depleted

I'm cleaning up a newly acquired '82 Miyata 1200. There's what looks to be aged left-over glue from tape, and maybe even the tape itself without the top layer. You know how that is, when it's old and the printed material is gone but the adhesive plastic backing stays behind... and calcifies.

https://www.flickr.com/photos/8331912...n/photostream/
https://www.flickr.com/photos/8331912...n/photostream/

It's not coming off with Liftoff or WD-40 and a rag. I used some WD-40 and lightly brushed it with 0000 steel wool, which removed a small area of old glue but that also dulls the clear coat. I don't even know if that will work on the areas of plastic/adhesive. Before I continue, any suggestions? And, say I do use the 0000 and it dulls the clear coat: can I restore that with turtle wax/polish?

.... this "score" from ebay is getting to be a raw deal.

sigh
-Michael

peripatetic

I've had success w/ odorless mineral spirits, or higher concentration isopropyl alcohol, even. Just put it on a cloth and keep wiping over. You can also try a Scotch-brite pad. Stop using the steel wire brush if you want to avoid scuffing up the underlying coat/paint.

gbalke

Goop hand cleaner will work wonders in removing the old tape adhsive. Also works good to remove grime from your hands.

auchencrow

I use a product called "Goo Gone" for sticky messes. It's citrus based but quite strong and you should use gloves.

big chainring 

Sometimes heating using a hair dryer will loosen the glue residue and the glue will kind of ball up when you rub it. Works great to lift old bike license stickers and reflective tape. Then hit it with some Simple Green or WD-40.

Chris_in_Miami

+1 on the mineral spirits, and -1 on the Scotchbrite, it's not much less abrasive than steel wool (and probably more so than 0000 wool.)

I'm in the process of removing the decals and their residue from a mountain bike that was completely covered with them, and I'm dealing with several different types of adhesive - some are gummy, some are hard and crusty. I use a plastic scraper to remove the decals and rough up the adhesive, then wipe off the residue with the mineral spirits. It doesn't dull the paint and seems to be working pretty well so far.

elguicho 

I just had to clean some bars too and acetone worked nice for me. I get %100 acetone from Target for about a buck a bottle.

Chris_in_Miami

Acetone is great on bare steel like your bars, but it will soften or remove paint pretty easily, probably not the best course for the OP's bike.

funkflex

+1 for Goo Gone. Its also great for removing any marks from your frame that are not scratched into the paint.

rhm

Denatured alcohol might do the trick.

scozim 

+1 - just used this last night on some decal residue

WalksOn2Wheels

I was thinking of this as I used it on a set of bars that had probably 20 year old glue on it, but would that hurt the clear coat on paint? I would initially think it would be ok, but to be safe, I'd recommend giving the goo gone first because that for sure won't be hurting any paint.

Gthoro

If Goo Gone and a tooth brush doesn't work for me, I use Goof Off.

bigbossman 

When I was a juvenile delinquent, we used to buy lift tickets at the local ski resort and share them. We used diesel engine starter fluid to soften the glue, peel the ticket, and affix it to the next fellow for his couple of hour's use. A $20 ticket was a pretty big deal to a teenager making ~$50 a week, so we bought one ticket and took turns. That left some time for chasing skirt in the lodge..... but I digress.

I know that diesel engine starter fluid softens glue, but don't know what it does to paint. Might work, though.

chadwebster

use McGuire's paint cleaner, you will be shocked how well it cleans up paint

chadwebster

oh and hey Depleted, might you be the gentleman that sold me a ceturion?

RapidRobert

I use a product called Bestine which is a solvent and thinner for rubber cement, available at very good art supply places. Test all solvents on an unseen area of the paint to see if it dulls or dissolves it before using it on the good areas! Use latex or neoprene gloves. Have lots of ventilation.

gioscinelli 

Use Ronsonol Lighter fluid with a paper towel or soft clothe. Ronsonol contains Naphtha, and claims to remove labels, grease, tar, oil stains and it does.

vincev

A hair dryer and a piece of plastic used as a scraper. the plastic will not scratch the paint.Also Goop hand cleaner works well.

peugeot mongrel

olive oil - it'll surprise you how it works

depleted

Not it! There's a couple fellows around Costa Mesa, one in Huntington and another in Garden Grove, that clean and resell 80's frames. Did you find them on CL? They post often. How's your bike?

-Michael

chadwebster

no, i got it at a grage sale for $50 bucks, and apperently soon after he sold it to me he got into bikes XD got it in the nick of time, its the ironman in pink and yellow, love it to death

cooper34

Gojo hand cleaner. Let it sit for a while. Do not use anything abrasive.

RobbieTunes

Goo Gone Extreme. Works well, and the high is incredible. I heard colors .