Primarily Petroliana Shop Talk Forums Shop Talk Petroliana Forums General Petroliana Discussion Help with 65 year old hardened tape goo on globe.

I took the tape off this globe in prep for installing a pair of lenses I picked up and a planned project for the globe. I need though to get this old hardened tape goo off.
Tried:
Goo Gone (worked fine until we got to the meat of the problem)Then nothing!
Paint thinner (was cutting it slightly but still very slow going. Then I noticed some yellow on the white rag and that was enough of that. Don't want to damage original paint)
WD40 per something I read online (didn't do a thing)

Any thoughts/suggestions?? Stuff is hard as a rock!!

Steve, try Ascetone but test first.

The response on this suggestion should be interesting.

Try a layer of peanut butter. Rub it in and let stand for awhile. Remove with dry terry cloth.

Walt K.

Back at my first job at 16 as a clerk in a drug store, we squeezed lighter fluid on the metal shelves to remove the sticky residue from price stickers. We softened it with the fluid then used a razor to scrape it off--something you won't want to use in your situation, but a butter knife might do the trick without scratching the yellow. Don't know if lighter fluid would affect the yellow.

Let us know what works in the end...

Yes, it is astonishing how well masking tape can adhere! As suggested I would try ever increasing harshness solvents - goo gone, acetone, etc. I've also had some luck using polishing compounds and rubbing it out, of course risk of going through. I believe the glue on the tape actually etches into the paint given enough time. I've had nice paint jobs ruined by tape before.

Lighter fluid.

Best thing I have found is a Product made by 3m Comes in a red can its called Adhesive Remover works well on all tape residues Can be found at most auto parts and auto paint supply stores.

Steve before using all the solvents you gotta try the PB! Now that would be something if it worked. You can use a slice of bread to wipe it off!

m.youtube.com/watch?v=4GGqcWBrn1U

Thanks all!!
I really doubt the peanut butter is going to work in that this is not "goo", it's hard as a rock. But I'll give it a try, what the heck.
Thanks for the youtube link Fred. I didn't think to look there and I found all kinds of remedies there! There was one using ant and roach killer on "hard" duct tape residue that I was liking.
I tried a little lighter fluid this morning before work, it seemed to maybe be putting a little dent in it with a lot of rubbing, but I was seeing a fair amount of yellow on the rag. Again, have to be careful of the paint.
I'll also try the adhesive remover.
Little worried about Pauls statement about it etching into the paint. Let's hope not.
Keep you all posted.

Also, use a credit card or plastic razor blade to scrape with. Maybe a little steam concentrated out of a kettle-enough to warm but not burn the paint. It will make a big difference.

Usually the paint gets damaged on newer paint jobs (by letting tape sit on it.) You are probably good. May want to try Wax & Grease remover (from an auto paint store) although you'd think acetone would work. Wax and grease remover won't take dried paint off though typically, may allow you to scrub more, that's my "go to" solvent.

I've never tried it on masking tape residue, but I could see how clay bar might work. Clay bar is usually used to remove overspray, but might work for this. Also at auto paint stores, it's a hard putty you wet down and rub the paint with back and forth. Paul

It's funny Paul, as I was reading the first line of your post, my mind drifted to my brother in law just telling me how he clay barred his truck this weekend, and I thought, Hmm... I wonder. Then I read your second line.
I'm off right now to try the acetone. Let Y'all know!

I think acetone is the ingredient in nail polish remover....

Wow! No Go on the acetone(Melissa's nail polish remover)!! It started to go right through the paint. Good thing I tested in on the bottom.

This guy says use Ant & Roach killer. Hmm...
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jJ9bZ51PgfU

Yeah I was kind of grasping with clay bar, but you never know! I'm sure you'll find the right chemical or method, can sure get frustrating!

Since acetone is too agressive, I still recommend wax & grease remover. Some guy out there formulated it to be a solvent that strips contaminates off paint, without wrecking the paint, so it kind of fits the bill of what your doing. It's used by auto painters to clean paint before you apply primer or more paint, it's not the stuff people use to degrease engines.