Today I attempted to remove some old masking tape off my Mego Space Tract box.
I call it the Pot Noodle method.
With my Pot Noodle softening nicely I set to work.
By way of distraction I tried the toy with batteries. It didn't light up and drew a perfect circle on the floor, whilst screaming like a T. Rex.
And so to the tape problem. My box is covered in the stuff.
The Pot Noodle method - my own concept - involves steaming.
First I stood it in a pan.
It stood on a bowl.
Then I filled the base of the pan with steaming hot water and covered it with a bin.
I repeated this twice.
It didn't work!
The box got damp.
Regrouping resources, I went outside.
With a can of WD40.
I'd heard it loosened old tape.
It doesn't.
Any ideas how I can safely remove very stuck-on masking tape from my toy box with pulling off the box art?
Once I tried using a hair dryer, the heat softens the old adhesive and even old tape lifts. Then if any glue residue, let harden then polish away with furniture polish. This shouldn't harm the cardboard.
ReplyDeleteBack when using rubber cement (Cuw Gum in the UK) the thinner lifted tape but may stain the cardboard.
Thanks TerraN. That's one for the list of methods to try! ta very much.
DeleteI'm fairly confident that white spirit will loosen the tape, but it may stain the box. I use this to remove price stickers from things, but not if they're absorbent. Then you get an oily mark.
ReplyDeleteTry it only if the box has a glossy finish and apply only to the tape using a small modeller's or artist's brush. Leave it for a few minutes, then gently peel it off.
Test it on a less important bit of the box first to see if it works.
Good luck!
Mish.
Thanks Mish. Good idea. Its not a glossy box I don't think. I shall try again next week and have this page up so I can see what to do!
DeleteI've used (zippo) lighter fluid, Woodsy. Which can also leave stains on the rough inside side of the cardbaord, but hopefully not as much as white spirit. As Mish says above, only use this on coated (glossy) card. Apply with cotton swab round edges of tape, esp any lifted corners, which can then be gently pulled with good tweezers. Go about it very -very- patiently.
ReplyDeleteBest of luck -- Paul
Something called purified benzine is the best solvent for a procedure that Paul V. described. It is the same liquid philatelists use for detecting watermarks on stamps. It evaporates very quickly and leaves no stains. Best of all, it does not affect the original colours on the box. Just apply it carefully with a cotton swab or pipette undeneath the tape (you can also apply it from the reverse side if the box is not too thick) and remove the tape slowly. Afterwards, you can clean possible glue residue with a tissue moistened with benzine. Doing this, just take care of the ventilation! Here in Finland you can get purified benzine from the pharmacist's in 100 ml bottles.
ReplyDeleteThanks Arto. Insightful. I'll have a go again next week with all this great new advice.
DeleteWhichever method you try, you'll need to be extra careful when removing tape residue, as often the colours can be rubbed off the cardboard. I'd go for the hairdryer approach first to remove the tape, but you might have to live with the residue.
ReplyDeleteWise words Kid. The hair drier does sound manageable especially to a klutz like me!
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