1976fenderhead Posted August 16, 2009 Share Posted August 16, 2009 I just got a new Fender and when I removed the protective film over the pickguard, it left this thin wavy-patterned transparent layer of glue over most of it that I just can't get rid of with guitar polish. It just grabs the fibres from cloths and makes it worse, I then have to rub it with the skin of my finger to remove those fibres. Also tried soapy water on a tiny portion with a cotton bud just for testing and didn't work. What can I use that won't damage the plastic and the bass's finish? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hot Tub Posted August 16, 2009 Share Posted August 16, 2009 Try mayonnaise. Seriously. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cat Burrito Posted August 16, 2009 Share Posted August 16, 2009 nail polish remover. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mrcrow Posted August 16, 2009 Share Posted August 16, 2009 [quote name='1976fenderhead' post='570622' date='Aug 16 2009, 01:23 PM']I just got a new Fender and when I removed the protective film over the pickguard, it left this thin wavy-patterned transparent layer of glue over most of it that I just can't get rid of with guitar polish. It just grabs the fibres from cloths and makes it worse, I then have to rub it with the skin of my finger to remove those fibres. Also tried soapy water on a tiny portion with a cotton bud just for testing and didn't work. What can I use that won't damage the plastic and the bass's finish?[/quote] white spirit followed by a soft cloth wetted and with washup dry with a fibre free cloth 2 for 99p in tesco 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
~tl Posted August 16, 2009 Share Posted August 16, 2009 GooGone is pretty good for removing sticky residues... 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SteveO Posted August 16, 2009 Share Posted August 16, 2009 [quote name='Hot Tub' post='570627' date='Aug 16 2009, 02:27 PM']Try mayonnaise. Seriously.[/quote] This works, as does vinegar with a bit of washing up liquid. (or you can buy it as windolene) I've never tried white spirit on plastic, but would imagine you'd get the same results as lighter fluid (the often used glue remover) which will result in a sticky blob where your scratchplate used to be. Just use a kitchen towel. it'll disintegrate a bit, but you get loads on a roll Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mrcrow Posted August 16, 2009 Share Posted August 16, 2009 [quote name='SteveO' post='570693' date='Aug 16 2009, 03:10 PM']This works, as does vinegar with a bit of washing up liquid. (or you can buy it as windolene) I've never tried white spirit on plastic, but would imagine you'd get the same results as lighter fluid (the often used glue remover) which will result in a sticky blob where your scratchplate used to be. Just use a kitchen towel. it'll disintegrate a bit, but you get loads on a roll [/quote] white spirit is quite inert lighter fluid sounds like it may not be but i wouldnt push anyone to use it if in doubt another fluid is methylated spirit...you can drink that... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SteveO Posted August 16, 2009 Share Posted August 16, 2009 [quote name='mrcrow' post='570715' date='Aug 16 2009, 04:36 PM']white spirit is quite inert lighter fluid sounds like it may not be but i wouldnt push anyone to use it if in doubt another fluid is methylated spirit...you can drink that... [/quote] I stand corrected after a little looking, white spirit is derived from paraffin and is principally composed of simple C7-C12 hydrocarbons, whereas lighterfluid (naptha) is just a light distillate of crude oil and can have loads of weird and wonderful (and presumably plastic dissolving) hydrocarbons in it. Ooo, there's another suggestion - Paraffin Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mrcrow Posted August 16, 2009 Share Posted August 16, 2009 (edited) [quote name='SteveO' post='570735' date='Aug 16 2009, 04:01 PM']I stand corrected after a little looking, white spirit is derived from paraffin and is principally composed of simple C7-C12 hydrocarbons, whereas lighterfluid (naptha) is just a light distillate of crude oil and can have loads of weird and wonderful (and presumably plastic dissolving) hydrocarbons in it. Ooo, there's another suggestion - Paraffin [/quote] point taken... i got bostik glue on my rickenbacker paint and it dissolved it i was sorry.. cheers Edited August 16, 2009 by mrcrow Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SteveO Posted August 16, 2009 Share Posted August 16, 2009 [quote name='mrcrow' post='570756' date='Aug 16 2009, 05:21 PM']point taken... i got bostik glue on my rickenbacker paint and it dissolved it i was sorry.. cheers[/quote] Sorry mate if you thought I was being sarcastic. What I meant was when I said i'd not use white spirit it was based on experience with lighter fluid. As it's not lighter fluid then I made a wrong assumption, and as you have used it then it's clearly OK. I've not used paraffin to clean plastics, but i've got a plastic carton of it in the garage so it looks safe, and white spirit being a derivative of paraffin is not gonna dissolve anything plasticy either. I was being serious about using paraffin, I remember dad using it to clean glue off something when I was a nipper, but TBH I think he's better sticking with washing up liquid. it'll come off eventually and as long as the green sponge stays away then it'll be fine Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
buff Posted August 16, 2009 Share Posted August 16, 2009 Ideally you want stuff called panel wipe, thats used as a de greaser on car paint, but wd40 on a cloth also removes sticker adhesive. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
1976fenderhead Posted August 16, 2009 Author Share Posted August 16, 2009 (edited) Thanks, I tried wash up liquid and it didn't even touch it, window cleaner and A LOT of effort worked, apart from around the pickups and neck joint, hard to reach and even using a cotton bud to reach it and rubbing really hard I couldn't get it off... Will try some other suggestions there later... That's some pretty nasty glue right there! Edited August 16, 2009 by 1976fenderhead Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mrcrow Posted August 16, 2009 Share Posted August 16, 2009 [quote name='SteveO' post='570773' date='Aug 16 2009, 04:32 PM']Sorry mate if you thought I was being sarcastic. What I meant was when I said i'd not use white spirit it was based on experience with lighter fluid. As it's not lighter fluid then I made a wrong assumption, and as you have used it then it's clearly OK. I've not used paraffin to clean plastics, but i've got a plastic carton of it in the garage so it looks safe, and white spirit being a derivative of paraffin is not gonna dissolve anything plasticy either. I was being serious about using paraffin, I remember dad using it to clean glue off something when I was a nipper, but TBH I think he's better sticking with washing up liquid. it'll come off eventually and as long as the green sponge stays away then it'll be fine [/quote] you got it steve i hope fenderhead reads this and stops giving himself aggro with water based cleaners first the white spirit..spirit bassed..as we all are then the wash up to tidy away any smears and smells cheers steve geof Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
