AACK!!! Stupid sticker residue!

[budoka_ch]

Apologies if there is a more appropriate place for this.

I currently hold in my hands (well, only one, gotta type with the other :)) a brand spanking new shirokashi tanto--with one problem: It came with a big ol' sticker slapped on it, which I successfully removed, but now it is really tacky (I use 'tacky' in the sense of 'sticky', although, come to think of it...).

Anything I can do to remove the tackiness without damaging the weapon? I read on kendo-world about using an eraser to remove the sticker residue. Fine, but all of the sticker has been removed, and it's just really sticky. Will that work for the stickiness as well (I tried it and just succeeded in a lovely discoloration)? Is the natural oil of my hand going to remove it over time? I have heard horror stories about weapons warping when exposed to water, so I really don't want to wash it off unless I have to, sooo....

Sorry if this is a stupid question, but I just did not want to damage my lovely new SPWO (Sharp-ish Pointy Wooden Object)!

[Brian Owens]

Water won't hurt it unless you leave it soaking.

The first thing I would try is a little dishwashing liquid in warm water. If that doesn't work, some rubbing alcohol on a rag should do it.

If there is a finish on it, alcohol may strip off the finish, as well as the glue, and if so you could strip the whole thing and then apply a light coat of linseed oil or tung oil to it.

HTH.

[Brian Owens]

Bujin Design has a section on their site related to care of their weapons; although specific to their brand, I think the advice applies well to most wooden weapons.

Here's the link:

Care of wooden weapons (http://www.bujindesign.com/faq-wooden.html)

[Chuck.Gordon]

Peanut butter. Smear some PB (no J) on the sticky spot, let it sit overnight, wipe it off the next day. Should lift the residue right off.

No, I'm serious!

[Mark Murray]

Peanut butter. Smear some PB (no J) on the sticky spot, let it sit overnight, wipe it off the next day. Should lift the residue right off.

No, I'm serious!

Ack! What a waste of perfectly good peanut butter. ;) LOL!

I typically buy a product made for sticker removal. There are quite a few out there now. Some off the top of my head are:
Goo Gone
Sticker Off
Un-Do

[Brian Dunham]

Skin so Soft works great.

[Blackwood]

Most of the sticky stuff is petroleum based. The use of any oil (peanut butter, skin-so-soft, baby oil, Goo-Gone, WD-40) and a slightly rough cloth should remove it with a bit of elbow grease thrown in.

Peanut butter has the added benefit of being slightly grainy, which helps. I was on a flight the other day and there was a little girl in front of me with gum in her hair. I handed her mom a squeeze pack of peanut butter and the gum was gone in a few minutes. (And the kid got a snack from the rest of it!)

[Jason Chambers]

WD 40

That's what they make "bug and tar" remover with. It's an awesome product... YEEEEEEEEEAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHH!

Okay. I'm cool.

{twitch}

[Paul Mathews]

Peanut butter. Smear some PB (no J) on the sticky spot, let it sit overnight, wipe it off the next day. Should lift the residue right off.

No, I'm serious!
Another vote for Peanut Butter. I take no responsibility for any cravings you get during training.

[Jason Chambers]

Big Paul!!!

There he is!!!

You crossed my mind the other day... What's been going on?

[Paul Mathews]

Big Paul!!!

There he is!!!

You crossed my mind the other day... What's been going on?
Hey Jason.

I'm busier than ever but still lurking around. Oh yeah, congrats on moderator status!

[ScottUK]

The missus says lemon juice will shift sticker residue.

[fifthchamber]

I just use a rubber...Before you Americans jump on that I guess you'd say Eraser...It gets all the stickiness off and costs nothing..If you do it at work that is..
Regards.

[Gilgland]

two words "goo gone" they sell it @ like any hardware store(lowes home depot) here is the site oh and it is made of orange oil so no damage to finish. http://www.magicamerican.com/googone.shtml

[budoka_ch]

Hi all,

Many thanks for all the suggestions. So peanut butter really does work, huh (and not just an old wives' tale)? Anyway, I wanted to stay away from rubbing alcohol unless it was really stubborn (no sense in calling in the heavy artillery if the infantry can do the job, right :)?). I first wanted to slather it in PB (love the stuff), but my dad saw me and asked "you're going to do WHAT to it!?" So, he went and got the alchohol and, despite my protests, did a really nice job.

E-budo proves its worth yet again! Many thanks, people!

And in other news, mmm, peanut butter...