They said it wouldn't stick!!

[BD]

Well after talking to many people I decided that it was safe to use the shrinking plastic window coverings to help on effieciency up here for the cold Wisconsin winter. My greatest fear was that the double sided tape used to adhere the plastic sheets would stick to the old finish on the window casings. Well my greatest fear has been realized. as I started to peal the tapel off it was taking the finish with it ( I believe its shelac been that I think its the original finish on our

1920s Arts and Crafts house.)

Anyone have any ideas on how to remove these menacing window coverings without pulling off any more finish? I though perhaps heat.

[No]

If it is shellac its should be easy to repair. Try dabbing on some alcohol with a q-tip to see if it dissolves. If it does then just renew with new shellac. Heat will also lift shellac and many other finishes, probably not the way to go.

[Josh]

I know vinegar is often effective at removing tape residue, but I'm not sure what its effect would be on shellac. Maybe try it on a chunk that's already ripped off and stuck to the tape?

[Pop]

As you pull it off, pull with the pulled end low and close to the tape that's not loosened yet, sort of folded over on itself. That prevents some of the "pull" that tends to loosen the finish and take it off. Try to avoid a 90 degree pull and make thepull as close to the plane of the tape as you can.

Heat may well be a big help as it almost always softens adhesives. Not too much heat though; you don't want a fire! Definitely nothing hot enough to make flames or light paper. Hair dryers work well.

Completely separate from heat, sometimes rubbing alcohol or even

409 can help. LIft up some of the tape and apply the liquid with a soft cloth where the adhesive meets the surface, and pull gently in the direction of the tape; remember, avoid 90 degree pulling straight up. Test first: alcohol may damage the finish, depending on what it is.

If it's shellac, you might be in luck; try just applying more over the bad parts. The new shellac will actually melt into the old shellac and make a decent looking repair. Clean the surface first, of course.

HTH Pop

[George]

Shellac gets gooey at fairly low temps. I'm with the rest, rollback peel to minimize picking up the brittle shellac, then an alcohol wipe - after cleaning the surface - to blend the remainder.

Work well, don't they? Put one on the window by the head of our bed that kept head colds to a real minimum. Of course, we could shower in the morning, but ....

[fredfighter]

Try turpentine or mineral spirits. Shellac is impervious to those but thet might soften the glue.

[Lobby Dosser]

Might try Goo Gone. I've used it to get tape off all sorts of stuff. But test first.