Topic: Horrible plastic covering...

[Gobby]

Have got a greenhouse off freecycle, it's a perspex jobby, problem is half the windows are covered ina protective plastic sheet which doesnt let alot of light through, i've managed to pick off a couple windows but it's a horrible job with peices coming away in millimetres it could take a good few weeks to remove it all.  :'(

Is there a substance i can use to strip this plastic off, would a heat gun work (set on low) or would that just stick the plastic to the window even more?  >:(

Any tips well received  :P

[Hector]

no idea if thiswill work but try a wee bit of nail varnish remover?

[Gobby]

ohh hadnt thought of that, will give it a go on one of the lower windows to check if it discolour's them. Thanks!  ;D

[Plot69]

no idea if thiswill work but try a wee bit of nail varnish remover?

I personally wouldn't use a cellulose solvent on anything plastic or perspex unless I wanted to melt it. 

[Gobby]

yup figured that out as i was nearing the plastic with the cotton bud, going to try a heat gun on low at the weekend.

[grannyjanny]

Would a hairdyer set on low be any better?
Janet

[Hector]

What about a steam cleaner?

[lewic]

You could try asking in a garage/used car dealers. They are probably used to getting off those sticky decals and sunstrips without damaging the car or interior.

[terrier]

Try using adhesive tape to peel it off. Stick the tape to the plastic covering then peel the tape off.

[MrBean]

As Janet suggested, a hair dryer will probably work. Warm the sheet and start pulling the backing from a corner. Waft around with the hair dryer to keep the temperature so the adhesive comes away evenly.

[newbieveggie]

The best ever, ever, ever stuff for getting off sticky residue is called sticky stuff remover. I'm sure you can get it in most places. Its not caustic or irritating to your hands and smells of oranges. I have used it for years for getting off labels, sticky tape, horrid stickers that shops put on things and the glue residue that some thick plastic labels on jars leave (esp honey jars). I would def track it down, Ive tried pretty much everything else and nothing comes close to this, oh and no I don't work for them.  ;) ;D

[Mr Smith]

If you go in to  B&Q look in the decorators section and get your self a very sharp blade with handle something like a sharp stanley blade which is used for paint stripping, then use your heatgun/Hairdrier to slightly heat up the plastic this will either lift off or will come away with a bit of gentle persuasion, :)

[RobinOfTheHood]

WD40 might just work.

[campanula]

HG (Hagesan) do something called adhesive label remover (not the silicon mastic remover) and you should be able to get it from a ironmiobgers or building merchant.