM

Charcloth, don't use the Go-Jo. It has abrasives in it that will mar the finish.

A can of lighter fluid is cheaper than a refinish job.

rr

Subject: RE: scotch tape residue
From: DonMeixner
Date: 27 Nov 01 - 11:09 PM

My daughter who uses all kinds of adhesives for theatre work say. " Goo Gone everytime."

I like WD40 myself but since she showed me Goo Gone I haven't used anything but Goo Gone.

Don

Subject: RE: scotch tape residue
From: GUEST,.gargoyle
Date: 28 Nov 01 - 12:22 AM

It is usually pine based.

Go to a art-supply or hardware store and use good-ol-fashioned TURPENTINE

Subject: RE: scotch tape residue
From: Kaleea
Date: 28 Nov 01 - 01:00 AM

Lemon Oil, Orange Glo or Goo Gone is the answer. I have used such products on wood, china, human flesh and a variety of other surfaces I did not desire to damage. I recommend that you do not use tape of any kind on any wood surface, especially a musical instrument. You would be able to use some of the "tacky stuff" aka "plasti tak" aka a bunch of other brand names--the stick stuff like silly putty which one uses to stick posters to the wall without marring the paint job--to stick a piece of paper or an index card to the side of your guitar, Bass violin, or whatever.

Subject: RE: scotch tape residue
From: Liz the Squeak
Date: 28 Nov 01 - 01:08 AM

A friend just gave up and stuck a sticky backed clear pocket to the top of the guitar. It didn't look too bad because it was clear, and it meant that he could slide different sets in and out, without having to remove the sticky every time.

You can get them in most big stationery stores, usually in the labelling section. They're used for putting library tickets onto AV stuff, computer details onto terminals, anything really.

LTS

Subject: RE: scotch tape residue
From: JohnInKansas
Date: 28 Nov 01 - 08:36 AM

After years of working in offices where people got moved around a lot - seemed like weekly sometimes, and where every new working surface you came across was covered with filthy goo from old tape, the "universal solvent" I finally found was ..........MENTHOLATUM.

Seems like the menthol emulsifies the glob, and the base oil helps transport it to whatever you use as a wiper.

I can't say that I've tried it on everything, but I've never seen any visible damage from using it.

Makes things smell nice for a while too, but the odor doesn't last long, and any oil film evaporates fairly quickly as well.

Incidentally, I've tried the alternative camphor based stuff; and it won't do the job.

John

Subject: RE: scotch tape residue
From: GUEST,Phillip
Date: 28 Nov 01 - 11:45 AM

All of these things may do the job very well. If you have a good guitar, however, you may want to look to the future as well. Any product that has silicone in it will contaminate a finished wood surface. The stuff is nearly IMPOSSIBLE to remove. Should the need ever arise to do some touch-ups or a refinish job on a fine instrument, you'll be up yon creek without the proverbial paddle. The silicone contamination will muck up any future application of surface finishes by distorting the surface tension and creating "fish-eyes". If you have a cheap guitar, experiment all you want, but if you have a good one, use the tried and true methods. It'll save you money in the long run.

Subject: RE: scotch tape residue
From: GUEST
Date: 28 Nov 01 - 04:11 PM

Methylated spirit is a favourite in UK, wont damage french polished wood unless left in contact for an extended period and vapourises quite quickly at room temp.

Definite NO to acetone.

Subject: RE: scotch tape residue
From: Charcloth
Date: 28 Nov 01 - 11:02 PM

Thanks folks. I guess I gotta get me some lighter fluid. I do appreciate everyones input. Charcloth

Subject: RE: scotch tape residue
From: JennieG
Date: 29 Nov 01 - 12:21 AM

I've used eucalyptus oil with success for removing sticky stuff, it smells good too - can you get it outside Oz?
Cheers
JennieG

Subject: RE: scotch tape residue
From:
Date: 29 Nov 01 - 12:37 AM

Many years ago, during a Christmas tips call-in program, I heard a person give a great tip for removing adhesive products such as price labels, and such. They suggested using an aerosol hair spray. I've tried it, and it works. However these days, with ozone depletion a concern, aerosols may be harder to get, and perhaps the formulae have changed since then.

Subject: RE: scotch tape residue
From: Gary T
Date: 29 Nov 01 - 09:20 AM

My first guess, George, is that the effective agent in hair spray is alcohol. I believe some varnishes are soluble in alcohol, so I'd be reluctant to try it on a wood finish.

Subject: RE: scotch tape residue
From: Guessed
Date: 29 Nov 01 - 11:41 AM

If it was tar I'd recommend Lard (bacon fat) it works a treat rub it in (usually on yer hands) wash off with washing-up liquid. Not tried it on tape residues, and on guitars any thing that dissolves the residues would soak-in to any bare wood.
at least it isn't a banjo skin.

Subject: RE: scotch tape residue
From: Art Thieme
Date: 30 Nov 01 - 12:44 AM

Definitely !!!!! The best solvent for this purpose is pure LEMON OIL !! (Not Pledge and other blends that have lemon oil in them along with other stuff.) Just use the pure stuff though. It's a true oil that cleans and polishes as it disolves the gunk.

When I was singing on the steamboat on the Mississippi, we'd go past the big 3M plant near Clinton, Iowa but on the Illinois side -- Fulton, Illinois as I recall it. That's where Scotch Tape and other things were made. Every so often they would foul up a batch of tape and it was sold off very cheaply. Locals would buy it up by the pickup truck load---take it home and put it into a press and squeeze the juice out. Made some of the best scotch I ever tasted. ;-)

Art Thieme

Subject: RE: scotch tape residue
From: Murray MacLeod
Date: 30 Nov 01 - 12:52 AM

Ohmygawd Art, that was so bad it could have been Spaw writing it ..................

Murray