Cleaning Adhesive Paper Off Acrylic

[JK47]

There has to be a better way to get that old tired and sticky paper backing cleaned off of acrylic. Any ideas? I need to get the sump cleaned up for install in the 600 this weekend.

Does not work: Goo Gone, Acetone, nail Polish (works but takes forever).

 

[deeda]

I haven't tried this but suggestions from The Plastics distributor and fabricator magazine suggests
Removing Masking 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.

 

[JK47]

I haven't tried this but suggestions from The Plastics distributor and fabricator magazine suggests
Removing Masking 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.

Kerosene is a new one. Thanks for the suggestion. Anyone use any of the three solvents suggested here?

 

[knobhill]

I use a plastic scraper and boiling water. There isn't really a good method to get the adhesive off quickly. It is a big time pain to remove.

 

[JK47]

I use a plastic scraper and boiling water. There isn't really a good method to get the adhesive off quickly. It is a big time pain to remove.

That sounds painful. The nail Polish remover does pretty well but there is a technique to it. Still sucks though and a lot of work. I feel like I did pretty well. I haven't buffed yet but the rough stuff is done.



Before



After



I don't want to do the bottom of the 600 like I just did this sump. My back can't handle it. I really hope the kerosene works better

 

[deeda]

Two other methods have also been suggested; one is a hair dryer to start at a corner of the paper and slowly lift up the paper while heating it up and the 2nd is to use extra virgin olive oil, soaking the paper and peeling. I don't know why EVOO is suggested over any other cooking oil but it seems to be preferred.

 

[JK47]

Two other methods have also been suggested; one is a hair dryer to start at a corner of the paper and slowly lift up the paper while heating it up and the 2nd is to use extra virgin olive oil, soaking the paper and peeling. I don't know why EVOO is suggested over any other cooking oil but it seems to be preferred.

This would be for new paper though. What I am trying to get off is old and crusty. It's a used tank.

 

[Fish Eat Fish]

Nail polish remover is just expensive acetone I believe. I would be worried about acetone eating the acrylic because it is quite a potent solvent but I don't personally know the resistance of acrylic to it. Kerosene is cheap so that's worth a try. Maybe see if you can submerge the pieces to let it do its work on the solvent for longer.

 

[JK47]

Nail polish remover is just expensive acetone I believe. I would be worried about acetone eating the acrylic because it is quite a potent solvent but I don't personally know the resistance of acrylic to it. Kerosene is cheap so that's worth a try. Maybe see if you can submerge the pieces to let it do its work on the solvent for longer.

The dilution makes a difference. Trust me. Acetone caused a ton of crazing where used. I regret that decision to use acetone on my 600. You see see the area where the outline of the acetone was and the corresponding crazing below. It's all in the technique of quickly on, soak and off even quicker. Fingers crossed for kerosene.

 

[888fish]

I removed this annoying paper from my old acrylic tank. The method I found best, place some alcohol (heavily soaked) onto a spread open paper bag, lay on top of the old adhesive paper of tank. Allow 20 min to soak, after the alcohol has done its job, use a plastic scraper to remove adhesive. I then painted my bottom exterior of tank black to match the background.