Removing Stickers, Labels, and Adhesive

Discuss North American DVDs and Blu-rays or other DVD and Blu-ray-related topics.
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kekid
Joined: Tue Nov 02, 2004 9:55 pm

#1 Post by kekid » Fri Sep 02, 2005 6:58 pm

I am not sure which section this topic best fits. Please move it if it does not belong here. I live in United States, but get DVDs from other regions as well. A unique characteristic of the DVDs made for Region 1 is that they have the sticky tape on the upper edge of the DVD. I do not find those in imported DVDs. Presumably they are to protect the consumer. Some manufacturers feel so passionately about protecting the consumer that they put these sticky tapes on three edges. Clearly, consumers in other parts of the world must either not need or deserve such protection.

Removing these tapes without leaving sticky glue on the sides (which can migrate to adjacent DVDs) is an art, and requires appropriate instruments and care. And it takes time. If I added up all the hours I have spent over the years removing these sticky tapes my useful life would extend by several weeks.

Perhaps this is a little trifle. Does anyone else feel as annoyed as me, or should I come to a self-realization that I am too "picky" about trifles?

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Matt
Joined: Tue Nov 02, 2004 12:58 pm

#2 Post by Matt » Fri Sep 02, 2005 7:32 pm

Lighter fuel (with naphtha) gets that residue off like magic. I find the labels are often easier to remove if you slit them down the middle with a razor blade and then peel them off from the middle.
Last edited by Matt on Fri Sep 02, 2005 7:34 pm, edited 1 time in total.

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GringoTex
Joined: Wed Nov 03, 2004 5:57 am

#3 Post by GringoTex » Fri Sep 02, 2005 7:33 pm

I can remove three stickies with my Bowie knife in 15 seconds without damage. But I am extraordinary.

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Michael
Joined: Wed Nov 03, 2004 12:09 pm

#4 Post by Michael » Fri Sep 02, 2005 7:38 pm

I find the labels are often easier to remove if you slit them down the middle with a razor blade and then peel them off from the middle.
Yeah. That's what my partner does. He picked up that trick from working at the library where he "processes" hundreds of DVDs every day.

flyonthewall2983
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#5 Post by flyonthewall2983 » Fri Sep 02, 2005 7:51 pm

What I'd like to figure out is how some people have managed to get the artwork from a snapper case and somehow make it feasible to fit in a keep case.

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Andre Jurieu
Joined: Tue Nov 02, 2004 3:38 pm
Location: Back in Milan (Ind.)

#6 Post by Andre Jurieu » Fri Sep 02, 2005 9:28 pm

I don't have that much trouble with the security labels (occasionally, but rarely), but man do I hate the extra stickers that are insanely difficult to remove. You know, the crappy ones that add no value aside from marketing, like "Loaded Special Edition!" or "Includes a Hit Music Video". The marketers who designed these stickers to be hard to remove should be prevented from procreating.

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Doctor Sunshine
Joined: Tue Nov 02, 2004 10:04 pm
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#7 Post by Doctor Sunshine » Fri Sep 02, 2005 11:25 pm

I'd also like to add that new dvds smell like poison. As pleasant as it is to open a new dvd--aside from any sticker removal--seemingly hot off the presses, they smell awful and I always imagine a tiny cloud of plastic and chemicals being expelled from the case to be inhaled by me which will then stay in my lungs forever. I'm not saying I need potpourri in there but come on.

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Cinephrenic
Joined: Tue Nov 02, 2004 2:58 pm
Location: Paris, Texas

#8 Post by Cinephrenic » Fri Sep 02, 2005 11:41 pm

I hate when they use those digipacks and put the security sticker inside, both which is viewable and unremovable. Same goes for the boxsets. When you remove them, the paper is damaged. One thing everybody should make sure is that when you remove the tape on the case, make sure its not already stuck to the DVD cover. I had to learn the hard way and damaged my Criterion's cover art.

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dx23
Joined: Tue Nov 02, 2004 8:52 pm
Location: Puerto Rico

#9 Post by dx23 » Sat Sep 03, 2005 1:40 am

I have used Goo Gone, a citrus based liquid, that removes goey and sticky labels and cleans dvd cases leaving them like new.

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luxetnox
Joined: Tue Nov 02, 2004 8:07 pm

#10 Post by luxetnox » Sat Sep 03, 2005 12:34 pm

I don't use a Bowie knife, but my pocket knife works just fine in pulling a corner of the security label away from the case; the label often pulls off cleanly from there. Nine times out of ten, when the label leaves a residue, I can remove it by using the label that I just pulled off by repetitive stripping. Think of depilation and you got the idea. The glue used in the security labels is usually weak enough that this works well. Sometimes the tape breaks up and persistently sticks to the case. I haven't thought of using lighter fluid - I'll give it a swipe.

