[Hammarlund] RE: label removal

[Barry L. Ornitz]

Alan, KB7MBI, asked about label removal.

> I picked up a very nice HQ-129X but it had a paper label  
> on the front panel to mark the frequencies for use with 
> the band spread. The label has become hard with age. I 
> want to remove without damaging the panel. My old standby 
> WD-40 was ineffective. Can someone suggest a method to 
> remove and not damage the panel?

Several people offered good suggestions but I need to make 
a few warnings.

> Try "Goof Off"  It's water based, pump spray, supposed to 
> take of paint spatters, felt marker tracks, etc.  I've 
> used it on labels and on paint (lightly sprayed on, but 
> set).  Relatively safe, but "try on an unobtrusive
> area" is the warning.  It's available in Walmart, etc.

Well, at least two companies make products called Goof-Off 
(Guardsman Products and Atlanta Sundries).  It is available 
in several forms from an aerosol spray to a liquid.  None 
are water-based according to their MSDS information.  The 
main ingredient in all of them is xylene.  Other 
ingredients include methanol and a glycol ether.  This 
_will_ attack many paints.

But looking at other MSDS information, Guardsman also makes 
Goof-Off 2, which may be what Al is talking about here.  It 
is composed of two glycol ethers, an alcohol (propanol) and 
nonylphenol polyethoxyate (surfactant) in water.  This is 
less likely to attack enamel paints, but some lacquers and 
latex paints may be affected.  As noted, you should always 
try any such cleaning product in an unobtrusive area.  I 
often use a spot behind knobs that cannot be seen when the 
knob is installed.

> Well, if it is just paper I would say to put the receiver 
> on its back so that the front panel is facing up and then 
> put a sponge soaked with water on it and let it soak. 
> That ought to remove the paper even if it disintegrates.
> Depending on whether the glue that was used to stick it 
> on is water soluble it may be another problem to remove 
> the glue. 

If the label is quite old, and the glue was starch, 
gelatin or gum-Arabic based, this will work.  However few 
labels use such glue these days.  Most now use contact 
sensitive adhesives.

> I doubt if WD-40 is going to dissolve much of anything. 

The Stoddard solvent in WD-40 will soften fresh contact 
adhesives, but it rarely touches old dried ones.

> Might I suggest you use Peanut Butter.  You might have to 
> do a bit of rubbing but it should work.

This may sound silly but it often works.  Actually I prefer 
to use clean vegetable oil because of the reduced odor (and 
I am allergic to peanuts).  You often have to do 
considerable rubbing and the area will usually therefore 
wind up with more shine than the rest of the panel.  The 
oil can be removed with a little dishwashing detergent and 
water.  An old toothbrush will help on wrinkle-finish 
panels.

There are no easy answers to this problem, and no one 
product will work everywhere.  Naturally we wish to find a 
magic product that will work without any effort on our 
part.  In general, this does not exist.  With any cleaning 
job, expect to use considerable "elbow grease" if you want 
good results.

        73,  Dr. Barry L. Ornitz     WA4VZQ     ornitz@tricon.net