packing tape removal?

[McJeep]

okay - now how do I get this stuff off'n the back of the leather? LMAO

I'm running for dumb newbie question of the year ;0)

Please help! LOL

[tashabear]

Fingernails (or maybe scrape with the edge of a butter knife), and next time, leave folded-over tabs that you can grab. Ask me how I know.

[CitizenKate]

I always have tape going past the edges, and fold it over to keep it from sticking to my hands when I'm trying to work. That makes it easy to grab hold of it and peel it off when you're finished working on it.

Kate

[McJeep]

Yup, thought of leaving a tab and did that ... but this stuff is trying to split the hide on me :0/

[esantoro]

tea tree oil on a cotton swab should work.

ed

[Crystal]

Can you very gently cut through at a middle point, pull up an edge and pull it from the middle towards the outside edge?

Crystal

[bruce johnson]

I have used the packing tape for several years. A few things I have found. I haven't seen any significant difference between 3M, Office Depot, and Office Max carton tape. I buy them in the 12 pack. I put it on dry leather and then run the slicker over it lightly to get a decent bond. I did use some label tape by mistake one time on several pieces in a batch - that is industrial strength and I had to sand it off. Any type of tape with a duck on it is likewise too sticky to come off when it should for me. I haven't left the tabs, but good idea. I leave my tape on through oiling at least. The little bit of oil that invariably creeps over the edge will loosen the adhesive on the tape at the edge. If I don't have a loose section to begin with, I use the point of a stylus to lift a corner and start removing it. I leave the piece flat and pull the tape back pretty much parallel with the surface. If I lift it up, I end up stretching the piece sometimes if it is thin. If i get fuzzies after I pull the tape, it generally is from low belly or loose fibered leather. I use few light strokes with the black skiver, or sandpaper to peel it off. If it is that loose it probably needs to come off anyway. I still get the fuzzies off even if it is going to be backed or lined. My experience.

If it is stuck hard and you can get a start at it, maybe hit it with a little heat on the adhesive side as you pull it. I use a paint stripping gun sometimes to loosen stuff that has been cemented down, it might work on the tape.

[McJeep]

Hehehe, I just happen to have retirned from the garage with my heat gun ;0) Gonna try a combination of that and the cut it in the middle of the piec so as not to screw up the edges so much

Will let ya know

Thanks all :0)

[pete]

to get rid of the "fuzzies" rub down the back with a THIN line of Bick's #4. It leaves a really nice finish and puts back oils/balm into the leather.

I say thin because a little goes a LONG way- but you can't overuse the stuff.

I know- I'm starting to sound like that moron hyping SHAMWOW! but Bick's IS incredible stuff.

pete

[McJeep]

Okay, so for the experiment I got the tape off the back of one of the pieces without using heat (founbd a wrinkle in the tape and tediously worked things free with a modelling tool) and one using heat.

The heat one came away a bit easier but seemed to leave a bit of residue (warm glue = residue)

When I dye the project, I'll see if the little bit of residue has any ill effect.

Thanks for the suggestions folks! :0)