Andre, I hate those adamant 'extra value' labels to no end as well. Many years ago I tried to remove one from a cd case using methanol and then ethanol which didn't work so I upped it to acetone which removed the label and the case. After that I just lived with the labels.

kekid
Joined: Tue Nov 02, 2004 9:55 pm

#11 Post by kekid » Sat Sep 03, 2005 1:01 pm

I appreciate various creative ideas about how to remove the sticky tapes quickly and efficiently. No-one has suggested why we need them in the first place. If a DVD is sealed inside a shrink-wrap, why do we need the stickies? If manufacturers believe that retailers could re-wrap the opened DVDs, they should simply put a label on the shrink-wrap itself to aunthenticate them. Dr. Deming said, solve the problem at the source. I would rather see that done.

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ben d banana
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#12 Post by ben d banana » Sat Sep 03, 2005 1:45 pm

We all endure unfathomable suffering in order to prevent, or at least discourage, shoplifters from opening the case and removing, or otherwise damaging, the security tag in order to smuggle the to be stolen merchandise past the stores' electronic sensors.

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The Elegant Dandy Fop
Joined: Thu Dec 09, 2004 3:25 am
Location: Los Angeles, CA

#13 Post by The Elegant Dandy Fop » Sat Sep 03, 2005 1:48 pm

Doctor Sunshine wrote:I'd also like to add that new dvds smell like poison. As pleasant as it is to open a new dvd--aside from any sticker removal--seemingly hot off the presses, they smell awful and I always imagine a tiny cloud of plastic and chemicals being expelled from the case to be inhaled by me which will then stay in my lungs forever. I'm not saying I need potpourri in there but come on.
I hate that, it's the worse. The smell won't leave either, it will stay in the case forever. My Bad Day at Black Rock has that smell, and it won't go away!

I also hate the security tags on digipacks. I tore some paper in the bottom of Slacker because of that damn tag. Seriously, how many people are going to walk into a store and actually steal that movie or any other Criterion movie!

Titus
Joined: Sun Apr 10, 2005 4:40 pm

#14 Post by Titus » Sun Sep 04, 2005 12:19 pm

Very rarely have I had problems with the security labels. They're a pain, but I can get them off without too much trouble. But whenever there's a box set that comes out and they paste on one of those paper promotional descriptions (err, whatever), I go nutzo. The goop that's left behind is verry frustrating to get off, and if you aren't careful, remnants of the paper will be left behind as well. I usually use a dose of Finyl-Wash, and that does the trick, but I just don't understand the point.

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pauling
Joined: Thu Jun 02, 2005 3:04 pm
Location: St. Paul, MN

#15 Post by pauling » Wed Sep 07, 2005 10:02 am

What I hate are those little platic "locks" on the dvd case. Annoying, to put it politely.

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Andre Jurieu
Joined: Tue Nov 02, 2004 3:38 pm
Location: Back in Milan (Ind.)

#16 Post by Andre Jurieu » Wed Sep 07, 2005 10:18 am

pauling wrote:What I hate are those little platic "locks" on the dvd case. Annoying, to put it politely.
If you're talking about those plastic tabs on the sides, those are supposed to be removed right after you open the case. They can be "twisted" off.

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pauling
Joined: Thu Jun 02, 2005 3:04 pm
Location: St. Paul, MN

#17 Post by pauling » Wed Sep 07, 2005 11:10 am

Yeah, I know. I was just joining in the fun of complaining.

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Andre Jurieu
Joined: Tue Nov 02, 2004 3:38 pm
Location: Back in Milan (Ind.)

#18 Post by Andre Jurieu » Wed Sep 07, 2005 12:16 pm

pauling wrote:Yeah, I know. I was just joining in the fun of complaining.
That's cool. I never remove them anyway. Then I forget about them and struggle to open the case, until I realize the tabs are still on and I'm a lazy moron.

