Removing patterns...

[GreggA]

Sorry I'm sure this has been asked a million times..what's the best thing to spray on patterns to remove them when it doesn't peel off from the adhesive?

[Ctutor]

I just dab with paint thinner or some times lacquer thinner

[dgman]

A heat gun or a hair dryer will loosen the pattern. Be carful that you don’t scorch the wood or your fingers. Also I keep a spray bottle filled with mineral spirits. Just spritz onto the pattern. Let it soak into the paper, then you can easily peel off the pattern.

Ideally, you need to learn how much adhesive to spray so the pattern stays on the wood without falling off while cutting but being able to remove the pattern when done cutting. A lot of folks will apply blue painters tape before the pattern. This allows you to easily peel the tape off with the pattern.

[rjweb]

Don't wipe down with mineral sprits and then use heat gun,while wet,  it will = fire, RJ

[Hawk]

The best way I've found when gluing the pattern directly to the wood is like @Ctutor suggested. mineral spirits, dab it on let it soak a bit then peal the pattern off. A couple of alternatives to gluing the pattern on the wood is either painters tape or clear shelf liner, that peals off the wood quite easily and you can glue the pattern directly on the the tape/shelf liner  with no issues.

[Wichman]

Unfortunately the answer is "it depends". Many of the adhesives have been reformulated, due to a number of reasons, I have run into several lately that I had to resort to acetone to remove, and that was only partially successful.

I would start with mineral spirits, move to lacquer thinner, and be prepared to go to acetone, if necessary.

Do not use blue towels, they are tougher than white paper towels, but the blue towels can transfer the blue dye to the wood. Guess how I know

[Scrappile]

I used to use Mineral Spirits but have found I like Alcohol best.  Either denatured or rubbing.  I have been using up a couple of old bottles of Rubbing alcohol that have been around the house for years.  The smell of Denatured does not bother me as much as the Rubbing.  I find there is  less residue left from the adhesive on the wood when I use alcohol, and it dries a lot faster than the Mineral Spirits.  

[BadBob]

It depends on the adhesive. For 3M77, mineral spirits work great but dry slowly. Denatured alcohol also works with 3M77 but not as well as mineral spirits; however, it dries much faster. I have run across some adhesives that neither of these will dissolve.

I would start with the cheapest solvent and work my way up until I find the one that works for me.

 

[barb.j.enders]

13 hours ago, Hawk said:

A couple of alternatives to gluing the pattern on the wood is either painters tape or clear shelf liner, that peals off the wood quite easily and you can glue the pattern directly on the the tape/shelf liner  with no issues.

You can use any shelf liner. Some will say "clear" so you can see the grain lines but if you are using tape, you can't see the grain.  I will use/have used the cheapest liner from the $ store or whatever is on sale.

[Roberta Moreton]

Mineral spirits.  I keep some in a spray bottle just for this purpose. Spray it on the paper, wait a bit, take the paper off. Spray again and wipe to clean up any residue. 

Edited January 26 by Roberta Moreton

[Gonzo]

For some reason, just lately the odor of mineral spirits has been bothering me. So I switched to acetone. Dries quickly.  Sometimes too quickly.

[BadBob]

23 hours ago, Roberta Moreton said:

I keep some in a spray bottle just for this purpose.

What kind of spray bottle do you use? I have not found one in which the mineral sprits would not destroy the seals quickly.

[Bill WIlson]

2 hours ago, BadBob said:

What kind of spray bottle do you use? I have not found one in which the mineral sprits would not destroy the seals quickly.

I use a cheap trigger sprayer I probably got at Walmart.  Don't recall it being anything special.  I've had it for years and  keep mineral spirits in it all the time.  Never had a problem.

[Roberta Moreton]

I use one from Walmart.  Nothing special. 

[Norm Fengstad]

I just use a brush to paint on wood spirits and wait a while sometimes it works real good other times sanding the pattern offis the way I do things

[Sam777]

I have always used a clear shelf liner first, then I only print my patterns on full sheet adhesive back shipping labels and stick it onto the shelf linered wood. I have never had any issues removing the patterns even from the smallest most detailed fret work I ever cut. No spray adhesive and no blue tape.

Sammy

[rjweb]

Samuel, I just noticed that you are in San Antonio, where about, RJ

[Roberta Moreton]

On 1/27/2025 at 12:37 PM, Bill WIlson said:

I use a cheap trigger sprayer I probably got at Walmart.  Don't recall it being anything special.  I've had it for years and  keep mineral spirits in it all the time.  Never had a problem.

I don’t fill the bottle completely.  About halfway. I wonder if that’s the problem with the seals. 

[BadBob]

13 hours ago, Roberta Moreton said:

I don’t fill the bottle completely.  About halfway. I wonder if that’s the problem with the seals. 

I found a bottle that might work. Instead of pumping the liquid, it has an air pump that pressurizes the bottle and pushes the liquid out.

 

[Roberta Moreton]

I hope that works for you!

[Bill WIlson]

20 hours ago, Roberta Moreton said:

I don’t fill the bottle completely.  About halfway. I wonder if that’s the problem with the seals. 

Could be.  I never fill mine much past 1/2 way either.

[Sam777]

On 2/5/2025 at 5:35 PM, rjweb said:

Samuel, I just noticed that you are in San Antonio, where about, RJ

Good morning RJ,

I didn't see your message until now (that's how often I look at my posts

I'm close to the intersection if NW Military Hwy & Lockhill Selma Rd

Sammy