Removing stickers and decals?

Badhammer

Badhammer

Joined
Jun 8, 2009
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Picked up a few older 110's today, 4 dot, V and \. All of the boxes have store price stickers on and I'd like to take them off. In the past on other items I've used WD40. Peel as much as I can off then dab the remaining sitcker and any residue with some WD40 on a papertowel. After a few minutes I can usually get the rest of the sticker off and about all the adhesive.

Anyone have any better methods?
 
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Denatured alcohol, Wal-Mart, Home Depot, Lowes, all sell it. It's a great cleaner of metal, grease, resins, glue, etc..

But, it's a liquid, so it will absorb into some paper/box materials. Something more sticky, just depends, try some other tape, duct, masking, etc..
Be careful, test small areas etc..
 
Goo Gone seems to work best when it's allowed to sit for a minute (or three). It's not as aggressive as other solvents, but that's sometimes better, if there's some concern about damaging or fading/staining the wood scales. I apply it with a Q-tip (soaked), then let it sit wet for a little bit. Then wipe it away (sometimes helps with some additional Goo Gone). After that, I usually clean up the residue with some Windex & a paper towel.
 
So your removing stickers from a package or box, not the knife itself, correct?
 
Correct, from the factory boxes.

I also use funiture polish for my older handgun boxes, S&W, Colt, etc. as a cleaner/protectant. Seems to work ok. I might try that on these boxes as well.
 
try zippo fluid, peel off as much of the paper as you can, then put some fluid in a paper towel and wipe away. it will take off all the adhesive and the fluid will evaporate fast without any residue.
 
Something else you can try is a hairdryer. It will heat the glue up enough for it to release and will usually not leave residue. If it does, it won't be much and can be removed with relative ease.
 
Badhammer said:
I'd rather not have a large, crooked, faded price sticker across the top of the box, particularly on limited edition models that have specially sized and designed boxes.
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Ok, I guess I was thinking of older knives where the sticker often lends a sense of history and authenticity and actually helps to date the box. I usually keep stickers on. Every box will be old someday.
 
BG42EDGE said:
Ok, I guess I was thinking of older knives where the sticker often lends a sense of history and authenticity and actually helps to date the box. I usually keep stickers on. Every box will be old someday.
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If I ever run across one like that I might consider leaving it on. The ones I seem to get are either bright orange with just the price or something that might have had a date, price and store name before someone peeled 1/3 - 1/2 of it off along with part of the box.
 
Hi, after you have removed the sticker try making a "loop" of Scotch type tape and then dab at the remaiming sticky stuff with the tape and keep turning the loop to expose fresh tape. You'll find the sticky stuff will accumulate slowly on the tape. It does work.
 
I agree with leaving the stickers. I have a few old boxes that are ugly where the stickers have been peeled off. Sticker becomes history for your grandkids. :rolleyes:
 
I use a small amount of turpentine to soften and remove the glue from a sticker on a box. A word of caution, however. The turpentine will remove the color and printing from some types of boxes so try a small amount on an obscure place first before you go for a more noticeable location. Turpentine works on most natural knife surfaces (not plastic) without a problem.
 
Boxes !!!!! Stickers !!!! No one but nutcase collectors keep 300 boxes. If I insisted on having boxes and paperwork I would only have 20 knives for 15 years collecting. Half the time the 300 is in the wrong era box. At least those bay and flea sellers know we like boxes......but a box to them is a 'Buck' box is a Buck box. So beware.....
300

PS I leave all stickers
 
I leave all original store stickers on, but I do take off all estate sale, yard sale, swap meet and pawn shop stickers... I use lighter fluid... ITE ...
 
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