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How to remove P-touch labels

12 years ago

Have you ever tried to remove a P-touch label from a plant marker? The best method I've found is to grab a handful of markers and heat them up slightly with a propane torch. The label peels right off. Then I take a rag with a little lacquer thinner or acetone and wipe the glue off.

A wire wheel works okay also, but takes longer.

Do you have a better way?

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Comments (5)

bkay2000
12 years ago
I haven't tried it on this specifically, but the best thing I've found for removing labels of any type is "Goo Gone". A small bottle lasts forever, so I'm not sure where I got it - probably the hardware store or maybe even the grocery store. It smells like orange oil. You just squirt it on the label, come back in 15 minutes and it's loose. Doesn't hurt plastic or metal that I've ever found. (Every once in a while, you have to scratch the label if it's the shiny kind, but not usually.)

bkay
ken_adrian Adrian MI cold Z5
12 years ago
the problem is getting under the chemical resistant plastic .. to get to the glue ..

i used a heat gun .. from my old paint removal days... and heated it just enough.. to grab and peel a corner ... then the goo gone.. or some variation ...

just enough heat.. is when the label starts to bubble a bit..

today i was wondering if a hair dryer would generate enough heat ...

i might trust don with a flaming torch.. but i am not sure about the rest of you ... lol ... you will not have to worry about the labels.. should you burn down the garage in the meantime.. lol ... especially if you mix high powered chemical removers with the flaming part ....

BTW.. i did this on some heavy duty stainless steel labels i had.. i dont know if i would bother on replaceable zinc coated plates ....

ken
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we all know they are H. ... so i leave that off.. thats 4 spaces ... including blanks on each side ... then i figured out.. that on my tags.. i can get 14 to 16 characters per line .... then i figured out.. that i can fit two rows of tape per tag ... then i figure out that i could get 3 rows.. if i cut the top and bottom ones at the top of the writing.. and the bottom ... and then i figured out... that if i used no spaces between different names ... i could run out a 12 to 15 inch tape of names and only waste the lead and follow on said tape ... and a small pair of very sharp scissors to cut in between names .. but i do use space inside names that will fit in one row the lakeside names are maddening.. when you add that.. and i use all caps ... to not waste tape on quote marks ... so my tape would look something like this: TOY SOLDIERABBYJUNELAKESIDESURF RIDERLIBERTYVICTORY ... etc until the machine tells me no more spaces available ... make any sense???? i then take the cut piece with the name ... with the backing still on... and center it ... and note which letter is under which hole... so that when i take the backing off.. i can line it up and get it basically centered ... i also polish the zinc tags with a dry wash cloth to insure there are no dust speck prior to sticking the tape on ... then just before i press down the last corner.. i take one last look.. to see just how crooked it is.. lol ... if you look real close at the tag.. you will see lines in the zinc .. part of the manufacturing process ... and those can be used to make the label basically straight ... ken below is a picture of a 15 year old tag .. note the A and D are basically right below the holes ps: if you audience doesnt know they are H. .. or hosta.. get some better friends.. lol .... though i do put full latin on everything else in the yard ....
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Comments (16)
Melissa - I have used the Eon Nursery markers E-10 and the Paw Paw mini labels "M" - they are equivalent in size. The rounded corners I mentioned are literally the corners of the piece of metal the labels are made of. Eon smooths them out using a curved shape, Paw Paw leaves them square - somehow in my clutziness I manage to scratch myself on the square corners! Just don't ask me how I do it! I like the way each of them has the slightly tilted placement of the label, makes them easier to read when standing above them. My choice was dictated by two things: my favourite, and only hosta nursery I know of in CT, O'Brien's, uses that style; and I didn't think it was worth spending extra on swinging or cap style markers. Would rather spend the money on hostas! But I did want a good permanent name label. So I swear by the P-Touch labeller and either of the two markers from Eon or Paw Paw. Jakki
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Comments (19)
They don't boil off. You pull it out and peel it off. Thus, no pot full of glue. It just softens it and when you pull the label off, the glue goes w/ the label rather than staying on the metal. I did have a handful that still had some residue. They were the p-touch bulletproof labels that I put on in the spring that sat in cooking sun all summer. I think they were the most cemented. I just used 70% alcohol to swipe away what was left. Easy.
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in ny zone5
12 years ago
I just peeled labels off the markers with my fingernails, but they were only in a shady place for 4 months. But the heat sounds good for me in the future, thanks. I would not use a wire wheel because the metal surface could get marred. Bernd
donrawson
Original Author
12 years ago
I haven't had any luck using chemicals on the P-touch labels. I've soaked my plant stakes in lacquer thinner, paint thinner, acetone, and paint remover for days. Nothing works unless you remove the top surface of the label first.

Ken, let me know if the hair dryer works. Intil then, I'll keep my propane torch or stove burner handy. :)
hostaLes
12 years ago
I hate label adhesive. Some of it can be removed with Oops, some with alcohol, some with penetrants like Liquid Wrench- most if they work at all just soften it and you can smear it thin. Then I read somewhere about using Mayonaise and I tried it. It works. On hardened (baked) label adhesive softening it a bit and removing the label material first might be able to speed it up. On one particularly difficult label on a bottle I smeared mayo on it and wrapped it in a paper towel - an hour later the bottle was washed with my dishes and was clean.

Les

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