Removing old paper and adhesive from acrylic

jbrown11352 · 04/18/2006, 06:00 PM

Does anyone have any idea how to get the old paper and adhesive off of acrylic?

Thanks,

Jason

mfinn · 04/18/2006, 07:52 PM

I used a hair dryer to remove old paper, but a heat gun would be better.

jimmyj7090 · 04/18/2006, 07:54 PM

I reccently read that soaking it in WD 40 for about 5 min will make it come right off. That said, I don't know that this is safe or how to properly clean it after doing this.

mfinn · 04/18/2006, 08:14 PM

No,I tried that and it made a mess.

jimmyj7090 · 04/18/2006, 09:09 PM

OK, don't do that.

6Speed · 04/18/2006, 09:28 PM

I just went through this with a piece of acrylic that had been sitting outside for a while. The paper had worn off in some places, and all that was left was the glue. It was a major pain to remove. I ended up getting most of it off with fingernail polish remover, and then to get the final stuff off used a paint scraper combined with the fingernail polish remover. I had to be very careful that I didn't let the paint scraper dig into or scratch the acrylic...

spence15610 · 04/18/2006, 09:47 PM

Goof 0ff paint remover works good

Avast Marine · 04/18/2006, 10:31 PM

Rubbing alcohol works great for me.

bassnman11 · 04/18/2006, 11:19 PM

Hey Jason
I use the edge of a piece of hardwood to scrape off the paper, then use rubbing alcohol to remove the goo. It takes some elbow grease.

dattack · 04/18/2006, 11:52 PM

Well Kerosene worked extremely well for me.

http://www.plasticsmag.com/features....sue=Sep/Oct-01
......
Exposure to sunlight or moisture can make masking removal very difficult. If sheet will be exposed to the outdoors the masking should be removed immediately after installation. Old paper masking with hardened adhesive can be moistened with aliphatic naphtha, hexane, or kerosene to ease removal. Wash away oily solvent residue immediately. Do not use gasoline or sharp-edged objects, such as razor blades. Store unmasked acrylic sheet in the original shipping cartons and avoid unnecessary handling.
.......

deep6er · 05/02/2006, 12:31 AM

Try malifix. Its a fish medication. Put a bit on the spot you want off and let it soak for a bit. It should come off much easyer. And its safe for fish.

tripstank · 05/02/2006, 06:02 PM

At work we use Naptha. Wet it down with a rag and let it sit for a bit. Usually, the only part of the acrylic tha gets really bad is the first inch or so from the edges, if you cut that off, the rest is good because the gum that is used to attatch the paper is not in contact with the ai.

Chris Witort · 05/02/2006, 07:21 PM

I second using Kerosene. If there is still paper on it it will soften the adhesive so you can take the paper off then just rub it with Kerosene on a rag. the adhesive will come right off.

h2joe · 05/02/2006, 07:47 PM

i had the same problem several times now and all ive done is soaked the pieces in hot water for 10-15 minutes and then rubbed it off with my hands. worked wonders for me give it a try.

Mark

tripstank · 05/02/2006, 10:35 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by h2joe
i had the same problem several times now and all ive done is soaked the pieces in hot water for 10-15 minutes and then rubbed it off with my hands. worked wonders for me give it a try.

Mark

You can get the paper off that way, but not the adhesive, that has to come off with some sort of pertroleum based solvent. I recommed wiping down the plex with denatured alcohol after you use any solvent, and then a good bath in warm water.

