Safe way to clean adhesive from tortoise pickguard?

[John Bigboote]

I just got a NOS Fender tortoise pickguard, and when I pulled the film off it left a bunch of adhesive residue. Anyone know if it's safe to clean it off with Goo Gone, or will that soften and muck up the plastic?

Thanks,

-jb

 

[BrenBass]

Lighter fluid or WD40 will work.

 

[walterw]

Naphtha is what the pros use; it dissolves gummy stuff but won't touch plastic or guitar finishes.

 

[N.F.A.]

Vinegar might also work dandy.

 

[Pilgrim]

Motzenbocker's Lift-Off, available at ACE Hardware.

 

[RustyAxe]

Naphtha ... it's what luthiers use. Ronsinol lighter fluid is naphtha, and won't hurt your finish.

 

[Bassamatic]

If it is just the adhesive, Goo Gone or Lift-off will work fine, also WD-40.

Naptha is great if you can find it - it is also perfect for cleaning the goo off fingerboards - what my luthier uses.

 

[walterw]

Oh yeah, you can't get naphtha in Cali anymore, can you?

 

[HeavyRockBasser]

Most adhesives used for film/stickers/etc is not dissimilar to chewing gum. And, just as peanut butter gets gum out of hair (it's the oil - not the peanuts) oil breaks down adhesive. Can't imagine it would hurt plastic in any way. I'd go lightly, though. You probably don't want any oil creeping under the pickguard.

 

[walterw]

Yeah, but then you'd still need the naphtha to get the oil off of everything when you were done!

 

[grendle]

wd-40

 

[bobdabilder]

Just did this on my fury pick guard. Once I warmed up the sticker with a hair dryer and removed it, I saturated the leftover adhesive with liquid wrench (wd40 won't smell as bad). let it soak in for 5 minutes or so and gently scrape the glue off. I used a paper towel. wash the pick guard in soap and water. GTG.

 

[Rocky McD]

Naptha is very similar to: Stoddard Solvent, Paint Thinner ( not lacquer thinner) Lighter fluid, BBQ starter, and many more products. Do not let any product to "soak in" to he pickguard any longer than necessary. Not all pickguards are made the same.

 

[christopherogut]

... did you happen to get the NOS nitrocellulose tortoiseshell guard that the guy has several of up on eBay right now?

 

[tmdazed]

Simple rubbing alcohol and a cloth, WD will soften plastics