Removing stickers

[Funky Dunky]

Apologies if this in the wrong forum; feel free to berate me and relocate this if needs be.

My first bass was bequeathed to me by a friend. It was the bass that started it, and if not for a chance conversation I would likely not be having the time of my life playing this instrument. It's a pink Jim Deacon P bass, but it started the journey and I will never part wirh it.

Aaaaaaaanywaaaaaaay......that bass has stickers on it, and I want to remove them. Does anyone know how I can remove them fairly quickly and easily without damaging the paint?

Ta muchly

[Twincam]

I imagine it's poly in that case peel as much as you can off. Then remove residue with lighter fuel or methylated spirits etc etc that's what I would use on poly.
Get a cotton bud dip it in the cleaning medium then in a hidden area just test to see if there is a reaction or paint stripping effect first! If not then good to go.
Watch any electrics but anything alcohol related will just evaporate and not harm them, but doesn't mean they will like being soaked!

Edited April 30, 2016 by Twincam

[Bassassin]

Hairdryer. It'll soften the glue & the stickers should just peel straight off. Any residue will wipe away with acetone or white spirit, neither of which will damage a polyurethane finish.

Don't use a heat gun or you will take the whole finish off!

Jon.

[BassBunny]

[quote name='Bassassin' timestamp='1461977173' post='3039355']
Hairdryer. It'll soften the glue & the stickers should just peel straight off. Any residue will wipe away with acetone or white spirit, neither of which will damage a polyurethane finish.

Don't use a heat gun or you will take the whole finish off!

Jon.
[/quote]#
+1. Should work a treat. Done exactly that myself.

[Grahambythesea]

Believe it or not but you can buy a product called"sticky stuff remover" by a company called De-Solve-It. It works really well.

[dudewheresmybass]

In the past I've removed as much as I can by hand, and then used lighter fluid to remove the rest and sticky residue. Works a treat

[Geek99]

Actually wd40 works on most sticker glue, if not, try white spirit

[ezbass]

Any stubborn residue is easily removed with peanut butter. Sounds crazy, but it works. Tahini or sunflower oil will also work at a pinch.

[RhysP]

WD40

[Twincam]

Only problem with wd40 is don't let in near unfinished woods like a rosewood fingerboard and if it gets into your pots it will likely knacker them!

[Manton Customs]

What Twincam said basically.

White Spirit or lighter fluid will work and is safe for both Poly and Nitro, it'll also have the added benefit of removing any stubborn grime elsewhere on the bass. Don't use it on an oil/wax finish though!

[Paul S]

[quote name='ezbass' timestamp='1462017061' post='3039622']
Any stubborn residue is easily removed with peanut butter. Sounds crazy, but it works. Tahini or sunflower oil will also work at a pinch.
[/quote]

Smooth or crunchy? No added sugar or honey roasted? We need to have the detail.

I have a minor addiction to peanut butter so have plenty of material on hand to trial. However, it seems too much of a waste - as soon as I opened the jar I'd have to eat it instead. Today's top peanut butter tip is to use it as a dip for twiglets.

[ezbass]

[quote name='Paul S' timestamp='1462024624' post='3039715']
Smooth or crunchy? No added sugar or honey roasted? We need to have the detail.

I have a minor addiction to peanut butter so have plenty of material on hand to trial. However, it seems too much of a waste - as soon as I opened the jar I'd have to eat it instead. Today's top peanut butter tip is to use it as a dip for twiglets.
[/quote]That's the question I first asked when I heard this. However, it's the smooth that does the work, but you can always separate out the chunks if you only have crunchy. We can't have peanut butter in the house as I wouldn't be able to fit through the doors if we kept buying it. Extra crunchy (candied nuts) was my ultimate downfall, fortunately (unfortunately?) it is no longer made as far as I can tell from the supermarket shelves; I suspect it became a controlled substance and is only available in dark back alleys.

[Paul S]

We had double doors fitted. Seemed a more acceptable option that cutting out peanut butter.

[Rich]

[quote name='Paul S' timestamp='1462024624' post='3039715']
Today's top peanut butter tip is to use it as a dip for twiglets.
[/quote]
It makes utterly brilliant mousetrap bait too. The little buggers can't resist it.

[ezbass]

[quote name='Paul S' timestamp='1462026888' post='3039746']
We had double doors fitted. Seemed a more acceptable option that cutting out peanut butter.
[/quote]

[Jimryan]

[quote name='ezbass' timestamp='1462017061' post='3039622']
Any stubborn residue is easily removed with peanut butter. Sounds crazy, but it works. Tahini or sunflower oil will also work at a pinch.
[/quote]

This. The relay bass had loads of stickers removed and peanut butter took all the residue off.

[Chienmortbb]

[quote name='Grahambythesea' timestamp='1462010184' post='3039535']
Believe it or not but you can buy a product called"sticky stuff remover" by a company called De-Solve-It. It works really well.
[/quote]Yes I use this as well and it s great.

[BigBassBob]

I use lighter fluid for this purpose followed by a good clean.

[Funky Dunky]

Some cracking tips here, thanks to all who chimed in. As for a cloth - any tips? Is a dry sponge with a frugal amount of cleansing agent okay?

Better do this while I'm sober. Don't want to get confused and put WD40 on my sandwich by accident.

[NancyJohnson]

Late to the party, but it's really dependent on the type of glue on the sticker.

I've found that any one of three things will remove the residue; white Spirit, meths or good old Mr Sheen style polish.

[Moos3h]

[quote name='Grahambythesea' timestamp='1462010184' post='3039535']
Believe it or not but you can buy a product called"sticky stuff remover" by a company called De-Solve-It. It works really well.
[/quote]

We use this at work and it's very good but by god use it in a ventilated area!

[tauzero]

I use white spirit - just moisten a paper towel with some, rub the affected area until the gunk is off, then use another paper towel to dry up. A bit like watching porn, but with less issues if someone walks in. Apparently.

[charic]

I think I remember Fumps saying that Mayo removes glue residue

[Zenitram]

Servisol Super 10 switch-cleaning lubricant works nicely, but tastes awful on toast.