I've been slowly chipping away at the reloading area. Bit by bit it's been coming together, but we're coming up on the part I've been dreading.

My reloading bench is a 3x5' Grizzly Industrial table I rescued from Gibson Memphis when they closed. They used it for final assembly, I believe, and as to that end had covered the top in adhesive-backed foam. I have had some success with a few solvents like acetone, but that's honestly not ideal as it's perfect for removing the foam from the adhesive backing, but it still leaves a horrible residue. Goo Gone and a scraper has been the only combination that I've tried that really touches that. Obviously it'll get expensive if I buy a bunch of the name brand stuff and flood it onto the table, so I was hoping to find an alternative, preferably one that I can buy in bulk containers and is (more) amenable to being used indoors. I'd like to do all the stripping, prep and refinishing work in situ if possible because the thing weighs a ton and I don't want to fight taking it apart if I don't have to. I'm also lazy.

Perhaps mineral spirits?

I've always used lighter fluid on sticky residue

WD-40?

You could try some carburetor cleaner. If that works buy some Xylene, which I think is the active ingredient that makes carburetor cleaner work so well.

Don't know how much you need or what you consider too expensive but you could try to buy the Goo Gone in bulk.



$29.99 with $10.00 shipping direct from Goo Gone

PRO-POWER GOO & ADHESIVE REMOVER, 1 GALLON

$38.49 from Staples with free shipping.

Goo Gone® Pro-Power Cleaner, Citrus Scent, 1 Gal. Bottle

Propane torch, a heat gun, one of those razor blade scrapers?

I recall coworkers trying to use xylene on similar tables. The results were less than favorable. Whatever adhesive is in there isn't compatible.

I'll give lighter fluid a shot.

$40 is actually pretty close to budget, but the shipping time isn't.

quote:

Originally posted by trapper189:
Propane torch, a heat gun, one of those razor blade scrapers?

Maple table top. Fire/excessive heat probably isn't the smartest idea.

Since Goo Gone is a citrus degreaser formulation, I’d try the Zep citrus degreaser. Available from local Home Depot, cheap to try, can come in bulk quantity if you decide it works well enough.

 
I've always used WD-40, let it soak in, and a razor blade scraper, and then a shop rag soaked with WD-40. On tougher jobs, two or more applications may be required. On lighter jobs, just WD-40 and the shop rag.

quote:

Originally posted by vulrath:
$40 is actually pretty close to budget, but the shipping time isn't.

Okay. Well Home Depot shows this stuff as in stock near me. Maybe near you to.

Goof Off 128 fl. oz. Professional Strength Latex Paint and Adhesive Remover

belt sander.

quote:

Originally posted by vulrath:
Maple table top. Fire/excessive heat probably isn't the smartest idea.

Probably not. I was thinking it was metal like a table saw top.

Not familiar with the table but could you not just sand the entire top smooth and then apply a nice new clear coat to the top?

Try lacquer tinner. Much more powerful than paint thinner, much less reactive and evaporative than acetone.

Acetone works where goo gone and wd40 type won't but be careful as it does take the finish off and some plastics do not survive it

I use acetone on equipment we are selling when we remove asset tags and it leaves the security layer - it does remove the sheen of machine paint and if you really let it soak too long can remove most or all the paint

https://citristrip.com


Home Depot, Lowes, local hardware store...

Put it on, let it do what it does, take off.

quote:

Originally posted by Black92LX:
Not familiar with the table but could you not just sand the entire top smooth and then apply a nice new clear coat to the top?

Sure, but only after scraping off the crap that's stuck on top. It's honestly just as easy (and a little bit less messy) to just scrape it off and refinish the table as it is to clean, sand and refinish.

Again, I've tried acetone and it doesn't work very well. I still have to scrape the ever loving shit out of the adhesive crap.

Hair dryer....really.

quote:

Originally posted by vulrath:

quote:

Originally posted by Black92LX:
Not familiar with the table but could you not just sand the entire top smooth and then apply a nice new clear coat to the top?

Sure, but only after scraping off the crap that's stuck on top. It's honestly just as easy (and a little bit less messy) to just scrape it off and refinish the table as it is to clean, sand and refinish.

Again, I've tried acetone and it doesn't work very well. I still have to scrape the ever loving shit out of the adhesive crap.

Not understanding why you need to scrape it first then sand just sand the foam off.
No solvent or scraping needed?

I have had good luck using the various high alcohol content sanitizers to remove adhesive residue. Many places are blowing them out at very low prices.