Stripping old finish and tackling tape stains

[Almar1]

It was pretty cold, so I fired up my heat gun to strip that nasty dark brown finish off the stairs. The non-slip tape left some stubborn adhesive stains that discolored the wood, anyone got tips or tricks for removing those tape stains?

 

[CLR1990]

I'd recommend replacing the non-slip tape. If you place the new tape right, you likely wont even see the old discoloration.

 

[RanchHand]

It was pretty cold, so I fired up my heat gun to strip that nasty dark brown finish off the stairs. The non-slip tape left some stubborn adhesive stains that discolored the wood, anyone got tips or tricks for removing those tape stains?

Gosh, sounds brutal lol! Try hitting the residue with mineral spirits or Goo Gone and a plastic scraper. For the discoloration, it's often a case for very light, careful sanding to remove the surface stain once the adhesive is gone. It's a pain, but doable!

 

[Almar1]

I'd recommend replacing the non-slip tape. If you place the new tape right, you likely wont even see the old discoloration.

Do you know if there's a good way to prep the surface before applying the new tape to help it stick better and last longer?

 

[Almar1]

Gosh, sounds brutal lol! Try hitting the residue with mineral spirits or Goo Gone and a plastic scraper. For the discoloration, it's often a case for very light, careful sanding to remove the surface stain once the adhesive is gone. It's a pain, but doable!

Thanks for the tip, have you found any particular type of sandpaper grit that works best for sanding without damaging the wood finish?

 

[SunOdysseyGuy]

Sure, I'd recommend using a finer grit, something like 220 or even higher, to keep the finish looking nice. It's a good idea to start gently and try it out on a small area first. What type of wood are you working with?

 

[CLR1990]

Do you know if there's a good way to prep the surface before applying the new tape to help it stick better and last longer?

After stripping the old finish and removing any tape residue, clean the surface thoroughly with acetone to remove oils and dust then lightly sand the area with fine-grit sandpaper (like 220 grit) this will help the new tape grip better and stay put longer.

 

[eight40]

After stripping the old finish and removing any tape residue, clean the surface thoroughly with acetone to remove oils and dust then lightly sand the area with fine-grit sandpaper (like 220 grit) this will help the new tape grip better and stay put longer.

Thanks for this tip! not aware that you can use acetone