How to remove masking tape residue?

[Kevin_Mc]

I should know this, and have tried a search in here but can't find a specific answer. About ten years ago I masked up a polycarbonate shell for painting, ran out of paint and put it in a box to the side to order some more white paint to finish it off. I then got a new job, moved out my mum and dad's house 100 + miles away and promptly forgot all about it. After 5 house moves, two children and about 362 other unfinished projects I found it last week. As you can imagine the masking tape was destroyed beyond any further use with it having become withered and curled. 

I managed to peel most of it off but it left behind a sticky residue of glue which seems to be slightly hardened and won't pull off. Normally for this type of thing I would use WD40 but I'm not sure I should on a surface that I'm going to be painting again. I'm not convinced soapy water will remove all of the WD40 and could leave the paint contaminated with silicone. 

Can anyone recommend anything I can use? I don't mind if the existing paint is removed from the shell in the process as I'll be repainting regardless so anything that works will be ideal. 

Please list your suggestions, thanks. 

[Tamiyabigstuff]

Olive oil...yes, believe it not it works a treat !

I did exactly what you did, asked a question on here and that was the answer I got & I can confirm it works.

Wash the shell with soap & water to get it clean again - I just use shampoo or shower gel and rinse off in the bath. 

[yogi-bear]

I've also used orange citrus cleaner to great effect. If you need something a little harsher, you could also try iso proply alcohol or methylated spirits.

Also another thing to try is new masking tape. I've used this many times to remove glue residue. Just lay down new tape over the old, rub and pull up, repeat. It can be surprisingly effective sometimes.

[Kevin_Mc]

Thank you both! 

Olive oil sounds familiar, I've no doubt read that on here before. Hadn't thought of trying new masking tape though. 

[Problemchild]

Cheapo aftershave that your nan got your for Xmas - works really well 

 

JJ

[Novamadcars]

I’ve used wd40 in the past with good results 

[superted]

In the uk

i found the best thing is a thing called panel wipe.

having worked in car body repairs years ago this removes all sticky residue and It desolves. It doesnt harm plastic or melt paint. It is a degreaser and used in car body Repairs to wipe body panels before final paint

Please test in an unobvious place first though.

i use it on final prep with a tack cloth before painting.

hope this helps

[Nobbi1977]

6 hours ago, superted said:

In the uk

i found the best thing is a thing called panel wipe.

having worked in car body repairs years ago this removes all sticky residue and It desolves. It doesnt harm plastic or melt paint. It is a degreaser and used in car body Repairs to wipe body panels before final paint

Please test in an unobvious place first though.

i use it on final prep with a tack cloth before painting.

hope this helps

I use panel prep for everything and it never lets me down. My 5l tin is now empty after about 15 years so I am using 99.9% alcohol.

[Problemchild]

9 hours ago, Novamadcars said:

I’ve used wd40 in the past with good results 

No good if you then want to paint over that area next though as it leaves a residue 

panel wipe is good too - it’s an alcohol based wipe.

so anything like that works

vodka??

JJ

[Kevin_Mc]

@Tamiyabigstuff thanks again for the tip. That's the one I had heard before but never used. It worked a treat with minimal effort required. The shell's looking good, better than I thought it would, and just needs a final backing coat of white. 

Panel wipes are a good shout, had it not been lockdown I'd have given that a try as well so maybe one to try in the future if the same thing occurs. 

[ChrisRx718]

Olive oil for the main part, but I've also found a cheap alternative which works for paint prep...

Glasses wipes! Get a big box from Lidl / your preferred supermarket. These are basically lint-free alcohol wipes, so will remove grease etc. from parts which might otherwise prevent adhesion. 

I'm pretty sure these are basically the same as panel wipes, only much smaller (but then, our cars are much smaller! Not toys, definitely not toys...) 

[PaulRC10]

@Kevin_Mc try this stuff from B&Q:

https://www.diy.com/departments/de-solv-it-sticky-stuff-remover-250-ml/254704_BQ.prd
 

Cheap enough and very effective indeed, I use it on anything sticky and on any surface. 
 

[67CamaroSS]

i use zippo lighter fluid. works great.