Removing labels

[douglas787]

You just got that stack of Maxell tapes from that fleebay internet reseller. Open them up, and wow, look at all the labels!! There are your factory applied labels, you got your little bitty side one or two labels (I never understood why people need those) and you got your big jumbo avery or whatever labels that just say "Country Hillbilly Mix", written with magic marker.

It's like looking at a big zit on a prom queen's face. Why people don't just mark up the box and call the job done I'll never understand. This is my own method for removing these eyesores.

I use Acetone, mineral sprites, and opps. DO NOT USE OVEN CLEANER, it will damage the aluminum.

1. Spool the tape to a spare reel.
2. Disassemble reel. Do not skip this step, reels are prone to damage, if you manhandle them, you will regret it.
3. Place the reel flanges on a nice flat surface. Check for flatness. Remove what you can easily remove. (DO NOT use anything other than you fingernail to scrape the labels. If you use steel wool, scrub brushes puddy knives ect, you will regret it. Scrape in the direction of the brushed grain. Always go gentle.
4. Run hot water (the key word here is HOT) over the label. The hot 180 degree plus water will melt the adhesive and allow you to remove most of the goo. I have one off those under sink water heaters, the hotter the water, the better.
5. lay on flat surface, Pour acetone onto the goo, wipe off with shop rag.
6. Rinse with hot water, repeat step 5-6 until every bit is gone.
7. Dry and Reassemble.

http://i405.photobucket.com/albums/pp137/douglas787/DSC04861.jpg

http://i405.photobucket.com/albums/pp137/douglas787/DSC04864.jpg

http://i405.photobucket.com/albums/pp137/douglas787/DSC04865.jpg

http://i405.photobucket.com/albums/pp137/douglas787/DSC04866.jpg

http://i405.photobucket.com/albums/pp137/douglas787/DSC04868.jpg

[utahusker]

Thanks for the great info*reelspin*

[iamhifi]

if you want to remove a label from something, get a pan with water stick the whateverl in the pan and then comeback the next day and peel the sticker out and the goo is gone.
Angel

[TheReeler]

Thanks for share. I don't understand why is needed to put any label in a reel, it's nonsense.

My method is described here:

http://reeltoreelworld.blogspot.com/2007/12/tip-removing-old-stickers.html

Do you know where I can buy 7" metal reels with NAB hub like those in your pics? *reelspin*

[Jay Pemberton]

I think that's an 8 1/4" reel. Holds the same amount of tape as a 7" reel. I have some from the late 1950s or early 1960s that Ampex made, with blue flanges. (Note to self: Take and post pix thereof ASAP.)

I've never seen any of them new in my time though.