Build Your Own Arcade Controls Forum
Main => Main Forum => Topic started by: Dartful Dodger on April 10, 2006, 02:31:11 pm
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I tried to peel the auction sticker off my cabinet, but some of it wont come off. The sticker was on the marquee and the marquee isn't glass, so I'm afraid to scrape it off or to use harsh chemicals. I tried Goo Gone, but that didn't work. I don't want to scrub it with anything that'll scratch it either.
What's the best way to take this thing off?
Thanks
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Can you apply a bit of heat with a hair dryer to help loosen it?
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Use a rag and get some rubbing alcohol on it. Let it sit for a few seconds and then gently rub it off. You can also buy those small yellow plastic paint scrapers from Home Depot that won't hurt the marquee.
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With stickers in general, 91% alcohol seems to work pretty well at breaking down the glue.
I have an older sticker that won't come off with a scraper, the next step is trying the alcohol.
Problem is, if it is not a paper sticker, the alcohol won't soak in and start breaking down the glue... not sure what the best way to do those would be.
Good luck!
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Goo Gone is similar, but i have used WD-40 with good success. You have to soak it pretty good and let it sit for a while, but it shouldn't hurt the plastic/paint underneath.
Another thing to try, but also to BE VERY CAREFUL WITH, is some stuff called "oops!" It's a cocktail of all kinds of aromatic solvents that you will definitely want to test on an inconspicuous area of the cab before use. Some plastics it doesn't bother, other will cloud or get gooey from it.
If your test shows that it is compatible with the plastic, lightly wet the sticker with the stuff and when it soaks in, try to peel it off. Afterward, use some some soapy water on it, rinse and let it dry. If there is a little haze, some plastic polish will fix that.
The above should be used only as a last resort, BTW ;)
Good Luck.
RandyT
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Also, beware of what kind of sponge you might use to wipe off residual glue.
The one I used was too tough, apparently, because I was left with a hazy section that's made up of tons of tiny scratches :(
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Dartful: Goo Gone has to soak in. Maybe you didn't wait long enough.
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Dartful: Goo Gone has to soak in. Maybe you didn't wait long enough.
That might be true.
The problem is the marquee is up and down so the Goo Gone just runs down the marquee as soon as I apply it. It's a Super Off Road, so the speakers are right under it and they'll catch any leakage. I'm assuming Goo Gone is very bad for speakers. That's why I don't want to leave it un-attended. I also figure Goo Gone will just soak through any rag or other obstacle I put in front of it.
I'll keep trying till I find the right combination of cleaners, or until I pass out from the fumes.
If I have to take the shield off the marquee to clean it, I'll just replace it, because it has a couple of unrelated scuffs on it already.
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Oh man, Goo Gone RULES!!!! I have used this to take stickers off of all kinds of stuff. It does have to set for a while though so if you can take off the marquee then you could apply it and let it stand for a bit. Careful to not go too crazy though since if i's too much it could leak down around the edge and get onto the art on the back and mess it up, just be careful how you apply it. Once soaked through then a lot of times stickers just peel off. I have had some REALLY tough stickers before and what I did was take a razor blade from a utility knife and run it along the plastic, flat just slightly higher than level along the plastic, just enough that the blade could get under. That lifted off the sticker no problem with very limite scratching but you just have to be sure you're good and controlled. PLEASE don't slip and cut yourself, I don't want that on my conscience.
Bottom line is that goo gone has to soak in or it won't cut through the glue of the sticker!!
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Lift Off #2.
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I actually called Super Auctions and asked why they used such sucky stickers that were so hard to get off and would rip appart so easily. They said that is was because people would swap stickers on cabinets to get a better cab than the one that they purchased. So they had to start using a tamper evident sticker. It really sux as those things are realllly hard to get off. I use a little bottle of Jiffy Corp. Goo and Gunk remover. Ut us a little bottle that has an aplicator. You turn the bottle upside down and then it spreads it across your sticker. You have to let it sit for a little while but the sticker comes off pretty well. Then you have to get a piece of cloth and put a few drops of the stuff on it and wipe off the sticky crap that is left behind. Paper towels just make a mess. This works well on plastic marquees BTW.
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It's true it's next to impossible to use on a vertical surface. You'll have to either remove the marquee, or tilt your machine on its back.
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... tilt your machine on its back.
That's one of those solutions that's so obvious it hurts that I didn't think of it.
I transported it on it's back, so I know it doesn't hurt it, I just didn't even think of laying it down to apply Goo Gone.
I'm glad they use those stickers, I got there extra early the next day to pick it up. I was afraid someone was going to do swap stickers, because there was an Off Road next to mine that was missing it's pedal and had a messed up steering wheel. It sold for 100 bucks more than mine, so I assumed they thought they were bidding on the one I bought.
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WD-40 works great!
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Maybe not with super tamper evident stickers, but with stickers and tape residue on a non absorbant surface (like a marquee) I've had a lot of luck with olive oil. Sounds weird, but it soaks in and makes it peel off easy. Then soap and water cleans up the olive oil residue.
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There's a product on the market called UnDu that will temporarily deactivate the adhesive.
It comes in a bottle with a plastic scraper attached to the top of the bottle.
I don't know how the scraper would work, but I haven't had any problem with the liquid removing paint, etc...
It will actually allow you to remove stickers from paper, and then reapply them after letting them dry a bit.
The only downside to it is that it smells like a skunk--literally.
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Use common Ronsonol Lighter Fluid (for cigarette lighters).
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Soak your marquee in water. Once it is good and wet it should peel right off.