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#128724 - 03/29/08 10:38 PM Removing sticky residue on computer wires
Frankie Offline
Old Hand

Registered: 09/19/03
Posts: 736
Loc: Montréal, Québec, Canada
Can one use safely WD-40 to remove sticky goo from duct tape and electric tape on computer soft plastic wire? And how do you properly remove the WD-40 once the job is done?

Thanks
Frankie

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#128727 - 03/30/08 12:58 AM Re: Removing sticky residue on computer wires [Re: Frankie]
BobS Offline
Old Hand

Registered: 02/08/08
Posts: 924
Loc: Toledo Ohio
Use lighter fluid, it works to dissolve the glue and evaporates to nothing in a min or so. I use it all the time to remove all kinds of labels and glue residue.
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You can run, but you'll only die tired.


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#128730 - 03/30/08 01:14 AM Re: Removing sticky residue on computer wires [Re: Frankie]
ironraven Offline
Cranky Geek
Carpal Tunnel

Registered: 09/08/05
Posts: 4642
Loc: Vermont
Denature alcohol. Evaporates in a minute or two, leaves no residue unlike petrochem derivatives (WD-40, lighter fluid).
_________________________
-IronRaven

When a man dare not speak without malice for fear of giving insult, that is when truth starts to die. Truth is the truest freedom.

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#128735 - 03/30/08 02:16 AM Re: Removing sticky residue on computer wires [Re: ironraven]
BobS Offline
Old Hand

Registered: 02/08/08
Posts: 924
Loc: Toledo Ohio
Lighter fluid leaves no residue, I've been using it for years and have never had any.
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You can run, but you'll only die tired.


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#128753 - 03/30/08 03:01 PM Re: Removing sticky residue on computer wires [Re: Frankie]
JCWohlschlag Offline
Old Hand

Registered: 11/26/06
Posts: 724
Loc: Sterling, Virginia, United Sta...
Goo Gone or De-Solv-It work really well for removing that kind of stuff. (I degrease my entire bike during overhauls with De-Solv-It.) It shouldn’t hurt the insulation on the cords or wires, but it may leave a residue that can be wiped away with a paper towel after a few minutes.

I’ve also had really good luck with Simple Green. No residue… bit more work than with Goo Gone or De-Solv-It… signature Simple Green smell.
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“Hiking is just walking where it’s okay to pee. Sometimes old people hike by mistake.” — Demitri Martin

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#128755 - 03/30/08 04:15 PM Re: Removing sticky residue on computer wires [Re: JCWohlschlag]
Alex Offline
Old Hand

Registered: 03/01/07
Posts: 1034
Loc: -
In my experience, the result depends on a particular cable material. Some rubber imitating soft plastics are slowly decomposing in contact with adhesives from duct tape or electric tape. At some point of time nothing will help to restore such a plastic to a "dry" condition, it will stay "wet" forever. Moreover, the alcohol based cleaner may trigger some sort of other chemical reaction on that "goo", which will make plastic crumble.

Never tried WD-40 on those cables, though.


Edited by Alex (03/30/08 04:16 PM)

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#128757 - 03/30/08 05:39 PM Re: Removing sticky residue on computer wires [Re: Alex]
BobS Offline
Old Hand

Registered: 02/08/08
Posts: 924
Loc: Toledo Ohio
If it’s a cable or wire that is mounted in something and not easily removed (replacement not an option) and you want it to not be sticky. Remove all residue with lighter fluid, if it’s a case of the plastic or rubber coating degrading and is the cause of the stickiness. Give it a rub down with wipe-on-polyurethane. It will seal it and provide a protective coating to slow or stop the degrading.


But for the most part just wiping it down with the lighter fluid should work.
_________________________



You can run, but you'll only die tired.


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#128758 - 03/30/08 05:53 PM Re: Removing sticky residue on computer wires [Re: BobS]
Chisel Offline
Veteran

Registered: 12/05/05
Posts: 1562
OK how do you use the lighter fluid ? You dont break a Bic lighter do you ? Do you use a re-fill canister for the purpose and what is the best technique to do it. ( Now it sounds like rocket science LOL).

BTW, wont the fluid evaporate at once ?

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#128763 - 03/30/08 06:46 PM Re: Removing sticky residue on computer wires [Re: BobS]
ironraven Offline
Cranky Geek
Carpal Tunnel

Registered: 09/08/05
Posts: 4642
Loc: Vermont
I've seen it used by others for years. And opened several cases that smelled like Zippo fluid as late a week after it was used in them. Sure, no sticky residue, but if you can still smell it, that means it has either accumulated in or between components, or it has infiltrated the insulation.

On the other hand, denatured (unless you just pour it in there) is gone in under five minutes. No scent, no muss. And it doesn't weaken as many synthetics as petrochem-based agents.

_________________________
-IronRaven

When a man dare not speak without malice for fear of giving insult, that is when truth starts to die. Truth is the truest freedom.

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#128765 - 03/30/08 06:55 PM Re: Removing sticky residue on computer wires [Re: Frankie]
akabu Offline
Journeyman

Registered: 10/23/02
Posts: 97
Loc: Brooklyn NY
some plastics breakdown when WD-40 or that bane of techies 409 spray cleaner is used try olive oil or other light veggie oil.
I would highly recommend CRC 2-26 for all electrical and outdoor gear it is a silicone base food,plastic safe, spray. If you have a Home Depot nearby look in the Electrical section the stuff is wonder full, use it on my cars engine to clean and prep for the winter to protect from the salt put down for snow.have used it for 20- 30 years.
http://www.google.com/search?q=CRC+2-26&ie=utf-8&oe=utf-8&aq=t&rls=org.mozilla:en-US:official&client=firefox-a


Edited by akabu (03/30/08 06:59 PM)

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