Removing adhesive off the surface of a guitar body

jaymenon

I have a poly (I think polyurethane) finished Stratocaster body which has some residual adhesive on the surface. Is it safe to use lighter fluid to remove it please - will this it damage the finish?

Expert opinions most appreciated...

BillDL

Yes, safe to use. No, it will not harm it.  If it's "poly" that's impervious to and unaffected by most common solvents (except perhaps strong acetone).  Naptha based lighter fluid is actually quite benign despite being very efficient at removing grime and sticky residues, and I've used it on softer lacquered "nitro" finishes without any issues as well.  It is perfectly safe to use on a hard-glazed "poly" guitar.  I have used it on most modern plastics as well without any adverse effect, but I would be careful with it on vintage plastics.

Be careful of Meths these days.  It used to be almost entirely alcohol, but the Diall / Bartoline brand and Screwfix no nonsense Meths definitely contains acetone, or something that smells a lot like it [edit] contains Butanone (methyl ethyl ketone) .  It softened the lacquer on one of my necks (it did re-harden though) and caused some hazing on a hard clear plastic tumbler that I was removing the sticky label from.

jaymenon

Thank you Bill - much appreciated

GSPBASSES

This is what I use, will remove just about any sticky stuff on the surface without damaging the surface.
https://www.amazon.co.uk/Solv-%C2%AE-Sticky-Stuff-Remover/dp/B00J123KH8/ref=sr_1_6?crid=25XSUSOXV8NRD&dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.7I0GvcUTPnblmD8077-w4x28aHXhRHQiLBHhHqCCFkFy-DJpcgtR1f73nnhjLQ7ueWesKoYT4hxc_WxYKTy6CN0QMQ1Mz2Gcgev6yPN7EgfoRr2GhRlOhMkIEqYrITt-JXNbxBodnYZlsV8sLQnXpK-coiYRobINNGPlz60CMEvSPJrTqfBT2r-eujMJIxbbVc6GLOZZ7dp0Nwx0koAEo2d8V3jZRm1Z0Lajqgu6SHMcHaOgTLrWCf8J_Otjd198BvfYL-tXVPw4vWcFL9KTurYq625JxeDTxXdbNRYjqPM.Ck8vyRI-It_stz15sp0OwLX_FnlBRBOpRdIHGorhHto&dib_tag=se&keywords=sticky+stuff+remover+uk&qid=1712406043&sprefix=Sticky+stuff+remover%2Caps%2C92&sr=8-6

digitalkettle

I got a run of superglue on a poly-finished Suhr once. I asked for some guidance and JS told me to get some acetone. So I tried some nail polish remover: no good. Upon reporting the results, I was told to stop messing about and get some proper hard-core acetone Found some on Ebay...easy job after that.

jaymenon

Thanks chaps for the input. Very much appreciated.

thermionic

WD-40 works well for this if you’re stuck.

Bod

digitalkettle said:

I got a run of superglue on a poly-finished Suhr once. I asked for some guidance and JS told me to get some acetone. So I tried some nail polish remover: no good. Upon reporting the results, I was told to stop messing about and get some proper hard-core acetone Found some on Ebay...easy job after that.

You can buy proper acetone from pharmacies.  My local Boots sells it.  I poured a substantial amount of low viscosity superglue all over my son's poly-finished Dean (see https://www.thefretboard.co.uk/discussion/232295/superglue-spillage-fml) and it cleaned up a treat.

Sarge

Cooking oil rubbed in liberally will remove most tape adhesives.