Sticky question

[Marktaylor99]

I recently purchased a gun safe. It had stickers on it from the store. I pulled them off but the sticky glue from the stickers is still on there. I have tried scrubbing with a rag and water but it seems like this method will take several years to get it all off. Does anyone have a better/faster method?
Thanks,
Mark

 

[cassandrasdaddy]

goof off

its a product name not an insult paint store and lowes etc have it get the low odor type

 

[jac714]

Another good choice is Goo Gone.

 

[JoeHatley]

WD40 will also remove most adhesives.

Joe

 

[Q-Lock]

I've had success in the past with Isopropyl Alcohol. Just wet a rag with it and start scrubbing.

Another thing that has worked for me, although it's not very much fun: Take the pad of your thumb and just start rubbing the sticky area like crazy up and down. The heat from the friction seems to help the glue "ball up" and you can pick it off that way.

Keep in mind, you'll have to switch hands after a while...your thumbs will get toasty!

edit to add: Mineral Spirits (industrial quality) works well. As does Lacquer Thinner (industrial quality).

Good luck,

 

[Marktaylor99]

Thanks for the suggestions guys. I had considered a couple of those mentioned (alcohol and mineral spirits) but I thought it would remove the paint as well. I guess I will test it on a hidden spot.
Thanks!
Mark

 

[Sharps Shooter]

Cigarette lighter fluid usually takes that sticky stuff off. "Goof Off" is good too.

 

[Dr. Dickie]

Those are all good organic solvents, but for tape glue, nothing beats acetone that I have ever seen.
Course, if that is all you need it for it will probably be to expensive.
You could always make some Ed's red with what is left over.

 

[Sharps Shooter]

I concur with Dr. Dickie - acetone is great for tape glue. And if you don't need a whole quart of it, or you don't feel like going out to the garage, your wife's nail polish remover is mostly acetone.

 

[Furncliff]

+1 for wd40

 

[foob]

If you worry that lighter fluid (other alchohol types) will damage the item, the best way is using an eraser.

 

[benEzra]

Check your auto parts store. The "goo off" type products there are designed to be safe for painted finishes, since they are intended to be used on your car.

 

[Dave Markowitz]

WD40 will also remove most adhesives.

Yup. And the fumes won't knock you on your butt.

 

[romma]

call

a (are you ready?),,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,, SAFECRAKER! Kidding. I worked in a marina years ago, and acetone would work best imo. The nail polish remover is the easiest/quickest way to go if it is available.

 

[Larry Ashcraft]

Nail polish remover = acetone+perfume

Acetone may remove the paint. Be careful.

Lighter fluid = VM&P naphtha. Solvent grade naphtha won't hurt paint, and should remove the glue.

The best though, is called New Car Solvent, and is usually available at car dealerships or detail shops. It is designed to remove stickers.

 

[Barbara]

Skin So Soft will do it.

 

[Bob R]

Don't you have any kids that can do the job for you? That is what I used, didn't even mark him up any!

bob

 

[xds&gsps]

De-solv-it works really well available at Walmart is a citrus based cleaner, works great on anything sticky.

 

[Sharps Shooter]

Skin So Soft repels mosquitoes too doesn't it Barbara?

 

[Zero_DgZ]

Am I the only one who didn't reflexively say "grab the Hoppes?" The man is obviously a firearm owner; He ought to at least have something of that ilk lying around.

 

[RobW]

I use "Adhesive Release" from our frame-shop. It says on the bottle "For Industrial Use Only".

I don't know where to get it, the manufacturer is TC Moulding 1880 Oakcrest Avenue, Roseville MN 55113.

Very effective stuff that doesn't harm any surface but the glue. And, it's highly inflammable. If you want to go to Hotel Grey Bars, try to get it on a flight

 

[JohnKSa]

Baby Oil or Cooking Oil and a paper towel will usually take stuff like that off of surfaces you're worried about using solvents on.

Something like GunScrubber is faster but you run some risk of finish damage.

Lighter fluid is probably halfway in between the two in terms of both effectiveness and liklihood of finish damage.

 

[dot 43]

Old retail trick: Use a lighter to melt the glue some.

 

[Moondoggie]

Old mfg trick for removing labels from product for re-labling.....warm up the label with a hair dryer.

 

[carterbeauford]

Starting fluid (ether) in an aerosol can is an excellent solvent. It cuts right through most residues better than anything I've ever used.