Unsticking Adhesive Tape . . . or . . . How To NOT Stick It To Yourself
Posted: Friday, September 02, 2011
by Octavia Hansen
Octavia Hansen
Adhesive tape. How did people live without it? Adhesives and glues have a sordid history, messy, sometimes complicated, usually not long-term cohesive. There are a few natural items that stick -- honey, flour and water, egg whites. It's hard to count on these. A little heat, a little humidity, a little water, a little pull, a little time, and these things would let go faster than a cheap bra strap. There is the fabled hoof glue, handed down through the ages and in some professions still in use today. Yes, it is made from a hoof. It's reliable. I'm sure vegans have nothing to do with anything whatsoever that has been glued together -- don't sit on that wood chair, for one.
There are alternatives to adhesive tape, but they tend to mark and scar whatever they are used on . . . staples, nails, clips are notoriously unreliable, thumb tacks and pushpins leave a hole and are mostly relegated to bulletin boards.
Then came adhesive tape. Ah, what convenience! What diversity! It's available everywhere for all sorts of things. Strong, clear, frosted, doubled sided sticky, packing tape for friends and packages, duct tape (the handyman's secret tool), photographers tape for that professional look, decorated tape for the holidays. It's a quick tear off it's own little plastic dispenser. If you're really picky, there are dozens of office sets and holders just for the tape of your dreams.
It mends. It bends. It's an instant bandage with a little cotton or a tissue. It becomes a fingerpuppet for little kids. It becomes a cat toy when either wadded into a ball or for a little sadistic fun, stick it on the cat. Hours of fun on their foot or head!
Where would civilization be without it? A lot of papers would go flying if they weren't taped to windows, desks, foreheads and other pieces of paper. All those "Kick Me" signs would have nowhere to go. Post-Its are okay, but nothing beats a roll of adhesive tape.
But when you are finished frolicking with your tape, or it has outlived it's usefulness, or you find you have just taped something to the wrong something and those now joined must be put asunder . . .
when adhesive tape used to be on something and all that is left is the stick . . .
to remove the tape and the sticky, without damaging the paper or surface that it is adhered to . . .
the all-purpose anti-adhesive product that everyone has waited patiently for . . . Bestine.
Only art professionals from approximately thirty plus years ago have even heard of this stuff. You will come to love and cherish Bestine.
What is Bestine? Officially, it's a rubber cement thinner and solvent. I haven't heard of anyone using rubber cement since the olden days, back in the 70s, and even then it had limited use. Much as this appears to be a commercial for Bestine, I have to refer to this product by name. I've never found a substitute and there is no cheap equivalent manufactured by the same company, or any other company, so Bestine is what you are looking for.
It's pronounced: Best- een, kinda like 'thirteen' but it's Bestine. Some hobby stores carry it, it is not available just anywhere and even some craft stores do not carry it, most employees don't know they carry it, where it is or what it's for.
What it actually does, as long as the adhesive is still sticky, not dried out and crackly, is dillute the adhesive so it let's go. As mentioned, if the adhesive is dried out, it will probably flake off with a little prodding, no tape problem there.
Bestine comes in a can. A well-sealed can, there's no way to buy a little but if you store it properly, it will last for years -- you will only use a dab or two at a time. DO NOT transfer any of this into a plastic container for any longer than the time you use it. It will eat the plastic eventually and become a hazard. Glass is okay, be sure to mark what it is. Bestine is clear and thin, looks like water.
First: Bestine is FLAMMABLE, incredibly so, almost able to spontaneously combust. Now that you are scared, this should make you take great care using it. Make sure there is NO FLAME within sight of where you are using this -- this includes candles and lighters, and if you are a smoker, don't even THINK of opening the can with a lit cigarette in hand, ashtray or over your ear. It dries almost as fast as you use it, the fumes are ready to explode given half a chance. In a well ventilated area or outside, you'll have no trouble with Bestine.
If you should spill it, fan it until it dries and disappears, it will be gone in seconds. By the time you find a cloth or papertowel, it is gone. For added safety, I keep my can of Bestine in a zip lock top baggy, it only comes out the moment I use it and goes back immediately. If for any reason it is not capped tight enough, fumes will leak out and unless dissipated by atmosphere circulation, you are courting disaster. You also lose the Bestine to evaporation and it's not around when you want to use it.
Okay, enough about the warnings, you get the picture. Bestine dissolves adhesive, this includes price tags, notice tags, window stickers, remains of labels, duct tape, adhesive tape, even some forms of chewing gum will let go with a few drops. Some markers can also be removed with a few swipes of this on a tissue. It dries so fast that it does not wrinkle paper, does not discolor wood, will not stain clothes.
It evaporates so quickly that it does take the oil off of your skin, leaving fingers tender and brittle if you handle it for an extended period -- say about fifteen minutes to a half hour. Using paper towels, tissues and cotton-tipped swabs is recommended and change them frequently. After an adhesive is broken down, the residue will be on the cleaning cloth. As the Bestine evaporates, the adhesive coagulates and is sticky again. Don't rub that back on the place you meant to clean, you'll have to clean again. Your fingers will show your Bestine use. When your project is through, or you are through for the day, use any kind of hand lotion or lubricant to keep your skin from cracking. Unbroken skin is your best defense against germs. Bestine is not poison, but prolonged contact is not good for your skin or inhaling directly. No, you won't get high -- it's just nasty. I shouldn't have to say this but I will . . . don't use Bestine and then put your finger in your eye, nose or mouth. It won't kill you. It won't hurt you. It tastes nasty, it's not good for you and you are wasting Bestine.
This stuff work great getting tags off stuff . . . plastic plates, glass, wrapping paper, stickers on CD cases, stars and comment stickers on paper, any sticker holding something closed, and it doesn't hurt the surface.
Some stickers that have been on something for a long time, say a bumper sticker, comes off with a little work. I'm sure you have seen a sticky rectangle on a car bumper or on a window. A quick splash of Bestine around the edges makes it give way with a little tug - no mess, no marks. If it's still stuck fast, you may have to operate -- a small amount of Bestine in a cup and a lot of cotton-tipped sticks will put the Bestine right where it's needed and you lube and peel as you go.
The stuff is a miracle. What isn't permanently glued or bolted on, will come off with Bestine. And if you are really careful, the sticker you take off will be in good condition in case you want to save it.
Ask for it by name, store it safely, use with care and you'll be able to tape and un-tape with confidence!
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Top-level comments on this article: (1 total)I was not interested, and you still made me read. Best Teen. The chemistry of it all. It does sound like a strange application that came out of the theatre. I used to use cold cream like crazy in my Dad's theatre. I was amazed at what it could do, but that's another story. Now that I understand how remarkable it is, I will not ridicule someone who just pops up and starts talking about it. Its as if super glue was never heard of, and someone started talking about it. Great article.
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