posted on December 30, 2001 08:55:24 AM new
Some of the lobby cards I recently purchased have an ugly label glued on saying "en francaise" -- usually right over someone's head. There are about 100 of them with these labels, so I hate to toss them but I haven't been able to find any way to remove them.
Has anyone figured a way or found a product that will get labels off paper without destroying it? These are from the 40's and 50's.
posted on December 30, 2001 09:53:17 AM new
I use something on book stickers called Goof-Off. It comes in an aerosol can. Use in a well ventilated area unless you really care to get high. I usually saturate the sticker and then leave on until it dries. Most come off after one try, others are a little more stubborn and require a second or third application.
posted on December 30, 2001 10:24:47 AM new
Could you tell me where to find the Goof-off? Is it recommended for glue type stickers and not just the pressure stick adhesive?
posted on December 30, 2001 10:55:01 AM new
I've used Goo Gone to remove labels from paper products without any problem. You can find it in most K/Walmart type stores, in the same location that you'd find cleaning supplies for clothing.
I've read other people complaining that Goo Gone leaves a stain (since it's citrus based and orange in color), but I've never had this problem. Since it's oily, it takes awhile to dry, but after it dried I've never noticed a permanent stain. If you try Goo Gone (or any other such product) try it on just one lobby card, preferably one that's already damaged or of little value. Other people use lighter fluid and claim that it works just as well, is quick to evaporate, and never leaves a stain - just make sure you're working in a flame & spark free zone if you use it.
Another thing to consider is that if the sticker is as old as the posters themselves, the adheseves may have completely dried, in which case there may be no way to remove the stickers without damaging the cards. Good luck, sounds like you made quite a find!
posted on December 30, 2001 11:33:37 AM new
I might just add one more thing. I've had success with removing stickers from paper with goo gone but find that what's under it is a different shade in the shape of the sticker than the rest of the paper since that area hasn't been exposed to light, dust, etc.
posted on December 30, 2001 02:15:36 PM new
I use those & they work. You can also use regular lighter fluid, which works too, and evaporates without stains.
posted on December 30, 2001 02:28:42 PM new
Actually, I think, Goof-off is a product for disolving latex paint, which is incredibly hard to get off. Try your local hardware store, yellow and red cans - it comes in a can as a liquid, as well. It is positively the vilest smelling stuff imaginable, very likely carcinogenic. Use is outside only, IMO. Interesting choice and I'd be well willing to believe it'll disolve stuff that nothing else will.
There are a couple other things to try on a specimen you don't especially care for: 1) lighter fluid, 2) Un-du (heptane from Target or Wal-Mart), 3) 409 cleaner, though I haven't used the latter. Good luck!
Terry
posted on December 30, 2001 04:08:44 PM new
I suggest you use a HOT iron with or without steam. Use a thin tea towel between the paper you wish to remove and the iron. Press down when ironing. The hotter the paper the easier it is to remove and take the glue with it. I suggest you do this on a hard surface in front of the tv, as it gets boring. After all, ironing is not fun.
posted on December 30, 2001 04:53:47 PM new
hubby swears by the blow dryer method. he has removed labels from just about everything, including magazines. the heat melts the glue and the sticker comes off without a trace left behind.
posted on December 31, 2001 04:01:53 AM new
thanks guys learned some new tricks here..my latest one is heat a cup of water for coffee very hot in microwave...let it sit on label a few minutes..
peel off label, reheat water,add coffee & sugar & go get a doughnut..works..have a happy new year hope 2002 is good for us all.
posted on January 1, 2002 12:38:55 PM new
The hair dryer will get the label hot in a short amount of time and makes more sense than irons, etc. But it just depends on what is used to make the label stick and what they are stuck to. Almost all labels that are a few years old will peal off successfully without damaging a glossy surface when heated. For example, even those nasty aluminum like labels from Video stores will come right off the glossy label of a used Nintendo game. But it may leave it's residue behind and Naptha (called lighter fluid if you want to pay 10 times as much) on a towel (not a t-shirt..you need the heavy coars body of a cotton towel) will complete the job.
If a label is put on the inside of a book this may or may not work. The porous paper there may be too attached for this method. I'm going to try the Goo stuff. I also heard about it from someone in line at the Post Office.
My method works well for that packaging tape that thrift stores love to wrap nice boxes with. The hair dryer is a must and the tape usually peals right off, sometimes leaving residue, sometimes not. Old masking tape is the worst. It turns to stone and there is nothing I have found to get it off. I'll try the Goo stuff on that too.
BTW, a local chain of thrifts in the Detroit Area, has a policy of writing their (above retail) prices for their books inside the cover on the porous endpaper in grease pencil, and in huge type. This is impossible to get off and so for the few books that were worth what they were asking, they have destroyed much of their value. I told them about this several times, and yet the saff thinks that is real clever that the shoplifter can't change the price tags any more. So if you live in Detroit, don't give your books the the Council for the Blind. They are book wreckers.
posted on January 1, 2002 10:24:54 PM new
The nasty silver stickers (the ones that say VOID when you try to remove them) will come off .... without the void sticking ... if you heat the label and carefully remove when warm.
I use a paint remover gun (ok, it's basically a heavy duty hair dryer) and it works great. Just be careful not to leave it on too long!
Also, the citrus based stuff will take the printing off of the silver label ... and you can just leave it on then.
Sharpee marker can be removed by scribbling over it with sharpee marker. It reactivates the ink ... and it wipes right off.
I usually saturate the sticker and then leave on until it dries. Most come off after one try, others are a little more stubborn and require a second or third application.