Silver label removal

[crunchysuperman]

The recent call for more donor carts for homebrews have piqued my curiosity about this. I've sent Al all of my black label spares that are in good enough condition for him to use, but still have gobs of silver label carts that will likely never be good for anything. Just for kicks I try to peel a couple. An '82 Ms. Pac-Man did the usual foil separating from the paper nonsense, but then I try an '83 Joust and it peels off beautifully in one clean piece - no residue at all. Is there any rhyme or reason to this? Perhaps different label compositions were used in different years, or maybe different manufacturing facilities? Also, what methods have been tried with no success (heat, water, solvents, etc.) so that I need not waste time repeating them in an effort to tap into this unused resource?

[Philflound]

I was wondering the same thing. When I get to some silver carts that need to be peeled, I may try a few different methods, but if anyone knows anything tried and true, I'd love to hear it.

 

Phil

[CPUWIZ]

The secret is called patience, ask Shawn Sr.!

[Albert]

I have a method now that will probably remove silver labels on many such 2600 carts, but I haven't experimented yet to be sure. Does work well on the majority of stubborn 5200 labels, which I believe are the same as those used on Atari's earlier Silver label carts (the ones with the metal foil in them, as opposed to later carts that have "gray" labels instead of the more expensive multi-layer labels).

 

..Al

[Crazy Climber]

Just a reminder that I do pay money (50 cents each plus shipping charges) for E.T. cartridges. Let me know if you have any, Thanks!

[HollowPoint123]

Must just be the kind of adhesive used. If I ever need to get a label off (like an MS CoA off the side of a PC because the original case is damaged) I use some IPA and carefully remove it a bit at a time - soak - peel - soak - peel etc. Though only next to an open window else someone would have to peel me off the ceiling.

[Crazy Climber]

Must just be the kind of adhesive used. If I ever need to get a label off (like an MS CoA off the side of a PC because the original case is damaged) I use some IPA and carefully remove it a bit at a time - soak - peel - soak - peel etc. Though only next to an open window else someone would have to peel me off the ceiling.

Yeah, you could probably get silver labels off that way but if you need 100 of them for a homebrew, well, that could end up being pretty time consuming. Especially when there are an abundance of pac's and combats to butcher

[Philflound]

Has anyone tried a razor blade?

 

Phil

[endrien]

Has anyone tried a razor blade?

 

Phil

We do want to keep the games in good condition remember

[A.J. Franzman]

You can get plastic "razor" blades that fit any scraper which takes a standard single-edged razor blade.

[Cebus Capucinis]

I have a method now that will probably remove silver labels on many such 2600 carts, but I haven't experimented yet to be sure. Does work well on the majority of stubborn 5200 labels, which I believe are the same as those used on Atari's earlier Silver label carts (the ones with the metal foil in them, as opposed to later carts that have "gray" labels instead of the more expensive multi-layer labels).

 

..Al

 

SECRET SAUCE!

[Pioneer4x4]

I bet Armor All will get them off.

[Albert]

Razer Blades really aren't a viable method for removing labels. If you scratch the plastic under the label at all, these scratches will then show up when you apply the label as bumps and looks unprofessional. Plus this would be pretty time consuming.

 

..Al

[Cebus Capucinis]

Sandpaper.

[HollowPoint123]

Daft idea but how about a bowl of water with washing up liquid and 10% IPA. Put the carts into the water and cover and leave for 30mins.

 

Or, a soltion of biological soap powder instead.

 

Just thinking of a way of breaking down the adhesive and being able to do the carts in batches.

[Albert]

Putting carts in water means you need to completely disassemble them as there are two metal parts in each cart: the screw holding the cart together and a metal spring that's part of the dust cover mechanism. This gets complex because not all 2600 carts are exactly the same so you need to keep the dust cover pieces together with the cartridge itself. The screws and springs do rust very quickly, please don't ask how I know this. Using a non water-based solution is better.

 

..Al

[+Nathan Strum]

Also, what methods have been tried with no success (heat, water, solvents, etc.) so that I need not waste time repeating them in an effort to tap into this unused resource?

It all depends on how you define success...

[Cebus Capucinis]

please don't ask how I know this.

 

..Al

 

How do you know this?

[pinball22]

... I use some IPA and carefully remove it a bit at a time ...

 

After a minute I realized you meant isopropyl alcohol, but at first I pictured you pouring India pale ale all over labels.

[crunchysuperman]

Has WD40 been tried? It's really excellent at removing adhesive. I was also planning on picking up a bottle of Un-Do adhesive remover. I also have access to several industrial solvents like Barsol & other metal cleaners/strippers. I'll experiment some over the weekend.

[Pioneer4x4]

Soak 'em in gasoline (or kerosene). what it doesn't disolve, it cleans. (or causes cancer in)

[A.J. Franzman]

Razer Blades really aren't a viable method for removing labels. If you scratch the plastic under the label at all, these scratches will then show up when you apply the label as bumps and looks unprofessional.

Hence my suggestion to try a plastic razor blade. They exist specifically for not scratching delicate surfaces. Unless there's a problem with labels separating into different layers (which there probably is...), you could just scrape up enough of the label up to put a Bulldog clip on the edge of it, attach a weight to the clip, put the cart in some kind of a holder and let gravity do the rest. Build a rack to hold a couple dozen carts, get matching numbers of clips and weights, and you can let the carts self-peel for however long it takes; overnight if necessary.

[+Omegamatrix]

I have a method now that will probably remove silver labels on many such 2600 carts

 

Those fire breathing, metal chewing ants are really working out for you, eh?

[HollowPoint123]

... I use some IPA and carefully remove it a bit at a time ...

 

After a minute I realized you meant isopropyl alcohol, but at first I pictured you pouring India pale ale all over labels.

 

Well it's still alcohol but what a smell it would make.

 

OK! another suggestion. How about steaming them off like you do with stamps. On an industrial scale you could use a steam wallpaper stripper - might be able to do 16 at a time. Nor would it soak the carts too much or get them too hot that they begin to melt.

[Crazy Climber]

... I use some IPA and carefully remove it a bit at a time ...

 

After a minute I realized you meant isopropyl alcohol, but at first I pictured you pouring India pale ale all over labels.

 

Well it's still alcohol but what a smell it would make.

 

OK! another suggestion. How about steaming them off like you do with stamps. On an industrial scale you could use a steam wallpaper stripper - might be able to do 16 at a time. Nor would it soak the carts too much or get them too hot that they begin to melt.

Great idea, oh wait, we need a wallpaper stripper to do that