Replies to This Discussion

Permalink Reply by John Sims on October 17, 2009 at 1:28am

Use a hair dryer. It's not too hot that it burns the label, It won't damage the labels and makes them peel of very easily. Just take your time removing them and the labels are completely salvageable. Works for all sorts of labels, even the price/bar code stickers.

Permalink Reply by Diane in Chicago on October 17, 2009 at 2:36am

I was trying to get one off, one piece or not I did not care, and used goo-gone and a razor blade. Sure enough it came off nice and neat in one piece and after drying for a day or so it was good to reuse. Believe me, that was not my original intent!

Permalink Reply by Bluesheart on October 17, 2009 at 3:14am

Thanks for the swift replies and great tips. Everyone is soooo helpful in the Nation! Love it! I think I'll try some of both first, heat and razor blade, and save the goo-gone as my fall back position.

Permalink Reply by John Sims on October 17, 2009 at 3:16am

You don't need a razor blade with the hair dryer trick! Just get the edge curled up ever so slightly and work it slowly if you want to save and re-use them. Takes time but well worth it...

Permalink Reply by Bluesheart on October 17, 2009 at 3:30am

OK cool, I will try that first. Thanks again.

John Sims said:

You don't need a razor blade with the hair dryer trick! Just get the edge curled up ever so slightly and work it slowly if you want to save and re-use them. Takes time but well worth it...

Permalink Reply by Bluesheart on October 26, 2009 at 5:06pm

Well, I tried. Hair drier worked like magic on the outside labels and the trim part of the inside one. The main inside one was a different story (San Cristobel, with the flying parrot). Heat applied for 1/2 hr but it would not budge. Tried steam, bad idea! Then I soaked the whole label in goo-gone, let it sit for a few hours, still would not lift at all. I don't know what they glued that puppy in with, but it was the good stuff! I finally just pulled a big tear through the middle so I could get it off my to do list!! I have a Gloria Cubana that seems to be the same type of inside label, I may just flip the top inside out on that one, except it is curved at the edges. Hey, I'm not complaining, just updatin'.

Bluesheart said:

OK cool, I will try that first. Thanks again.

John Sims said:

You don't need a razor blade with the hair dryer trick! Just get the edge curled up ever so slightly and work it slowly if you want to save and re-use them. Takes time but well worth it...

Permalink Reply by Brian "Pork Pie" Anderson on October 26, 2009 at 5:16pm

I have some vintage boxes that hide nice labels on the inside, I just flipped the lid...

Permalink Reply by Cigar Box Nation on October 27, 2009 at 12:22am

You can also find unused antique cigar labels all over eBay. I live in an area that was a huge cigar producing area in the early half of the 20th C. Antique stores everywhere have these labels.

Permalink Reply by Paul H (PRH) on November 29, 2009 at 2:30pm

It seems that the enzyme treatment used to remove wall paper (Zim something or other from the hardware store) should disolve the glue as well as it would on wall paper (I've had good luck with this stuff for wallpaper removal).
A blunt putty knife worked under the edge helped with difficult spots and gouged in less than a blade.
Good luck.
PRH

Bluesheart said:

Well, I tried. Hair drier worked like magic on the outside labels and the trim part of the inside one. The main inside one was a different story (San Cristobel, with the flying parrot). Heat applied for 1/2 hr but it would not budge. Tried steam, bad idea! Then I soaked the whole label in goo-gone, let it sit for a few hours, still would not lift at all. I don't know what they glued that puppy in with, but it was the good stuff! I finally just pulled a big tear through the middle so I could get it off my to do list!! I have a Gloria Cubana that seems to be the same type of inside label, I may just flip the top inside out on that one, except it is curved at the edges. Hey, I'm not complaining, just updatin'.

Bluesheart said:

OK cool, I will try that first. Thanks again.

John Sims said:

You don't need a razor blade with the hair dryer trick! Just get the edge curled up ever so slightly and work it slowly if you want to save and re-use them. Takes time but well worth it...