Tape Removal

[CosmicBob]

Does anyone know how to get tape off of a comic? It has to be removed and I just want to know the best way to do it. It's not a super expensive comic so I don't especially want to pay someone huge money to do it.

[aardvark88]

Lighter fluid will usually take off any tape adhesive residue off a comic bk cover or price tag off a laminated cardboard (mint in box) toy. U should read Susan Ciccone's restoration article in the original or new Overstreet Grading Guide w/ pics.

[supapimp]

wouldn't it stain the comic cover?

[greggy]

If done properly, the lighter fluid will evaporate away! Not recommended for comic covers though!

[Arty]

DO NOT use lighter fluid. I tested zippo fluid and it leaves a very light stain on white paper. Lighter fluid isn't purified and might contain all kinds of stuff.

 

Stamp collectors use "purified gasoline" to check watermarks. That stuff don't stain, it could be used even on unused stamps with glue on back. It just evaporates and leaves nothing. (in Finland it's sold in pharmacy/drugstore)

 

On VERY rare occasions it might dissolve cover inks, so test it before using on anything more valuable. (it happened to me once on those Disney comics from early 90, they have very strange cover inks)

 

I use this to take price stickers from books and comics. It won't clean those ugly decade old yellow stains, when tape residue is soaked into paper, but easily removes existing tape.

[CosmicBob]

Ack. It sounds like it's more difficult that I first imagine. I suppose that's why the pros get paid the big bucks.

[aardvark88]

Possibly try acetone, but read some resto articles 1st or watch the E Gerber do it yourself resto video (out of production now).

[supapimp]

thanks odin, the book is JLA 46 1st SA app sandman and JSA X-over, i'll just hold onto it until the book is in the stratosphere. structually the book is in NM, it just has tape on both ends of the spine.

[hammer-migration]

The tape in itself usually poses no problem in removal. The "unknown" or "hole-card" in determining how successful the outcome of tape removal will be is what it leaves behind and how transluscent the paper has become UNDER the tape. Take the Rockfords for example. From the images that Ablue was good enough to post for us, the tape having been removed is no consolation to the fact that the clear evidence of its former application is still present. The tape may be gone, but the "imprint" or "fingerprint" of what clearly is a piece of tape, lingers behind even after successfully removing the tape. Saturation of the underlying paper (just as a rusted staple will oxidize the paper throughout the layers that were in close proximity to the rusted metal) by the chemicals present in the adhesive on the sticky side of the tape will occur to some degree. The degree that evidence remains will indicate just how successful the operation of removal was.

[PovertyRow]

Hey! I am in an internet cafe in Taormina, Sicily!

 

OK - do not use acetone. Do not use lighter fluid. Use VMP Naptha. Perfectly safe on covers. Dries completely with zero residue. No dimensional shifting. It is good for scotch type tapes. Also amazing for ink transfer stain removal.

 

It is QUITE flammable and not good to breathe so have plenty of ventilation and no flames or sparks around.

 

Basically you want to soak the taped part in the Naptha for 10 - 15 minutes. The tape SHOULD by then just lift off. If the tape is old and there is a residue (brownish stain) get a cotton swap and wet it in naptha and roll it over the stain, picking up a bit at a time as you go. With patience and PRACTICE it is an easy process. But as in all restorative techniques, practice on junk first.