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milk114
Joined: Tue Nov 02, 2004 5:38 pm
Location: Mar Vista, Los Angeles

#19 Post by milk114 » Wed Sep 07, 2005 12:31 pm

I worked at a Borders and found that if people want to steal they'll find a way. The easiest and quickest means was to cut the top of a dvd through the shrink wrap and the sticker and slide the dvds out of the case. if a dvd (or cd) is in one of those keeper thingies they'e easy to pop open with the handily accessable wire racks used to organize the cd shelves.
I saw no theft of the entire dvd, case and all, but every day I'd find at least one case missing its disc(s). The stickers etc do no good whatsoever.

but why oh why were people stealing the OC season 1 and soft core porn?

jcelwin
Joined: Tue Nov 02, 2004 2:09 pm

#20 Post by jcelwin » Wed Sep 07, 2005 1:55 pm

milk114 wrote:The easiest and quickest means was to cut the top of a dvd through the shrink wrap and the sticker and slide the dvds out of the case.
The easiest and quickest way is it? Very perceptive. So when you say you 'work' at Borders... :roll:

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Antoine Doinel
Joined: Sat Mar 04, 2006 1:22 pm
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Removing Stickers, Labels, and Adhesive

#21 Post by Antoine Doinel » Fri Feb 06, 2009 6:34 pm

This is more just a general complaint, but Sony has got into a horrible habit lately of slapping those "DIGITAL COPY INCLUDED" stickers underneath the plastic wrap on the actual DVD cover. Of course, these aren't easily removable resulting a horrid white sticker residue mess. ](*,)

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Matt
Joined: Tue Nov 02, 2004 12:58 pm

Re: Worst DVD Covers...ever! (Part 3-D)

#22 Post by Matt » Fri Feb 06, 2009 6:40 pm

Antoine Doinel wrote:This is more just a general complaint, but Sony has got into a horrible habit lately of slapping those "DIGITAL COPY INCLUDED" stickers underneath the plastic wrap on the actual DVD cover. Of course, these aren't easily removable resulting a horrid white sticker residue mess. ](*,)
Get some Ronsonol or other Zippo-type lighter fuel. Put enough on the sticker to soak it but not create a puddle. Wait a couple of minutes. Peel off sticker. If there's any residue left, put a couple more drops of fluid on it and wipe with a paper towel. Let cover dry. Wash your hands.

I've used Ronsonol to remove stickers and residue from books, DVDs, and CDs for years. Dissolves adhesive but doesn't stain.

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Lemmy Caution
Joined: Wed Mar 29, 2006 3:26 am
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Re: Worst DVD Covers...ever! (Part 3-D)

#23 Post by Lemmy Caution » Sat Feb 07, 2009 3:27 am

Ronsonol has the added benefit of, for a brief period, making your Dvd highly flammable like in the good old nitrate days.
From the grain discussion, I know Matt's a fan of the original experience of film, so he probably slips a little Ronsonol onto the Dvd itself, to see if it can catch fire in an overheated player every now and then.

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Antoine Doinel
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Re: Worst DVD Covers...ever! (Part 3-D)

#24 Post by Antoine Doinel » Sat Feb 07, 2009 10:31 am

Cool, thanks for the tip Matt.

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Finch
Joined: Mon Jul 07, 2008 5:09 pm
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Re: BFI (British Film Institute)

#25 Post by Finch » Thu May 06, 2010 11:59 am

MichaelB wrote:I've been asked to post this in connection with the first batch of Dual Format Editions:
We've been waiting with bated breath for finished copies of our first batch of Dual Format Editions (Institute Benjamenta, The Pleasure Girls and The Party's Over) to be delivered to the office, and, now that they have arrived, we are delighted to say that they look great.

However, it is with no small amount of frustration that I need to report a finding about which we are a little unhappy. Each of our new Dual Format Editions features a prominent sticker across the top of pack which indicates that the release contains both a DVD and a Blu-ray disc. The intention was to have this sticker applied to the outside of the shrinkwrap, so that it would be easily removed when the outer wrap was taken off, but it transpires that our manufacturer has applied the sticker directly to the case.

What this means is that when the sticker is peeled away it leaves a sticky residue which, although not permanent, takes a little bit of dedication to remove. (I've found that 'dabbing' with a piece of cellotape does the trick, but any better ideas are more than welcome!)

While this does not constitute anything close to a fault, and although the situation certainly won't give rise to a re-press or the provision of replacement stock, we felt it only right to let you know what to expect if you are planning to buy one or more of these first 3 Dual Format titles.

Rest assured, though, that once the sticker is off, what you're left with is perfect and most pleasing (even if we say so ourselves). Do also rest assured that all future Dual Format Editions will have the sticker applied on the outside of the shrinkwrap only.
That brings back painful memories of my first encounters with those hellish security strips glued to the top (and sometimes even the bottom and middle!) of the keepcases for US imports. Even when you've figured out how to remove the darn things, it doesn't mean that some glue remains stuck to the case. Appreciate the BFI heads-up though.

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