How To Remove Old Paper From Acrylic Sheet

Many of these sheets used an adhesive that is heat activated.

How to remove old paper from acrylic sheet.

Then start stripping it away with a scraper. The problem with a cold sheet is the adhesive on the paper becomes brittle using a standard hair dryer will help warm up the paper quickly helping you peel the sheet with much less effort. Masked acrylic should be kept away from heat and sunlight and masking should be removed soon after installation. If it does slowly work your way across the sheet if you go too fast the paper will rip making removal more difficult.

Removing the protective covering by peeling. You can remove the paper masking with a cardboard tube by rolling the masking around it. If the adhesive has hardened moisten it with aliphatic naphtha hexane or kerosene will help to soften it. It is frustrating to remove a sticker from acrylic only to find a sticky residue left behind.

Sometimes you will find old paper that just will not absorb water. Be careful not to dig into the acrylic. 1 cup warm water. You can try using an electric hair dryer to warm the corner of the sheet and see if this loosens the paper.

3m makes a citrus based cleaner that works well for acrylic paper as well as all kinds of self adhesive labels and such. When removing the protective covering you ll want to work on a smooth flat surface. To get the old paper off and even the new in large sheets we use a broom stick and two strong guys with big fore arms. Whether the acrylic is used for a fish tank table or other item being able to have a clean mark free piece is important.

When this happens scuff the surface with coarse sandpaper or a scoring tool to allow the water to soak into the paper. Spray it on let it soak in a bit and peel off the paper. You don t have to overdo it since overheating the plastic can do damage. Residue can also be left behind by tape or other sticky substances.

Carefully use your fingernail to peel back the covering on one of the corners. Let the paper soak for a few minutes.