By: joe t.

joe t. — Mon, 12 Apr 2010 13:47:17 +0000

Hey Craig, I feel your pain, buddy. I recently bought a stack of pine 1×6s, and every one had a UPC sticker glued to its surface. (I also found it odd that the stickers stated that the boards were a product of Sweden. Sweden? The USA has more pine trees than citizens, and we’re importing pine planks from a Scandinavian country that has an incredibly high cost of living. I don’t get it? Anyway…)
It’s easy enough to scrape or peel off each sticker, but you must remove the sticky residue left behind, otherwise you’ll see the sticker’s “footprint” when you go to apply a coat of stain or varnish.
Sanding alone won’t always remove the glue, so I recommend scrubbing the spot with a white cloth dampened with mineral spirits or acetone. Wait for the spot to dry then sand as usual.
That procedure’s a big hassle, I know, but your only other option is to cut out the section with the sticker or–and here’s what I typically do–be sure to place the stickered surface toward the back of the project, where it won’t be seen.
Thanks for writing, Craig, and good luck!–Joe T.

By: Craig Brewster

Craig Brewster — Sun, 11 Apr 2010 06:08:45 +0000

What drives me crazy is stickers on hardwood boards. The last thing you want is glue to mess up the staining of the wood. You have a good tip on removing stickers.

Comments on: Sticker Shock

By: joe t.

By: Craig Brewster