These security tags are often seemingly spot-welded to record outer covers. I’d like to be able to safely and gently remove them (after purchase, at home… your honour)
Any tried and tested methods out there?
These security tags are often seemingly spot-welded to record outer covers. I’d like to be able to safely and gently remove them (after purchase, at home… your honour)
Isopropyl alcohol for all sticky residues. Acetone will also work but it can also damage the surface depending on the material.
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I’ve got this, works on most sticky things
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First I should say I’ve never done this, so what follows isn’t ‘tried and tested’.
Is the thing stuck directly to the cardboard cover ? If it is then I think I’d be reluctant to try any solvent, at least while the plastic tag is shielding the adhesive. It’ll be hard for the solvent to reach effectively into the adhesive. But it’ll be very easy for it to soak into the cardboard. If the IPA is properly clean then it might not affect the cardboard-plus-printing once it’s had a chance to dry out. But once the IPA has taken some of the adhesive into solution then I imagine it will carry it into the cardboard and what was a tough problem - ‘detaching the adhesive from the surface of the cardboard’ - becomes the even tougher ‘redissolving the adhesive out of the bulk of the cadboard’.
If it were mine I’d start by trying the gentlest possible mechanical approach - take a scalpel and cut away whatever I could of the plastic part of the tag, aiming to expose as much as possible of the adhesive. And then seeing if I could very gently detach the adhesive.
But, as I say, I’ve never done it …
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If the cover is laminated things are easy with isopropyl or zippo lighter fluid - The other option is a hair dryer high heat - this softens the glue and makes it easier to peel - Clean with iso afterwards unless unlaminated in which case don’t as it will remove the ink from the cover too.
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Thanks Graeme. These things are usually stuck not to the record cover itself but to a plastic outer cover (either a flimsy cling-film type thing or a thicker PVC-like cover).
I have some razor blades I can use to remove the white plastic part. Underneath is a metal strip covered in and stuck with glue. I can then apply some sort of solvent.
With the thinner cling film covers I have resorted to cutting the tags out with scissors.
Hairdryer! Like it. Will try that. Thanks.
Remove record first! - Move around the spot with the dryer and don’t let the sleeve warp
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Aye, had crossed my mind!
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