Removing Label Adhesive from Acrylic Boxes...

Some time back in a discussion on labels in this Micromount Forum, I posed a question about removing label adhesive from acrylic boxes. This is something that I have had problems with for a long time, particularly with wanting to reuse boxes from an old collection that had suffered from this.

A number of options were put forward, none of which worked for me. I had tried hot soapy water, eucalyptus oil, orange-based oil, mineral turps, you name it.

I read a post from Tim Jokela Jr in another forum yesterday about removing price tag residue from arcylic stands. Tim proposed a bit of skin/hair oil, or light lubricant.

I grabbed some virgin olive oil and tried it on a range of different boxes, and it works a treat. So I thought it would be worthwhile posting as a specific topic.

Now all I have to do is find the time to clean up all the old ones that I have.

Thanks Tim!

I have had success with natural plant based turpentine - NOT the mineral substitute, which is usually mostly benzene. I imbibe a bit of clean cloth or kitchen wipe tissue with a little turps and wipe gently for the minimum time to remove the stickum. One can get white clouding with too prolonged treatment. I usually rinse with soapy water straight away. Incidentally, this is also useful for removing price tag residues from many shop-bought plastic (or other) items...

Cheers

Tim

I have tried John Betts' recommendation of Weiman Wax Away. It works very well on old adhesive as well
as removing old oily mounting tac. It seems to be a light petroleum distilate, but doesn't say what it is on the bottle; however,
it is rather mild to pleasant smelling. So far it also has not etched any of the plastic boxes I've cleaned with it.

I have had good luck with mineral spirits (paint thinner).

try WD-40. spray label, gently scrap away paper label, spray again, then just wipe away adhesive with rag or paper towel. works for me

I have found that Goo Gone works very well after I remove as much of the label off as possible. It has the same adhesive removing ability as WD-40, but leaves a rather pleasant citrus odour.

Thanks for that Steve. I had a pile of acrylic box tops which were unusable due to label adhesive so I gave them a quick rub with olive oil on a soft cloth and they're as good as new.

No problem Colin. It's by far the best solution that I have found. Now I have to go and get my own bottle of olive oil, otherwise the boss won't be so happy!

Regards
Steve

Hi all,
Another tip on this subject. Once in France I bought labels which do not leave a residue behind, even after years of sticking it to plastic boxes. I never found them somewhere else. Any tips from our French members? Regards Rolf

I use Avery 5424 labels and they don't stick as tightly as the older ones. I have used naphtha (Coleman camp fuel) on some micro box's that most of the label has been removed from. There was no damage or cloudiness to the box's when I was done. I've done this to both euro box's and the hinged micro box's that David Shannon used to sell. The only thing with naphtha is the extreme flammability and the smell. Best done outside using a very minor amount at a time. I wipe the label area with a paper towel soaked in naphtha and then a dry clean paper towel to remove any residue. This is also known as spirits of naphtha or naphthalene.



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 01/03/2012 01:22AM by Ron Layton.

Well, I've tried as proposed by Steve Sorrel and it works on the most old label, however I used a less noble mais oil....

Luca B.

Hi Steve,

I have used and re-used hundreds of acrylic boxes over the years and happened to stumble onto an odd material that seems to work well for removing remains of adhesive and glue from acrylic boxes. Just a tiny bit of peanut butter on a bit of paper towel. Rub with your finger tip,or finger nail if really stubborn adhesive. then wipe with clean bit of paper towel to finish. Also seems to improve surface luster of boxes to like new. Sounds crazy,but give it a try sometime. Poor man's cleaner.Cheers!

Cliff

I have used Alcohol successfully for years - the adhesive breaks down quick and the boxes are sterilized at the same time.

All knowledge is vain, except where there be work
All work is empty except where there be love

I suppose there are a variety of different glues: in my experience alcohol (commercial methyl) doesn't work at all, oil works often, but not always and then you have to wash the box.
A friend of mine use a light petroleum derivate (I don't remember which one) and he says it works perfectly.

Luca B.

Try with a fly killer spray. It is a incredible solvent for price labels...I feel that for mineral labels too

I cant attest to the other methods, they sound good, but I've been using hexane. Dissolves it instantly, leaves the surface sooooper clean and dries right up. Not easy to get, mine was surplussed from a lab I used to contract with.

Vegetable oils also work.

A vegetable oil is probably the best thing just from a health point of view. Who knows what the long term effects of petroleum based solvents will have, most are carcinogenic.

Just thought you might like to know:

I agree that using "non-toxic" (there is no such thing) products is better than using more toxic ones. But one has to keep in mind the dose. Those women in China were exposed to large amounts of hexane for long periods of time. Removing a few labels from plastic boxes is not the same. However, I still would not use the hexane, nor benzene if I could get it, nor gasoline, given better alternatives. The axiom for the toxicologist is that "The dose makes the poison".