An upstairs en-suite has had plastic film applied to a window to give
privacy.

This is now yellowing and peeling off around the edges.

Is there a good method of removing this prior to fitting new film?

The most obvious method seems to be dissolving the glue holding it on. Big
question is which solvent to use.

Possible ones could be nail varnish remover and automotive thinners.

Alternative might be gently(!) heating with a hot air gun.

Interwebs give all sorts of answers including a scraper and wire wool and
"just prise the corners up then peel off".

TIA


Dave R


--
Windows 8.1 on PCSpecialist box

On 16/07/2015 11:02, David wrote:
An upstairs en-suite has had plastic film applied to a window to give
privacy.

This is now yellowing and peeling off around the edges.

Is there a good method of removing this prior to fitting new film?

The most obvious method seems to be dissolving the glue holding it on. Big
question is which solvent to use.

Possible ones could be nail varnish remover and automotive thinners.

Alternative might be gently(!) heating with a hot air gun.

Interwebs give all sorts of answers including a scraper and wire wool and
"just prise the corners up then peel off".

TIA


Dave R


All depends on the plastic and the glue, some films go brittle and can
be a PITA to remove. Agree that hot air gun might well help. The other
solvent which is well worth trying is "Label Remover". Although it won't
penetrate the film like the way it penetrates paper labels, these can be
very effective on sticky glue residues after you have got the film off,
some of these resist acetone (nail varnish remover) or alcohol (meths or
IPA). You could also try white spirit.

On Thu, 16 Jul 2015 14:00:16 +0100, newshound wrote:

On 16/07/2015 11:02, David wrote:
An upstairs en-suite has had plastic film applied to a window to give
privacy.

This is now yellowing and peeling off around the edges.

Is there a good method of removing this prior to fitting new film?

The most obvious method seems to be dissolving the glue holding it on.
Big question is which solvent to use.

Possible ones could be nail varnish remover and automotive thinners.

Alternative might be gently(!) heating with a hot air gun.

Interwebs give all sorts of answers including a scraper and wire wool
and "just prise the corners up then peel off".

TIA


Dave R


All depends on the plastic and the glue, some films go brittle and can
be a PITA to remove. Agree that hot air gun might well help. The other
solvent which is well worth trying is "Label Remover". Although it won't
penetrate the film like the way it penetrates paper labels, these can be
very effective on sticky glue residues after you have got the film off,
some of these resist acetone (nail varnish remover) or alcohol (meths or
IPA). You could also try white spirit.

Thanks



--
Windows 8.1 on PCSpecialist box

Hmm, I know in one case this was fitted inside the double glazed unit which
meant a whole new unit had to be fitted of course :-)

What is the frame made of? If its plastic then you need to be careful with
solvents or heat. Brian

--
From the Sofa of Brian Gaff Reply address is active
"David" wrote in message
...
An upstairs en-suite has had plastic film applied to a window to give
privacy.

This is now yellowing and peeling off around the edges.

Is there a good method of removing this prior to fitting new film?

The most obvious method seems to be dissolving the glue holding it on. Big
question is which solvent to use.

Possible ones could be nail varnish remover and automotive thinners.

Alternative might be gently(!) heating with a hot air gun.

Interwebs give all sorts of answers including a scraper and wire wool and
"just prise the corners up then peel off".

TIA


Dave R


--
Windows 8.1 on PCSpecialist box

"newshound" wrote in message
...
On 16/07/2015 11:02, David wrote:
An upstairs en-suite has had plastic film applied to a window to give
privacy.

This is now yellowing and peeling off around the edges.

Is there a good method of removing this prior to fitting new film?

The most obvious method seems to be dissolving the glue holding it on.
Big
question is which solvent to use.

Possible ones could be nail varnish remover and automotive thinners.

Alternative might be gently(!) heating with a hot air gun.

Interwebs give all sorts of answers including a scraper and wire wool and
"just prise the corners up then peel off".

TIA


Dave R


All depends on the plastic and the glue, some films go brittle and can be
a PITA to remove. Agree that hot air gun might well help. The other
solvent which is well worth trying is "Label Remover". Although it won't
penetrate the film like the way it penetrates paper labels, these can be
very effective on sticky glue residues after you have got the film off,
some of these resist acetone (nail varnish remover) or alcohol (meths or
IPA).


You could also try white spirit.

Or even petrol.



--
Adam

On Thu, 16 Jul 2015 20:15:26 +0100, ARW wrote:

All depends on the plastic and the glue, some films go brittle and can be
a PITA to remove. Agree that hot air gun might well help. The other
solvent which is well worth trying is "Label Remover". Although it won't
penetrate the film like the way it penetrates paper labels, these can be
very effective on sticky glue residues after you have got the film off,
some of these resist acetone (nail varnish remover) or alcohol (meths or
IPA).

You could also try white spirit.

Or even petrol.

Something that /might/ work is a terpene-based cleanser. I've one that seems
to remove most things when used neat, even polyurethane foam/glue.
--
Peter.
The gods will stay away
whilst religions hold sway

On Fri, 17 Jul 2015 09:11:14 +0100, PeterC wrote:

On Thu, 16 Jul 2015 20:15:26 +0100, ARW wrote:

All depends on the plastic and the glue, some films go brittle and can
be a PITA to remove. Agree that hot air gun might well help. The other
solvent which is well worth trying is "Label Remover". Although it
won't penetrate the film like the way it penetrates paper labels,
these can be very effective on sticky glue residues after you have got
the film off, some of these resist acetone (nail varnish remover) or
alcohol (meths or IPA).

