#1 resource for Cigar Box Guitars, Free Plans, How-To, Parts & More!

Sticky adhesive remover-all natural ingredient!!'

I've been struggling with nasty adhesive on cigar boxes for the last 8 years. Heat helps with most, but there's always a box that has an ugly price tag or some other unwanted sticky tag. I've used rubbing alcohol and many other chemical concoctions until today! The answer for me is olive oil! Virgin if ya got it! Give it a try. I didn't even have to add an elbow grease-the adhesive just melted off!

P.S. And if ya say you've been using this method for years, I hope ya shared it with others before now! Hope this helps some builders in out community!

Cheers,

Wade
Victory Cigar Box Guitars

1 member likes this

Attachments:

image.jpg, 1.9 MB

▶ Reply to This

Replies to This Discussion

Permalink Reply by 14 buck bass (aka antonio) on March 7, 2015 at 6:41am

I have the same problem as Wade everytime I use peanut butter it always gets stuck to the roof of my cigar box ;} .P.S. lowrider pups ROCK

▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by Wade on March 7, 2015 at 12:58pm

Thanks man!!!

▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by Skeesix on March 7, 2015 at 9:24am

Oils can cause fish eye in lacquer finishes. Definitely test on a scrap board first.

If you're mixing your own finishes (like with a spray gun or Preval sprayer), you can add fish eye eliminator to the lacquer.

Usually it's best not to cause fish eye in the first place.

▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by Titch the Clown on March 7, 2015 at 11:34am

This is why using a pencil eraser is best. No oil soaking in. No fisheye. No endless trying to get the solution off harder than the sticker. Just rub rub rub and it is gone.

▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by gary sheldon on March 7, 2015 at 2:33pm

Interesting. I generally use bar soap for a lubricant for putting screws in hardwood or general lubricating on wood. Like sticky windows, etc.

▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by Wade on March 7, 2015 at 12:56pm

It seems these cigar stores always put the stickiest stickers on the nicest part of the box! I rarely shoot a clear finish over my boxes. Usually just a thin shellac which doesn't react to the oil. I will give a pencil eraser a try-sounds like another effective solution. As a side note, I also noticed boxes where the cellophane was opened with what looks like a box cutter or a dull axe blade in some cases-it is a sad sight!

▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by gary sheldon on March 7, 2015 at 2:29pm

Wade, Thanks for that. I'll give it a try. The finish on the cigar boxes is pretty crappy, so anything like paint thinner is very likely to just take it off. Especially paint.

▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by Bruce on March 8, 2015 at 3:31am

Thanks for the tip! I was just trying to chisel off a sticker last night.

▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by Joe O'Connor on March 12, 2015 at 12:07am

any advice on getting the surgeon general stickers off the the paper covered boxes without ripping the paper. I've tried white spirit with mixed results. some come off a treat where as others just go from bad to worse.

▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by Scott aka Farmer Ted on March 12, 2015 at 1:13am

If the sticker is on the box lid, an alternative is to simply "flip" the lid. Just use a hobby knife to cut the paper "hinge", flip, and continue building. The inside cigar box label is often cleaner, brighter, and nicer anyways.