Super Sticky tape residue on plexi and glass

[visionsinsight]

Hi sailing community. I am helping a guy with his boat in exchange for sail time and he has this tape residue on his port lights. Says it was "this black tape to keep it from leaking" The residue is hard to get off even with acetone. Any ideas? Thnx

[Seymore]

That sound like a rubber glue. Try WD-40.

[Compass790]

Originally Posted by visionsinsight

Hi sailing community. I am helping a guy with his boat in exchange for sail time and he has this tape residue on his port lights. Says it was "this black tape to keep it from leaking" The residue is hard to get off even with acetone. Any ideas? Thnx

Sounds like butyl tape so google that.
Lacquer thinner would probably go ok.

[Velella99]

Just remember solvents (particularly thinners and acetone) and acrylic or polycarb do not go together if you want to be able to see through those materials again.

[chrisr]

i've always found eucalyptus oil super good for removing residue like this, and it's gentle enough not to damage a plastic surface

cheers,

[Chotu]

I use mineral spirits for this task.

If the tape residue is too tough for hand scrubbing, I use one of these soaked in mineral spirits on a drill to get it off. Don’t go too fast with this polishing wheel because it can melt the plastic from friction at high speed.

Makes light work of this difficult task without damaging the polycarbonate or Plexiglass.

[thinwater]

It's all about chemistry class.


a. Acetone is not an all purpose solvent. Know what you are removing.
b. Chemical compatibility. Google this for the solvent and the material. If you do not know the material, test in a corner. For example, is it Plexiglass (trade name for acrylic or PMMA) or polycarbonate (also PC, trade name is Lexan).


In this case, mineral spirits is a good choice, but other similar suggestions will work.


The term "thinners" is too generic to be meaningful. Could be water, paraffin solvent, aromatic solvent, ketones, or even esters.

[Spindrift NH]

I use Nahptha(which I believe is lighter fluid) for getting tape residue off clear vinyl “isinglass” without damage to the glass.

[s/v Jedi]

Goo-gone doesn’t mark plastics like other solvents, the question is if it is strong enough to remove the adhesive in question.

[atoll]

don't use acetone on acrylic windows,will result in mollecular migration and crazing.
use pvc cleaner or white spirit,warm soapy water.

[Chotu]

Originally Posted by thinwater

It's all about chemistry class.


a. Acetone is not an all purpose solvent. Know what you are removing.
b. Chemical compatibility. Google this for the solvent and the material. If you do not know the material, test in a corner. For example, is it Plexiglass (trade name for acrylic or PMMA) or polycarbonate (also PC, trade name is Lexan).


In this case, mineral spirits is a good choice, but other similar suggestions will work.


The term "thinners" is too generic to be meaningful. Could be water, paraffin solvent, aromatic solvent, ketones, or even esters.

I second this advice. It’s how I came to my method.

The polishing wheel was added once I saw how many days of work I had ahead hand scrubbing the Gorilla Tape residue off my polycarbonate windows. I was cleaning the edges of 162 square feet of polycarbonate. Could nearly make a guy cry looking at that. Ha ha.

Use the polishing wheel if you have a lot. It cuts the time in 1/10 from hand scrubbing.

[CaptWho]

I've had good luck with Goo Gone.
https://aax-us-east.amazon-adsystem....lsim_lifestyle

[Narfi]

Toluene works well on most adhesives, much better than acetone.

[er9]

you probably have a whole tank full of the perfect cleaner for plexi, deisel. mineral spirits or kerosene are perfectly good second options.

[donradcliffe]

Mineral spirits will make plexiglass craze within a year.