Support our Sponsors, they keep FADU free:   AG Photographic   The Imaging Warehouse   Process Supplies   RH Designs   Second-hand Darkroom Supplies  

Notices

Go Back   Film and Darkroom User > General discussions > Top Tips

  ***   Click here for the FADU 2015/2014 Yearbooks   ***

Reply
 
Thread Tools Search this Thread Display Modes
  #1  
Old 12th July 2016, 01:41 PM
EdmundH EdmundH is offline
Friend
 
Join Date: Jan 2016
Location: North Norfolk
Posts: 394
Default Removing sticky tape/label deposits

Is it just me, or does all used photographic equipment come complete with sticky tape and random labels on it?

The glue from these often seems impossible to remove completely, but I've finally found a cheap, easy and (so far) completely infallible solution:

Methylated Spirit - removes all gummy deposits, dried on masking tape, parcel tape etc, and doesn't affect plastic or paint (but as they say - "always try in an inconspicuous place first"

It's likely that Surgical spirit works similarly well, but in any event Meths is much better than the expensive cans of remover, which don't actually work very well in my experience
Reply With Quote
  #2  
Old 13th July 2016, 07:06 AM
photomi7ch's Avatar
photomi7ch photomi7ch is offline
Friend
 
Join Date: Jan 2009
Location: East Midlands
Posts: 2,516
Default

I will add the ultimate adhesive remover is petrol there is now't it can not shift. The main draw back is, it is unpleasant to use.
__________________
Mitch

http://photomi7ch.blogspot.com/

If you eliminate the impossible whatever remains no matter how improbable must be the truth.
Reply With Quote
  #3  
Old 13th July 2016, 07:26 AM
John King John King is offline
Friend
 
Join Date: Nov 2012
Location: County Durham
Posts: 3,318
Default

Petrol, gasoline, benzin, call it what you like can damage some plastics especially now that some brands (most) contain up to 10% methanol. Ask any motorcyclist who has a bike with a plastic tank or plastic in the injection system. It's the death knell!
Reply With Quote
  #4  
Old 13th July 2016, 09:39 AM
JOReynolds JOReynolds is offline
Friend
 
Join Date: Nov 2012
Location: St Albans UK/Agde France
Posts: 1,074
Default

As John states, some plastics are alcohol- and gasoline-permeable. But that is long-term. In IEC 60950, the international standard for electrical safety, which is not obviously connected to this thread, there is a test for printed and hand-written labels. The test consists of rubbing the object with a cotton-wool swab soaked in solvent and observing whether the text remains legible. The point is, the rubbing only has to persist for a minute or two. I don't think that the surface of any camera with a plastic surface would be degraded by a quick swab with solvent. But keep it off the lens and shutter. To avoid wayward dribbles, turn the camera until the offending patch faces down.
I have used both alcohol and petrol to remove sticky label residue. If one doesn't work, the other certainly will.
Reply With Quote
  #5  
Old 13th July 2016, 11:21 AM
marty marty is offline
Friend
 
Join Date: Nov 2009
Location: Italy
Posts: 340
Default

WD-40 usually works for me. Apply with cotton wad or q-tip and rub until it's gone. I've used it on glass (no optics, of course), metal, plastics and leatherette. The oily residue is easily removed. If you're unsure test in an unvisible part of the item.

Cheers, M.
Reply With Quote
  #6  
Old 13th July 2016, 02:16 PM
B&W Neil's Avatar
B&W Neil B&W Neil is offline
Friend
 
Join Date: Oct 2008
Location: West Cornwall
Posts: 4,264
Default

Sticky Stuff remover - can't be beaten - safe and smells nice

http://www.lakeland.co.uk/8976/Sticky-Stuff-Remover

Neil.
__________________
"The aim of art is to represent not the outward appearance of things, but their inward significance." Aristotle

Neil Souch
Reply With Quote
  #7  
Old 13th July 2016, 04:20 PM
EdmundH EdmundH is offline
Friend
 
Join Date: Jan 2016
Location: North Norfolk
Posts: 394
Default

Quote:
Originally Posted by B&W Neil View Post
Sticky Stuff remover - can't be beaten - safe and smells nice

http://www.lakeland.co.uk/8976/Sticky-Stuff-Remover

Neil.
It does smell nice, but it doesn't remove everything, or as cleanly - I know because I recently tried it (failed to work on old parcel tape), which is when I discovered meths
Reply With Quote
  #8  
Old 13th July 2016, 04:23 PM
Collas Collas is offline
Friend
 
Join Date: Dec 2010
Posts: 971
Default

Quote:
Originally Posted by marty View Post
WD-40 usually works for me. Apply with cotton wad or q-tip and rub until it's gone. I've used it on glass (no optics, of course), metal, plastics and leatherette. The oily residue is easily removed. If you're unsure test in an unvisible part of the item.

Cheers, M.
WD-40 rots plastic and rubber, so be careful.

Nick
Reply With Quote
  #9  
Old 10th August 2016, 04:56 PM
andycmcr andycmcr is offline
Friend
 
Join Date: Mar 2016
Posts: 32
Default

rub it with your thumb and use friction, old fashioned ways are still sometimes the best
Reply With Quote
  #10  
Old 10th August 2016, 08:36 PM
ashfaque ashfaque is offline
Friend
 
Join Date: Jan 2015
Location: Bangladesh & UK
Posts: 127
Default

If it is a meralic or plastic surface, I use isooropyl alcohol. I regularly bought mine from my local Jardines.

Bests,
Ashfaque
__________________
Analogue in digital
Reply With Quote
Reply
Support our Sponsors, they keep FADU free:   AG Photographic   The Imaging Warehouse   Process Supplies   RH Designs   Second-hand Darkroom Supplies  

Thread Tools Search this Thread
Search this Thread:

Advanced Search
Display Modes

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off

Forum Jump

Similar Threads
Thread Thread Starter Forum Replies Last Post
Removing limescale deposits JOReynolds Equipment miscellaneous 6 28th October 2015 05:20 AM
Getting the tape off 120 film Adrian Darkroom 31 3rd July 2013 01:58 PM
sticky back felt for devere 504 lightbox robinb Darkroom 2 8th February 2013 05:26 AM
Nikon F3 sticky meter illumination button Phil Cameras - small format 2 9th April 2012 07:20 PM
bellow fixing tape robinb Cameras - Large Format 11 3rd August 2011 07:56 PM


All times are GMT. The time now is 03:33 PM.


Powered by vBulletin® Version 3.8.11
Copyright ©2000 - 2024, vBulletin Solutions Inc.