PSA - Removing our labels - Best Practices (4 Viewers)

[Wifey]

I have written this out a few times now, so it's time to post!

Removing our labels is different than removing factory originals.
The laminate and vinyl are easier to remove, but the adhesive can be stubborn and stay behind.
And if you don't remove it, your next labels will look lumpy.

SO...
Unlike most factory-original inlays, there is no need to use chemicals to soften our labels for removal. Just get under the edge (or better still, the middle) and pull it off.
For folks who ask us how to remove original inlays, we point to this thread in our FAQ : https://www.pokerchipforum.com/threads/paulson-full-label-replacement-tutorial-thread.31535/

Now for the adhesive that is left behind:
We recommend against using chemicals, as they have a tendency to just smear things around. If you must, use isopropyl alcohol. Non-acetone nail polish remover is massive overkill and unnecessary.
If you have just one or two to do, then manually rubbing it with your thumb should be sufficient. Just like grade school and making a ball with rubber cement.
But unless you are a professional thumb wrestler, your thumb probably won't last through a barrel, let alone multiple racks.
For volume removal, I use a dull blade to coax the adhesive into a little ball to remove. Then use that dull blade to burnish/smooth the chip to prep for its next label.



If you have a small stubborn spot that won't scrape up, then a cotton swab dipped in isopropyl alcohol to soften and/or remove the last little bit should be OK.(Use caution, stay in the inlay space!)

We see different behavior based on how long our labels have been applied, if the surface was milled or inlay removed and (would you believe) color??!?!
Here is what Gear likes to call my planetarium... These are the adhesive residue from chips I have removed our labels from, many are from the same quantity of chips!

I keep them around to remind me which colors are gonna make me suffer and which ones I will breeze through.

Feel free to post your experiences in this thread for others to use as advice down the line.

 

[Gear]

@Stackme

 

[KingZilla]

I have written this out a few times now, so it's time to post!

Removing our labels is different than removing factory originals.
The laminate and vinyl are easier to remove, but the adhesive can be stubborn and stay behind.
And if you don't remove it, your next labels will look lumpy.

SO...
Unlike most factory-original inlays, there is no need to use chemicals to soften our labels for removal. Just get under the edge (or better still, the middle) and pull it off.
For folks who ask us how to remove original inlays, we point to this thread in our FAQ : https://www.pokerchipforum.com/threads/paulson-full-label-replacement-tutorial-thread.31535/

Now for the adhesive that is left behind:
We recommend against using chemicals, as they have a tendency to just smear things around. If you must, use isopropyl alcohol. Non-acetone nail polish remover is massive overkill and unnecessary.
If you have just one or two to do, then manually rubbing it with your thumb should be sufficient. Just like grade school and making a ball with rubber cement.
But unless you are a professional thumb wrestler, your thumb probably won't last through a barrel, let alone multiple racks.
For volume removal, I use a dull blade to coax the adhesive into a little ball to remove. Then use that dull blade to burnish/smooth the chip to prep for its next label.

View attachment 1547887 View attachment 1547888 View attachment 1547889 View attachment 1547890

If you have a small stubborn spot that won't scrape up, then a cotton swab dipped in isopropyl alcohol to soften and/or remove the last little bit should be OK.(Use caution, stay in the inlay space!)

We see different behavior based on how long our labels have been applied, if the surface was milled or inlay removed and (would you believe) color??!?!
Here is what Gear likes to call my planetarium... These are the adhesive residue from chips I have removed our labels from, many are from the same quantity of chips!
View attachment 1547886
I keep them around to remind me which colors are gonna make me suffer and which ones I will breeze through.

Feel free to post your experiences in this thread for others to use as advice down the line.

Is the alcohol safe to use on ASM chips?

 

[Wifey]

As far as we know, yes.
Gear has used it sparingly on ASMs in the past and does not remember seeing any ill effects.
As always, test in spots that can be covered up and try to keep "inside the lines" just in case.

 

[AlbinoDragon]

Is the alcohol safe to use on ASM chips?

If you use alcohol, leave it on the chip as briefly as possible, and maybe recommend not using it at all. I thought I'd do a 'deep clean' on some of my ASMs (and CPCs) with alcohol and managed to start to pull color out of the chips where the alcohol sat more than a few moments.

I noticed the paper towels I was using started to rapidly turn the color of the chips (more than when oiling) and decided to stop as to not damage any more chips than I already had.

 

[Taghkanic]

Not to disagree at all with the makers of these labels, just to note that on the advice of some PCFers I tried using Bestine to remove stubborn residue from Gear labels applied to a rack of 43mm Paulsons a while back.

The labels had been on about six months.

The Bestine did not appear to alter the base or spot colors at all, totally unlike NANPR. In fact I ended up briefly soaking them in the stuff.

The first pass got a lot off, but it required a second application and some gentle scraping to fully remove the gunk.

I'd use it again, but all that said... Probably best to stick to what the Gear folks recommend.

 

[Dcarl]

This is exactly what I'm dealing with right now, crazy coincidence. Would a light soak in water help at all? I have chips im removing labels from and need to clean anyways.

 

[GoJo_Dingo]

This is exactly what I'm dealing with right now, crazy coincidence. Would a light soak in water help at all? I have chips im removing labels from and need to clean anyways.

What about Citrasolv? Has anyone used this and what are the results?

I'm certain it would be less harmful to the chip than nail polish remover but haven't tried it yet. I have used it for all gummy, sticky residues as well as other skuffs and marks and it works very well, better than Goo Gone.

 

[SwissChip]

Try olive oil.
I soaked sticky chips one minute in olive oil then rubbed the residue off, with ease.
Just clean them with mild soap if you want to apply new labels.

I sent chips to @FullSet and he never claimed the chips were still sticky…

 

[FullSet]

Sticky? No.
Sexy? Yes.

 

[Goldfish]

I use Bestine to remove the sticky residue. I have use this on 100s of chips and have not had a problem yet. Note this is for Paulson chips. I have never tried this on any other ships like CPCs. I apply the Bestine to a paper towel and rub off the glue. While some color does come off on the paper towel with rubbing I have not noticed discoloration on any chips. I will note that I use this in my garage with the garage door open as the fumes can get intense in a closed area. I also use rubber gloves. After the removal process I give the chips a quick scrub with warm water and dawn.

 

[SixSeven]

This is exactly what I'm dealing with right now, crazy coincidence. Would a light soak in water help at all? I have chips im removing labels from and need to clean anyways.

I'm doing what @Gear suggested with the Isopropyl alcohol. It's working, albeit very slow. I've got a rack and it takes about a half hour to do 10 chips.