OLD MASKING TAPE REMOVAL?

[Rockthrower]

I have a 1840's English belt pistol here with a strip of old masking tape encircling the walnut butt.

In some areas the tape is still there. In other areas, only the adhesive remains. Both the tape and adhesive are "rock hard."

So as to not harm the old oiled finish on the stock I have tried Ballistol and Mineral Spirits. Neither one seems to be softening or cutting into the tape or adhesive.

Any suggestions?

 

[dave_person]

Hi,
Try some warm mildly soapy water to soften the tape. Then try denatured alcohol.

dave

 

[Gene L]

Mayonnaise believe it or not. It will work on stickers on glass...I'm sure it will work on wood.

 

[M. De Land]

Try some Gunzilla.

 

[Capt. Jas.]

Don't know the condition or value of your piece but I use wd-40 to remove tape and adhesive residue, even on high end shotguns.

 

[M. De Land]

WD will probably penetrate an oil finish.

 

[Wes/Tex]

All will work. Soapy water, heat or vegetable oil work. WD-40 will but don't let it soak very long...more like put it on a rag and wipe. The oils are a better option for wood.

 

[Rockthrower]

O.K. Great ideas and recommendations. Nothing has cut through the hardened adhesive.

What do you think of using the heat from a hair dryer and a solvent soaked patch to get the hardened surface of the adhesive to begin to dissolve?

 

[nhmoose]

Just had the bandaged glued to my shoulder from Rotor cuff surgery. Ben on a week and trust me would not pull off. The nurse used some kind of spray a tiny bit and it pulled off like it was not glued.

Someone know what its called??? Maybe that will work As a stock finish is stronger than skin.

 

[nagant]

acetone?

 

[nhmoose]

No idea , no smell, no sting on the open staple wounds but the bandage edges melted away and pulled off no problem or pulling problem.

 

[Rockthrower]

Am beginning to break through the adhesive with pure citrus solvent. This may be the solution.

 

[dave_person]

Hi,
Do not use acetone because that will strip the finish.

dave

 

[Rockthrower]

Citrus solvent soaked patches and wood toothpicks to scratch through the surface and clean out the checkering WORKED.

 

[necchi]

Good to know,

 

[Rockthrower]

I'm going to retract my recommendation for using citrus oil.

What I finally ended up using on some really stubborn adhesive was GOOF OFF. It worked 10x as fast as citrus and did not damage the finish any more than citrus.

After removing all evidence of the tape and adhesive, I applied Old English Dark scratch remover to the stock. You could never tell what I had done. The stock looks beautiful.

 

[Col. Batguano]

Where did you find this "Goof Off" stuff? I have plenty of old tale scraps I'd like to remove from things around the house.

 

[Flintfan69]

Naphtha is what you want to use. It helps to put it in a small syringe or squeeze bottle with a small opening.

Start at the end of the tape, and dribble on a little at a time. The tape will start to lift quickly. Help it along with the edge of a fine blade, but don't try to pull it off if it not already lifting on it's own. Work your way down the tape, squirt a little on, lift and repeat. Go slow.

The naphtha will evaporate very quickly, and will not harm the stock finish.

 

[Wes/Tex]

Got mine at the local Wallyworld! You know, cheap Chinese nah-nah at all hours! :wink: :rotf:

 

[Rockthrower]

Goof Off is available at most hardware stores. Comes in a Ronson type can.