1976fenderhead Posted August 17, 2009 Author Share Posted August 17, 2009 [quote name='mrcrow' post='571001' date='Aug 16 2009, 08:14 PM']you got it steve i hope fenderhead reads this and stops giving himself aggro with water based cleaners first the white spirit..spirit bassed..as we all are then the wash up to tidy away any smears and smells cheers steve geof[/quote] Hmm the missus is a painter/sculptor and strongly advised against white spirit, and I remember when I was a kid I used to make airplane models and white spirit would completely flatten the details in the plastic... I will try next a less diluted amount of washup liquid on the remaining bits, then will mix it with vinegar if still not good enough and see how that goes. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cat Burrito Posted August 17, 2009 Share Posted August 17, 2009 The only one you don't seem to have tried is my suggestion of nail polish remover. Grab some off the missus (or a young emo kid!?!) and check it out. It really does work and I've used it on several of my instruments in the past. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
EBS_freak Posted August 17, 2009 Share Posted August 17, 2009 [quote name='BurritoBass' post='571672' date='Aug 17 2009, 02:47 PM']The only one you don't seem to have tried is my suggestion of nail polish remover. Grab some off the missus (or a young emo kid!?!) and check it out. It really does work and I've used it on several of my instruments in the past.[/quote] Be very careful... try to avoid overspill! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
warwickhunt Posted August 17, 2009 Share Posted August 17, 2009 [quote name='buff' post='570775' date='Aug 16 2009, 04:33 PM']Ideally you want stuff called panel wipe, thats used as a de greaser on car paint, but wd40 on a cloth also removes sticker adhesive.[/quote] +1 for WD40 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mrcrow Posted August 18, 2009 Share Posted August 18, 2009 (edited) [quote name='1976fenderhead' post='571411' date='Aug 17 2009, 10:26 AM']Hmm the missus is a painter/sculptor and strongly advised against white spirit, and I remember when I was a kid I used to make airplane models and white spirit would completely flatten the details in the plastic... I will try next a less diluted amount of washup liquid on the remaining bits, then will mix it with vinegar if still not good enough and see how that goes.[/quote] i can understand oil painting not liking some white spirit around or linseed oil maybe its not such a good idea after all... good luck Edited August 18, 2009 by mrcrow Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Buzz Posted August 20, 2009 Share Posted August 20, 2009 White spirit should be ok on scratchplate plastic, meths I suspect would be okay as well. Besides, if it's a new bass and a new scratchplate, if you do bugger the scratch plate you can always buy a replacement from AllParts/AxesRUs/et al.. Both shouldn't damage the bass's poly finish in any case (I presume it's a poly, if it's nitro, good luck with anything but soapy water). Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Quent Posted January 23 Share Posted January 23 Meanwhile, ahead in the future by 14+ years ! WD40 just work fine this afternoon ( Put yer Marigolds on!) for meon a 3 ply plastic Tort Fender Jazz pickguard. Bought a used bass but the film had been on this guard for years I think. Wrinkled and a fiddle to pull off the film in several pieces. The whole guard had seemingly most of the adhesive left all over it. A clean cotton rag I used. Sprayed plenty WD40 on one half and rotated the rag after wiping off towards one end. Then a new rag to do the other half , working towards the other end. 2nd spray to finish it all off. Then paper kitchen towel rub down followed by warm water and washing up liquid front and back. Rinse. Looks nice n shiny. No damage to the shiny surface at all. So, +1 WD40 in Jan 2024. From total mess to shiny with 5 mins of work ( Once I got the chuffin film off - 45 really ! ) Cheers all. Quent. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rmorris Posted January 23 Share Posted January 23 On 16/08/2009 at 13:27, Hot Tub said: Try mayonnaise. Seriously. Interesting Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rmorris Posted January 23 Share Posted January 23 On 17/08/2009 at 14:47, Cat Burrito said: The only one you don't seem to have tried is my suggestion of nail polish remover. Grab some off the missus (or a young emo kid!?!) and check it out. It really does work and I've used it on several of my instruments in the past. Do you mean Acetone based nail polish remover ? Asking because lots of npr is now acetone free. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cat Burrito Posted January 23 Share Posted January 23 36 minutes ago, rmorris said: Do you mean Acetone based nail polish remover ? Asking because lots of npr is now acetone free. I don't know. I posted this in 2009 and I haven't spoken with the aforementioned "missus" who owned the nail polish remover in almost 14yrs! It always used to work with bog standard nail polish remover but if you are not sure, best leave it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PaulThePlug Posted January 23 Share Posted January 23 WD40 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rmorris Posted January 23 Share Posted January 23 1 hour ago, Cat Burrito said: I don't know. I posted this in 2009 and I haven't spoken with the aforementioned "missus" who owned the nail polish remover in almost 14yrs! It always used to work with bog standard nail polish remover but if you are not sure, best leave it. Ahh! I didn't see the date on that ! I think the non-acetone stuff would be safe but maybe not as effective. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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