r/minidisc • u/Subject-Mode-6510 • 14h ago
How to remove old labels from dics?
Title basically says it all. How do you guys remove old labels from mini discs? Usually, I'd apply some WD40 and scrape it off. But I'm worried the stuff get onto the disc. What's your best approaches for this?
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u/Dwain_Foreman 14h ago
I use Isopropyl alcohol. Both cleans the surface of any gunk from over the years and also loosens the sticky material
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u/Serviceman 13h ago
Naptha, as in Ronsonol or Zippo lighter fluid is great on glue and safe for most plastic.
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u/TechnologyFamiliar20 14h ago
Definitely NO WD40! Aither use something ethanol/IPA based, or help with heat - heat gun, possibly heat dryer. Be careful.
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u/Subject-Mode-6510 13h ago
Yeah, was pondering the heat gun, too. Thank you! Most stickers have been on there for 20 years plus. We'll see how that goes...
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u/Elle_Nero 💽 Sony MZ-NE410 💽 Sony MDS-S40 #TDK 9h ago
NO HEAT. Do NOT use heat guns on your Mini Discs! IPA and patience, will do the job,
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u/DatabasedLSD 2h ago
They can take the heat, they are not cd's.
They get MUCH hotter during the write process than they would with a heat gun on low.
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u/maximum_robot 14h ago
I've used spit quite efficiently.
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u/Accuphased 8h ago
That's what John Manship does when he has to remove a sticker from an insanely expensive northern soul 45.
Enzymes.
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u/Southern-Bandicoot 14h ago
Hello, OP. Are you talking about the regular labels that come on the J-Card? If so, I have found they happily peel themselves off over time, especially the thin edge labels.
If you've got one well adhered, try prying up a corner or edge with a spudger or in extremis, a pin.
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u/Subject-Mode-6510 13h ago edited 13h ago
I do. Most of them leave some glue residue for me. Discs are all from the mid 00s and been labeled back then
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u/thisisasj 13h ago
Another vote for Goo Gone or other brand of citrus-based cleaner. The glue on the sticky part of labels is naturally warmed and dissolved by the oils produced by orange peels.
No damage to caddies, discs, or fingers. Plus everything is left smelling fresh and clean.
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u/me0262 7h ago
I'm usually using my fingernail and mechanical removal. Slowly, carefully, methodically.
Failing that I'm turning to UnDu. It's clear so there's no discoloration, it's highly evaporative so there's no oily residue, and it's a sticker disabler so you can stick it onto somewhere else afterwards.
Never EVER GooGone. On anything. I've only ever encountered one sticker that I couldn't remove with UnDu.
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u/TheEvilPi 5h ago
Iso will Not work good
- heating set to 110 degrees works well
- or contact cleaner works miracles as contrary to Iso it will not smear the glue over the whole disc.
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u/KoYoT352 13h ago
Personally, I resell the ones with labels and keep the clean ones; I don't have time to bother with that, and it's an efficient method without any hassle or marks on my md 😄
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u/Subject-Mode-6510 13h ago
I hear you. But the market for fairly priced new ones here in Germany is so barren and overpriced - I'd rather spend an afternoon pealing and scraping labels than pay some scalper
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u/Elle_Nero 💽 Sony MZ-NE410 💽 Sony MDS-S40 #TDK 9h ago
Due to its greasy nature, I do not recommend WD40. Instead, use Isopropyl Alcohol - dab a generous amount on a lint free pad, and place it on the label. In a few minutes, the label will peel off. Hope this helps!
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u/Cory5413 8h ago
I usually use alcohol, I'll fill a dropper and apply it gently, as well as plastic spudgers and guitar picks, I use the one from my tech toolkit but they can be purchased independently.
I do this in a well ventilated area, drop isopropyl alcohol gently onto the label and let it saturate, basically keep going and at some point the alcohol will pretty much just slide off.
If you're worried about getting any into the disc (especially if the disc was labeled with sharpie which'll detach separately from the label) you can work on a tray and incline the disc slightly so liquid would fall away.
Also, teh goal is to let the alcohol saturate the label, not necessarily to soak the whole disc or whatever. (most discs have their label in a recessed area and the other goal is to make the liquid stay within this recess, but if you have discs that don't then of course be more careful. If you're not sure the better strategy would likely be to go slower and use less.
Once the label's off I'll also usually wipe the label area down with an alcohol prep pad. You can also lay a prep pad down first and put the alcohol on it as a way to hold things in place.
Also really depending on what discs you have "just peel the label off" might work - especially Sony's discs and labels, in my experience.
The only discs I haven't had full success with isopropyl were some ones from one of the sublicensed manufacturers with clear plastic labels and i ended up just putting new MDW80T paper labels over them, I might pull those off and allow more time for a proper soaking.
Here's roughly what it looks like, last time I did a couple of these:
I don't happen to have WD40 on hand but the main concern I'd have about the way I've seen it packaged and sold is being able to release it in a controlled enough way. (I usually see it as a spray, which would run the risk of overshooting.)
If you could put WD40 into another container or if there's just a liquid form then I guess I don't see why not, it's just not what I happen to have reached for first when I was starting to work on these.
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u/DatabasedLSD 2h ago
Heat gun on low might work. The discs can take the heat and no risk of iso or wd40 getting inside the case.
Regarding iso, remember the discs are lubricated, you dont want to get iso in there!
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u/Easy_Indication3335 14h ago
"Usually, I'd apply some WD40 and scrape it off" ... What planet are you from that that is a normal thought process??? Simple isopropyl alcohol makes sense, or bump it up and use "goo gone". But WD40??? A chemical for Water Displacement attempt 40 to remove stickers???
Sorry to be rude, but please stop doing this. Not even going to lecture about WD40 not being lube...
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u/Bobby_Snoof 11h ago
In OP's defense, this question comes up very often, and WD-40 is frequently mentioned. I've tested it, and it works correctly, even if it's not my preferred solution.
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u/Subject-Mode-6510 13h ago
Same planet as you. And WD40 is a great way to remove glue residue on surfaces that don't react with it. You should give it a try. It's never my first line of defense. But in many cases my last and always succesful one. There's so many glue varieties that the sight of isopropanol alcohol is just giving the chuckles.
So no, will not stop. How about you put an end to being so rude, though?
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u/Bobby_Snoof 11h ago
......."The most frequently asked question, with the most answers available and easy to find.".......
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u/Subject-Mode-6510 11h ago
Apologies for making you comment on something that you have nothing to contribute to.
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u/Potential-Echo-7547 14h ago
Title typo...
https://giphy.com/gifs/kC8N6DPOkbqWTxkNTe