Best way to remove stickers?

[GeeWings]

So, I’ve spent literally hours today removing stickers from a couple of old RC cars I bought recently:

The Hilux in particular was a nightmare. Once I could get the top layer off I could then easily remove the sticky white layer with alcohol. But getting the top layer off in the first place was a nightmare. I tried soaking, scrubbing, scratching with a credit card but eventually had to just scrape away with a knife.

I’ve got another one to do at some point so wondered if there’s any good tips or tricks to removal?

[kotaman]

Have you tried WD-40? Some adhesives take longer than others, but it should cut through after a soaking. I've also used Goo-Gone citrus cleaner with good results.

[Nikko85]

Are you going to paint? You've got to be careful, because I'm sure had a black body of a RadioShack that ended up with white stains as I tried to remove stickers. I can't remember what I used, might have been too hot water.

I've tried soaking for 24 hours in warm soapy water to remove the sticker and then Mr Sheen to remove the residue, but it did take much longer than I thought it should, and lots of manual effort, usually using my thumb.

That car above looks great, what's the wheelbase can I ask? Always need to have some back up toy grade body shells, so it's good to know what to look out for. It would be good to see what the chassis is.

[GeeWings]

6 hours ago, Nikko85 said:

Are you going to paint? You've got to be careful, because I'm sure had a black body of a RadioShack that ended up with white stains as I tried to remove stickers. I can't remember what I used, might have been too hot water.

I've tried soaking for 24 hours in warm soapy water to remove the sticker and then Mr Sheen to remove the residue, but it did take much longer than I thought it should, and lots of manual effort, usually using my thumb.

That car above looks great, what's the wheelbase can I ask? Always need to have some back up toy grade body shells, so it's good to know what to look out for. It would be good to see what the chassis is.

Hi @Nikko85 I cleaned up the two Radio Shack street combers. As you said the black one got white spots. I assumed that was from alcohol but might have been from hot water. It doesn’t really matter as I’m going to be painting it as I’m turning it into a military keep with canvas back:

The surface of the green one also has been affected. A bit of a shame as once I got the years of dirt off it the colour was actually great and has a cool pearlescent feel. I had planned to repaint it but will see once I’ve finished the clean up. 

The Hilux is a Radio Shack safari. It’s pretty brittle and had a crack already that got worse when I was trying to lift the stickers. The wheelbase is around 170mm but it feels a lot smaller than the other radio shack/Nikko stuff I have. It came with parts missing which was fine as I only wanted the shell. It doesn’t seem up to the standard of the other stuff. 
Currently I’m planning to put it on a cheap basher chassis I have from work that I’ve put M rims on. I will put it in a GF01 later just to show what it looks like. I reckon it will feeL a fery different scale mostly because it’s got realistic dimensions.

Anyway, as you said, I think the answer to removing stickers is time and effort. No short cut really seems to help. 

 

[alvinlwh]

Lighter fluid. 

[GeeWings]

1 hour ago, alvinlwh said:

Lighter fluid. 

Does that get the top layer off though or just the adhesive?

Or maybe I put lighter fluid on and then set alight? 💥😂

[alvinlwh]

1 minute ago, GeeWings said:

Does that get the top layer off though or just the adhesive?

Or maybe I put lighter fluid on and then set alight? 💥😂

It should melt the adhesive and you should be able to lift the whole sheet off cleanly. 

Of course setting fire to it removes the problem as well. 

[GeeWings]

9 minutes ago, alvinlwh said:

It should melt the adhesive and you should be able to lift the whole sheet off cleanly. 

Of course setting fire to it removes the problem as well. 

I will try both and let you know how I go  

 

[Kol__]

Another vote for Goo-gone here. It's brilliant at adhesive removal. I'm thinking more the residue stuff left after the sticker has been pulled off. I know that's not the issue you're describing here, but I would think it will soak in under the edges of the sticker if applied and left for a while. It also doesn't mark plastic like acetone does.

[GeeWings]

3 hours ago, Kol__ said:

Another vote for Goo-gone here. It's brilliant at adhesive removal. I'm thinking more the residue stuff left after the sticker has been pulled off. I know that's not the issue you're describing here, but I would think it will soak in under the edges of the sticker if applied and left for a while. It also doesn't mark plastic like acetone does.

Thanks @Kol__I’ve got something similar (orange extract based) but even leaving it soaked on didn’t help. I will look for some goo gone for future use.

[OnTheTrail]

Lately I've had a lot of success removing all sorts of labels with a heat gun.  Just get the sticker warm enough to get the glue to release.   Usually allows the sticker and adhesive to come off in one task.  If not, what's left I use Goo-gone.  

 Depending on the type of plastic, just be careful with too much heat.   

[GeeWings]

21 hours ago, OnTheTrail said:

Lately I've had a lot of success removing all sorts of labels with a heat gun.  Just get the sticker warm enough to get the glue to release.   Usually allows the sticker and adhesive to come off in one task.  If not, what's left I use Goo-gone.  

 Depending on the type of plastic, just be careful with too much heat.   

Great idea, I don't know why that idea didn't ever occur to me! Thanks, will keep that in mind for the next one...

[KEV THE REV]

On 3/7/2022 at 3:55 AM, OnTheTrail said:

Lately I've had a lot of success removing all sorts of labels with a heat gun.

Yep , or a hair dryer - if you can persuade the wife to lend it for a while or two !!

Good for applying stickers too BTW - the hair dryer - not the wife

I use 'sticky stuff remover' to clean off residue

[GeeWings]

2 hours ago, KEV THE REV said:

Yep , or a hair dryer - if you can persuade the wife to lend it for a while or two !!

Good for applying stickers too BTW - the hair dryer - not the wife

I use 'sticky stuff remover' to clean off residue

I will ask her politely

I have used a hair dryer to apply stickers so not sure why it didn’t occur to me to use one to take them off!

Thanks again,

[OnTheTrail]

If you have access, don't forget to heat the under side of the sticker as that's the section where the adhesive is.   Again, just be weary of too much heat.   I usually only heat up a small section with a decent amount of heat.   Then I gently try to get it started where I can get a good grip with two fingers.  Then I apply more heat to the area that's still holding on and slowly peel while I'm concentrating heat in the area that's about to let loose.   If I see some adhesive starting to stay on the surface I slow down the pull and add a little more heat.  

[Kol__]

6 hours ago, KEV THE REV said:

I use 'sticky stuff remover' to clean off residue

...off the wife?

[JeffSpicoli]

I used 91% alcohol - Walgreens sells small spray bottle versions and it works like a charm and does no damage.

[KEV THE REV]

On 3/8/2022 at 11:52 PM, Kol__ said:

...off the wife?

. Talking of cleaning , I cleaned out the loft the other day with my mother-in-law ,  - dirty , smelly , covered in cob webs - but she's good to the kids !!

[Kol__]

Sounds a heeeelll of a lot like my mother in law @KEV THE REV, you sure our missus' aren't related?

[KEV THE REV]

Possibly so , her Dad had a bike and cycled far and wide