DYMO labels [safe removal] ... what method ?

I have a ten-drawer filing cabinet, which the previous owner labelled with DYMO tape.

Simply peeling the tape would risk lifting the paint, I fear.

Can anyone suggest a safe solvent, please ?

Obviously, I could experiment ... but if the answer is already known, it would be appreciated.

MichaelG.

Not a solvent, but I had the same issue with some Bisley drawers. Hair drier made the (very old) Dymo labels slowly ooze themselves off, then IPA to remove the gunk. (The glue nearly entirely came off with the labels, just left a rectangle where gunk had built up over the years around the edge.)

HTH- Richard

Edited By RichardN on 19/06/2020 14:39:59

Soak in WD40, the use an old credit card to scrape them off.

Dek.

Check the paint on the back of the cabinet first, before using any solvents. Brake cleaner spray might be ok .

If the safety of the undersurface is paramount, I've always used Sticky Stuff Remover by De-Solv-it.

Pete

I have used label remover spray from CPC but as Old Mart says check on somewhere that does not show first.

Thanks for the ideas, folks

I will try Richard’s suggestion first, as I have a nice little hot air gun.

MichaelG.

Try cooking oil. Less aggressive than mineral oil but still softens old adhesive.

Martin C

Michael,

I can supply you with a small bottle of Axminster Tools , Goo Gone , part number 477112 . If of interest , please PM me your details .

Trevor.

I second the WD40 for removing stubborn adhesive. It completely dissolved some old masking tape stuck on anodised aluminium. Surprised me.

Alan

Some varieties of jelly-type hand cleaner ... Swarfega etc .... are useful in removing adhesive without affecting paint. Just goop it on and leave it for a while.

You could try the method we use to remove glued-on badges from motorcycle petrol tanks. Take a two-foot length of (unwaxed) dental floss and use it to "saw" the item off . Place floss at the edge of the gap between label and cabinet and saw it back and forth while pulling it in the direction you wish to cut. Then use the solvent of your choice to remove the residual glue.WD40 often works well, as does purpose designed decal remover fluid.

It's reasonable to assume paint on a filing cabinet will be nail-varnish remover proof (subject to a test to confirm).

Heat softens many glues but generally lower levels of warmth require time - if it'll fit in the airing cupboard overnight...?

pgk

I have found that brake and clutch cleaning fluid shifts almost any sticky stuff I have come across. As above, check on non visible area of paint first.

With thanks to Richard ... The hot-air treatment works nicely

Tape and adhesive both soften enough to make DYMO tape an ‘easy peeler’

.

.

Removing the residue is a trivial matter once the plastic tape is out of the way.

MichaelG.

I've found that one of meths or white spirit will remove most sticky residues, but you can't predict which.

White spirit will soften a lot of the goos used to stick price labels onto things, followed by some polishing with elbow grease.

Howard

I hope you are not going to follow Richard's idea of using India Pale Ale (IPA) to remove the residue (I know it's the other alcohol he means really).

Martin C

Ambersil label remover works well, gets sticky unfranked stamps off letters

There is another trick - just say very clearly as near to the labels as you can 'Im ever so glad those labels are well stuck. Surely they will stay there for ever'

Within a week they will start to peel.

Cheers, Tim