Removing stickers

[Tom Winters]

I'd always rather deal with a little rust than the remotest possibility of a whiff of WD40 residue at 180'.

As for cautions about using WD 40 on diving equipment, I have 30 year old regulators that I still use and have always sprayed them externally with WD 40 after a fresh water cleaning to prevent corrosion. Captain

Well, if Kipling was still alive, he's have to roll over in his grave and do a rewrite: "You're braver men that I am, Gunga Din and the captain."

 

[Hoosier]

Hey divers,

Please don't use WD40. Like Tom mentioned, it is the petroleum-based product so that any residual can pollute the water even though it is the small amount. My 2 cent.

I also would never use WD-40 near any piece of my diving gear. It's petroleum-based, and I don't want it near my life support stuff - which is anything I use underwater.

 

[Goose75]

Intermitment exposure to temperatures caused by a hair dryer shouldn't anneal the aluminum. You are unlikely to get the surface to a temperature too hot. If it worries you, use the touch method. We use it all the time to prevent curing epoxies while using heat guns to increase tack. If it gets uncomforatble to touch, it's too hot. The label is probably a low grade adhesive that softens at 180 or so. And yes, your car will get this hot in the Texas sun, we measured it after melting rubber pads all over aircraft parts. Big mess all over our pretty lime green primer.

Personally I wouldn't use a hair dryer anyway, too much work. Nail polish remover is easier, but you may take up some paint.

It's good that temperature exposure of aluminum has been stressed to the point of fear. Sometime fear is the only thing guarding from carelessness.

 

[Goose75]

Hey divers,

Please don't use WD40. Like Tom mentioned, it is the petroleum-based product so that any residual can pollute the water even though it is the small amount. My 2 cent.

WD40 looses it properties and breaks down quickly in a salt water environment. If you do use it on your gear, you should clean it off completely or you are going to get an abrassive residue.

 

[captain]

As far as diving 30 year old regulators, I"ll put my 30 year old Conshelf and Scuba Pro MK V against most any of today regulators. Just because it's old doesn't mean its not equal to todays regulators.

Captain

 

[Tom Winters]

I agree with you about those old regs - I still have my first Calypso that I got in 1966. By 1969, Aqualung had stopped making repair parts for it. Even without any service at all for 36 years now, it still works. The stem gauge and J-valves were pretty cool ideas too.
What's really funny is that it came with a rubber necklace that snapped around your neck. Oh, this was considered a surefire way to kill yourself - to hear some of the experts go on about it, you were as good as dead if you went near the water just carrying the thing.
So what do people use today? Necklaces again.
I did see one of those new US Divers twin hose regulators, but I'm not too sure those are going to make a comeback.

 

[Nemrod]

Tom, my old Clypso J is still going strong. It came with the necklace as well and I still have it and the original mouthpiece that used it in good condition. Yes, strange how things go into and out of fashion and back again. I reinstalled the necklace recently so as to be able to use it as a backup for one of my double hose regulators which after a 30 year hiatus are now back in fashion as well. Who needs a long hose when you got a double hose! Yeah, I remember being told that necklace would kill me and drown everyone within a mile radious if I dared not to remove it!

For the decals. Get a piece of lexan or plexi about an inch wide, 1/4 inch thick and about 4 inches long. Sand a sharp edge on on end making it into a plastic scraper. Scrap the sticker off --do not use heat beyond about 200 degrees. Remove the remainder using MEK solvent from a hardware store.

 

[triton94949]

Hey divers,

Please don't use WD40. Like Tom mentioned, it is the petroleum-based product so that any residual can pollute the water even though it is the small amount. My 2 cent.

Then you probably would not like what I do either.

I use a utility razor to shave off the label, then lighter fluid and a rag to wipe off the old glue.

Works like a charm, but probably not politically correct either.

 

[Goose75]

Then you probably would not like what I do either.

I use a utility razor to shave off the label, then lighter fluid and a rag to wipe off the old glue.

Works like a charm, but probably not politically correct either.

I'd heat the utility razor and it'll come off even easier.

 

[Leadking]

I need some suggestions on how to quickly remove the old stickers from scuba tanks. There is a product on the market for removing bumper stickers from vehicles. Can it be used safely on aluminum or unpainted steel?

Use a hair dyer to heat up and soften the adhesive.