Snap-on tool box decal removal

[quickfarms]

I have a snap-on tool box that was covered with racing decals. I removed the decals but not I have to remove the adhesive residue. What will work without harming the finish?

 

[4xdog]

Start with mild solvents. I usually begin with mineral spirits (a nonpolar organic solvent), which will get most of the adhesive residue and is unlikely to affect the finish (but test with a Q-tip in an inconspicuous area first). For adhesives that don’t come off with mineral sprits move to isopropyl alcohol (an oxygenated organic solvent), which will likely dissolve the rest.

Be careful with what you use as a cloth or towel to remove the adhesive. If the material is too abrasive it can mark a finish.

 

[darkzero]

Depends on how old the adhesive is & how old/strong the paint is. I use isopropyl, denatured alcohol, WD-40, or mineral spirits. But denatured alcohol & mineral spirits are no longer sold here Cali. I conserve what I have left but I do have a lifetime supply of denatured.

Another method I use is heat up the adhesive residue, then I use a piece of tape with fairly strong adhesive, like gaffers tape or duct tape, to pull off the residue. I use heat to remove old or really sticky stickers/labels to begin with. Too late now but heat might have saved you the work you're left with now.

Not too long ago I started using Bestine to remove adhesive residue now that I found a local source. It works better than anything I have used in the past where even stuff like acetone & brake cleaner didn't work and nowhere near as harmful to the finish. Just last week I easily removed all the old residue from stick on wheel weights from the inside of my wheels. Didn't harm the paint at all.

If you do try Bestine, be sure to test it first as with any method. While it didn't damage the paint on my wheels at all, I'm not sure if it will dull a glossy paint finish or powdercoat. It can cause certain plastics to slightly haze, more on that below.

Bestine is basicaly n-Heptane. It's the solvent used in rubber cement. It evaporates really fast though, faster than acetone, & easily. Needs a really good air tight container. I tried putting some in luer lock bottles like I do with many other fluids, even with the needle capped it still slowly evaporated.

I really like the Bestine, will always keep it on hand now. Oh and n-Heptane is also the surface conditioner that comes with those glue kits for polypropylene & polyethylene. Common glues won't stick to those plastics. It allows you to use plain ol super glue/CA which is what those kits come with.

If the residue is really old & hard/no longer sticky, you might even be able to buff it off with polish.

 

[Lookin4'67Galaxieconv]

Goo Gone

 

[4xdog]

...Another method I use is heat up the adhesive residue, then I use a piece of tape with fairly strong adhesive, like gaffers tape or duct tape, to pull off the residue...

This can work, but be careful -- tape pulls are often used to test coating adhesion!

 

[darkzero]

This can work, but be careful -- tape pulls are often used to test coating adhesion!

That's why I mentioned it depends on how old the adhesive & how old/strong the paint is and to test first. OP didn't mention how old the box might be. I use the tape pull method a lot without heat but on fairly new adhesive.

 

[desertdog256]

WD-40

 

[65Goat]

 

[seber]

Goo Gone and Goof Off are both formulated for just that. Otherwise, acetone works well.

 

[RTM]

Pair your remover with something like this, saves wear on the fingernails, less likely to scratch the surface.

I’ve tried a plastic razor blade, was unimpressed.

https://www.leevalley.com/en-us/shop/home/home-care/scrapers/74880-scrigit-scraper?item=09A0552

 

[65Goat]

Be careful using tools and heavier chemicals. It's easy to get frustrated that it isn't coming off fast enough and bring out bigger guns, at the expense of the finish.

Just keep working the goo gone a little every day. In time it will come off.

BTW: I can't stand the stickers either.

 

[flicker]

citrol works good for me

 

[flicker]

let soak a bit and wipe off

 

[4xdog]

Diesel works pretty well, too. Kerosene has the advantage of being slow to evaporate, so it will stay on a surface longer than many solvents.
And time is your friend. Let the chemistry work and minimize (or ideally, prevent altogether) mechanical scraping.

 

[Blt2Lst]

But denatured alcohol no longer sold here Cali.

It actually still is, just have to know where to look. Needed some a few months ago to flush out an AC system I was working on, called around to paint stores with no luck, finally someone at a paint store said to check West marine. Went to West marine and sure enough, they have the gallons in stock, apparently, denatured is used for fuel in portable stoves on boats and is readily available for that purpose.

 

[Lookin4'67Galaxieconv]

let soak a bit and wipe off

Yep, I apply Goo Gone, let it sit for about fifteen minutes, work on the adhesive, get up what I can, then apply some more. Rinse and repeat.

 

[autobon7]

Ive had decent luck with olive oil. Saturate the area and let sit for an hour or so then wipe with soft cloth

 

[KomatsuTech]

Contractors solvent work wonders. It's very safe to use and safe on paint.