04/18/2006, 06:00 PM	#1
jbrown11352 Moved On Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Canyon Lake ,Ca Posts: 1,171	Removing old paper and adhesive from acrylic Does anyone have any idea how to get the old paper and adhesive off of acrylic? Thanks, Jason

04/18/2006, 07:52 PM	#2
mfinn Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2002 Location: Olympia. WA. Posts: 8,648	I used a hair dryer to remove old paper, but a heat gun would be better. __________________ 240 gallon soft coral tank 50 gallon lps tank

04/18/2006, 07:54 PM	#3
jimmyj7090 aka John K Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: Sudbury Posts: 2,367	I reccently read that soaking it in WD 40 for about 5 min will make it come right off. That said, I don't know that this is safe or how to properly clean it after doing this. __________________ my reef ate my wallet Current Tank Info: 57G, RBTA's Zoa's and softies

04/18/2006, 08:14 PM	#4
mfinn Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2002 Location: Olympia. WA. Posts: 8,648	No,I tried that and it made a mess. __________________ 240 gallon soft coral tank 50 gallon lps tank

04/18/2006, 09:09 PM	#5
jimmyj7090 aka John K Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: Sudbury Posts: 2,367	OK, don't do that. __________________ my reef ate my wallet Current Tank Info: 57G, RBTA's Zoa's and softies

04/18/2006, 09:28 PM	#6
6Speed Zardoz Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: South Posts: 1,036	I just went through this with a piece of acrylic that had been sitting outside for a while. The paper had worn off in some places, and all that was left was the glue. It was a major pain to remove. I ended up getting most of it off with fingernail polish remover, and then to get the final stuff off used a paint scraper combined with the fingernail polish remover. I had to be very careful that I didn't let the paint scraper dig into or scratch the acrylic...

04/18/2006, 09:47 PM	#7
spence15610 Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2005 Posts: 201	Goof 0ff paint remover works good

04/18/2006, 10:31 PM	#8
Avast Marine RC Sponsor Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Northern VA Posts: 2,446	Rubbing alcohol works great for me. __________________ Dan Don't rush art, you get bad art.

04/18/2006, 11:19 PM	#9
bassnman11 Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: Corona Ca. Posts: 674	Hey Jason I use the edge of a piece of hardwood to scrape off the paper, then use rubbing alcohol to remove the goo. It takes some elbow grease.

04/18/2006, 11:52 PM	#10
dattack Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2001 Location: Anaheim, CA Posts: 4,992	Well Kerosene worked extremely well for me. http://www.plasticsmag.com/features....sue=Sep/Oct-01 ...... Exposure to sunlight or moisture can make masking removal very difficult. If sheet will be exposed to the outdoors the masking should be removed immediately after installation. Old paper masking with hardened adhesive can be moistened with aliphatic naphtha, hexane, or kerosene to ease removal. Wash away oily solvent residue immediately. Do not use gasoline or sharp-edged objects, such as razor blades. Store unmasked acrylic sheet in the original shipping cartons and avoid unnecessary handling. .......

05/02/2006, 12:31 AM	#11
deep6er Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: B.C Posts: 691	Try malifix. Its a fish medication. Put a bit on the spot you want off and let it soak for a bit. It should come off much easyer. And its safe for fish.

05/02/2006, 06:02 PM	#12
tripstank Registered Member. Join Date: Mar 2004 Location: Brooklyn, NY Posts: 488	At work we use Naptha. Wet it down with a rag and let it sit for a bit. Usually, the only part of the acrylic tha gets really bad is the first inch or so from the edges, if you cut that off, the rest is good because the gum that is used to attatch the paper is not in contact with the ai. __________________ Not to point fingers, but.................... Current Tank Info: Coral Prop troughs

05/02/2006, 07:21 PM	#13
Chris Witort Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2002 Location: Western Washington Posts: 556	I second using Kerosene. If there is still paper on it it will soften the adhesive so you can take the paper off then just rub it with Kerosene on a rag. the adhesive will come right off.

05/02/2006, 07:47 PM	#14
h2joe Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: largo FL (Please send me frags) Posts: 984	i had the same problem several times now and all ive done is soaked the pieces in hot water for 10-15 minutes and then rubbed it off with my hands. worked wonders for me give it a try. Mark __________________ Ummm Ummm Good Current Tank Info: 210g with 55g sump, DIY skimmer, 3 250watt MH, 2 T5, aqua controller, sailfin tang, chromis, pair of clowns, royal gramma....and more to come :)