You could also try white spirit.

Or even petrol.

Something that /might/ work is a terpene-based cleanser. I've one that
seems to remove most things when used neat, even polyurethane foam/glue.

Had to Google for that.

So - cleaners based on citrus fruit, often on a component in orange peel.

Google didn't offer me any from a UK source, but I haven't tried very hard
yet.

Halfords did do a citrus based chain cleaner, so this may be in the same
area.

Do you have a brand name and source for your effective cleaner?

Cheers

Dave R


--
Windows 8.1 on PCSpecialist box

On 7/17/2015 5:52 AM, David wrote:

So - cleaners based on citrus fruit, often on a component in orange peel.

Google didn't offer me any from a UK source, but I haven't tried very hard
yet.

Halfords did do a citrus based chain cleaner, so this may be in the same
area.

Do you have a brand name and source for your effective cleaner?

I've used 'Goo-Gone'. I think I bought it from Lakeland, but I see that
it's available on Amazon.

On 17 Jul 2015 09:52:22 GMT, David wrote:

On Fri, 17 Jul 2015 09:11:14 +0100, PeterC wrote:

On Thu, 16 Jul 2015 20:15:26 +0100, ARW wrote:

All depends on the plastic and the glue, some films go brittle and can
be a PITA to remove. Agree that hot air gun might well help. The other
solvent which is well worth trying is "Label Remover". Although it
won't penetrate the film like the way it penetrates paper labels,
these can be very effective on sticky glue residues after you have got
the film off, some of these resist acetone (nail varnish remover) or
alcohol (meths or IPA).

You could also try white spirit.

Or even petrol.

Something that /might/ work is a terpene-based cleanser. I've one that
seems to remove most things when used neat, even polyurethane foam/glue.

Had to Google for that.

So - cleaners based on citrus fruit, often on a component in orange peel.

Google didn't offer me any from a UK source, but I haven't tried very hard
yet.

Halfords did do a citrus based chain cleaner, so this may be in the same
area.

Do you have a brand name and source for your effective cleaner?

Cheers

Dave R

Yes, Ecover, but I didn't put it in as it's no longer made. It's flammable
when undiluted, perhaps that's why.
The neares on Ecover's site do contain limonene (from oranges, but only as
perfume).
Try looking for citrus-based stuff or look up limonene and see if there are
any clues.
I've seen citrus-based cleansers in shops but have'nt read the details. I
have about 600ml left and when that runs out...
--
Peter.
The gods will stay away
whilst religions hold sway

On 16/07/2015 11:02, David wrote:

Interwebs give all sorts of answers including a scraper and wire wool and
"just prise the corners up then peel off".


Peel away from the top and use WD40. The light oil prevents the solvent
from evaporating too quickly - before the glue has softened.


--
mailto: news {at} admac {dot] myzen {dot} co {dot} uk

"alan_m" wrote in message
...
On 16/07/2015 11:02, David wrote:

Interwebs give all sorts of answers including a scraper and wire wool and
"just prise the corners up then peel off".


Peel away from the top and use WD40. The light oil prevents the solvent from
evaporating too quickly - before the glue has softened.

Basically its a case of peeling a bit off and first trying stuff that you already
have - WD40, petrol/lighter fuel, white spirit, Isopropyl alcohol, actetone etc
applied with an artist size paintbrush ( non synthetic - bristle or hair when
applying acetone) into the join, and allowed to soak in.

Basically it may be a case of painting it into the join, and peeling back
it back bit by bit.

If none of the readily available substances does the trick then maybe its then
time to try one of the proprietary solutions.


michael adams

....

On 17/07/2015 09:11, PeterC wrote:
On Thu, 16 Jul 2015 20:15:26 +0100, ARW wrote:

All depends on the plastic and the glue, some films go brittle and can be
a PITA to remove. Agree that hot air gun might well help. The other
solvent which is well worth trying is "Label Remover". Although it won't
penetrate the film like the way it penetrates paper labels, these can be
very effective on sticky glue residues after you have got the film off,
some of these resist acetone (nail varnish remover) or alcohol (meths or
IPA).

You could also try white spirit.

Or even petrol.

Something that /might/ work is a terpene-based cleanser. I've one that seems
to remove most things when used neat, even polyurethane foam/glue.


I think that's one of the secrets of Label Removers

On Thu, 16 Jul 2015 10:02:46 +0000, David wrote:

An upstairs en-suite has had plastic film applied to a window to give
privacy.

This is now yellowing and peeling off around the edges.

Is there a good method of removing this prior to fitting new film?

The most obvious method seems to be dissolving the glue holding it on.
Big question is which solvent to use.

Possible ones could be nail varnish remover and automotive thinners.

Alternative might be gently(!) heating with a hot air gun.

Interwebs give all sorts of answers including a scraper and wire wool
and "just prise the corners up then peel off".

Report back.

Borrowed a Karcher steamer and the steam (through a small brush tool)
softened the plastic so it didn't tear as much and softened the glue so
the film would peel off. If allowed to cool a bit it became brittle and
sticky again.

A wallpaper scraper helped to get it started. As far as I can tell using
the scraper left a little glue on the window, whilst peeling off in a
cloud of steam seemed to take the glue with the film.

Anyway, one nasty job over and done with.

Glue residue not a problem because there is a new sheet of sticky film
going on the window.

Cheers

Dave R

--
Windows 8.1 on PCSpecialist box