Removing labels (alternate methods?)

[C Fernandez]

Jim Leonard wrote:
> Goo-Gone: doesn't appear to penetrate the paper of the label!  I mean, 
> it does, but I have to apply it twice

Do you mean the paper label comes off leaving only the sticky stuff?  If 
so, that is my experience also.  Usually a soaking will get the glue 
off, but I'm not sure thats a good idea for a 5.25" floppy, especially 
since your picture shows the back side with the seems.

> (both times with my finger, 
> otherwise the cloth soaks up too much)... and only then does it 
> marginally work.

I usually just squirt it on, although maybe you have a bottle meant to 
be poured?

 > But worse, what's left over is some petroleum-ish film
> that I can't remove, even with soap and water.  Check the following photo:
> http://www.oldskool.org/misc/residue.jpg
> So I wonder how well a new label will stick with that film on it...

Have your tried 
IPA/Propan-2-ol/2-propanol/Isopropanol/rubbing-alcohol/Isopropyl-Alcohol 
yet?  How about ammonia and water?

> So, are there any other alternatives?  Or am I incredibly inept and 
> missing a step or botching a procedure?

Could be either :-)  Usually soaking will work, with a piece of TP on 
top of the Goo-gone so it won't run.  I have had one situation of 
sticker gunk on the bottom of an IBM scsi chassis that would not repsond 
to Goo Gone even when soaked for a long time.  I think I tried one or 
two other things, but never did get it off.

Chad Fernandez
Michigan, USA