peel off the best you can, then use a little Goo Gone to easily wipe away the rest. Just use a little bit on the sticker area though as slabs are not water tight and you don't want any of this stuff seeping into the slab.
I have never tried it, but I would probably use a little alcohol on the sticker area (after peeling it off) before I use any other chemicals.
Some alcohol can "cloud" plastics. And some adheive can bind to the plastic if the alcohol dissolves the surface. Be careful and test on a tiny out of the way area if you do this without consulting someone who knows better. Consult someone here on CT who really knows plastics and slabs like: desertgem, rlm, rickieB... before you try this method...
I'd avoid using anything alcohol based. It tends to cloud plastic surfaces. Also avoid anything containing amonia. That will yellow plastic surfaces. I think the goo gone is a safe alternative, although I'm not surewhat isoparaffinic solvent does to plastic. Anyone know?
The safest I have found is Ronson or Zippo lighter fluid ( not butane). I use these often in my stamp collecting also. About the only way I know to remove self adhesive stamps without damage. Use minimum amount and allow to soak into label and lift. Be careful where you put the label because when it drys it sticks again. DO NOT allow to get into the edge of the slab. I expect it would cause no damage, but don't risk it. Did this a few minutes ago, use paper towel to remove any liquid on slab before it dries to a sticky substance. Use at your own risk but shouldn't be a problem. Jim
Good question and answers but what if the sticker is also on the hologram which is found on the reverse side and often on the outside of the slab? Will lighter fluid lift off the holograms?
Well, I am sure the holographs vary, but using the NCG which is on the back of the slab shown, it appears not to. Here is the experiment. First a label was pushed hard and rubbed over the hologram, then the fluid added. Went further down the slab than intended as I was holding the camera trying to get a good shot. Then I lifted the label off, some adhesive still on the slab, but wiped off with a paper towel with some fluid on it. Then being curious, I took a scalpel blade and lifted the edge of the label ( actually it didn't really lift as much as scraped. Added fluid, but it didn't appear to flow under and it didn't go into the label as the metallic surface prevented it. Clean up and slab is as was, except for a small nick out of the edge of the hologram. Now please understand, this was one experiment on just one type of hologram, but I suspect they use security metallic labels and a much better adhesive than regular gummed labels. If you do it, please keep this in mind, as I can't say it would be the same for all. Jim
Thanks Jim, the Zippo worked just fine. My 7-11 had the Zippo but not the Goo Gone. Thanks Illini420 I'm sure the Goo Gone works just as well. Thanks also to all that responded......thats why I love CT. It is full of people in the know that don't mind sharing their knowledge. Thanks again !!!! Chief............:bow::bow::bow::bow:
I use mineral spirits to remove anything with an adhesive backing. It's very gentle but works great. Let it soak on the label a minuet or two and it'll come right off. take a qtip with a little more mineral spirits and swab any residue off. No problems. Works on duct tape to band aids. VOILA IT'S GONE!
I HATE STICKERS ON MY SLABS!! Teletrade drives me nuts putting stickers on my slabs. I bought 3 NGC fatties and when I took the sticker off it peeled part of the holorgram off!! I just use warm water and a q-tip to get the residue off.
spray some WD 40 onto a cloth and rub the sticker off. sometimes it takes a few applications. Also can try some pickle juice on a rag or toothpaste.
