Hoffman Amplifiers Tube Amplifier Forum

Other Stuff => Cabinets-Speakers => Topic started by: scstill on June 12, 2022, 04:43:34 pm

Title: Removing and Preserving Paper Label
Post by: scstill on June 12, 2022, 04:43:34 pm

So to finish a 5F1 build that is housed in a Silvertone radio cabinet, I need to cut a large cooling hole in the back of the cabinet panel. But the panel has cool vintage stickers that I want to preserve and relocate within the cabinet. More of a style and/or historical thing. I have been wetting the paper to soften the glue which works but is not great and the label is being damaged. Just not as patient as I need to be. :-(

Any tips or tricks for this to go smoother?

https://stillampd.com/silvertone-champ

Title: Re: Removing and Preserving Paper Label
Post by: acheld on June 12, 2022, 04:54:42 pm

Steam will do it.   I have used wall paper appliances for stuff like that in the past.   But, use a very large (wide) scraper to minimize tearing.

I'd scan that, or take a very high rez photo of it before you go farther, as the chance of getting that cheap thin paper off of the cab in one piece is very low.   

It ain't going to be vintage anyway . . . a printed photo of the data will be period correct, if not original.

Best of luck. 

Title: Re: Removing and Preserving Paper Label
Post by: scstill on June 13, 2022, 08:31:45 pm

Steam worked Thanks :-)

I laid the panel over a pot of steaming water and let it heat for a few minutes
Then using a razor in a holder I gently worked the glue off the wood. Super fragile paper especially when wet.
This was very tedious and took about an hour for each label.
I then flattened them while still wet then glued any tears together

The labels are decent off the panel and would have been destroyed if I left them when I cut the opening for cooling.
Thinking of regluing the labels inside the cabinet.

The panel had an angled opening using the tweed as a hinge for cooling or access to original AC cord I guess.
I glued that in place. There is a ridge but that's the best it gets.

Title: Re: Removing and Preserving Paper Label
Post by: scstill on August 06, 2022, 02:16:50 pm

So now the decision is do I glue the labels inside the cabinet sides as nice provenance?
Or just add them to my paper archive for future viewing.

Leaning toward provenance, what do you think?

Would you use hide glue for potential easier removal?
Or something else like tacky glue (likely more permanent)?

Title: Re: Removing and Preserving Paper Label
Post by: shooter on August 06, 2022, 05:05:14 pm

I would be inclined to glue to a piece of card stock then put them in a clear plastic envelope
kinda like a UPS clear pouch that holds a shipping label