Glass Ashtray - how to remove print?

[c9belayer]

So I got a nice H. Upmann glass ashtray along with a 5-pack of the 1844 Toros. The entire bottom of the round ashtray sports a fine H. Upmann logo - it looks really nice. I wasn't  interested in the ashtray, but it looks so good I decided to keep it. However, on the side is a surgeon general's warning. Damn. I tried to remove this objectionable notice with acetone, lacquer thinner, turpentine, and denatured alcohol. I even tried a citrus-based label removal solution (Goof Off, I believe). Nothing worked, not even a little bit. I really want to use this thing but I won't without that nefarious warning staring me in the face. Does anyone have any idea what I can use to remove this printing? I'm thinking methyl ethyl ketone, but before I head down to the hardware store I'd like to see if anyone else out there has tried this, and what their experience has been. Thanks in advance!

[McBryde]

Torch lighter?

E

[McBryde]

Welcome to the site as well, head over to the newbie forum and introduce yourself!

E

[toby2]

not sure,

but welcome!

[Jackal]

I cannot state for certain without actually seeing it.  Is it a white colored paint?  If it is, or any other type of oxide based paint, you probably need something with a high pH value.  Some lye might just work.  

Wearing chemical resistant gloves (rubber, nitrle, latex, etc) pour a little concentrated lye on a cloth.  Rub it onto the offending area and let it sit for 5-10 minutes.  Rub some more on to wash away what was loosened, and rinse with water.  It may take a few applications to remove completely.

Beyond that, you may need to get trickier.

[c9belayer]

Thanks Jackal. Yes, it's the white part.
I'll try the lye thing as soon as I can find some.

[Mojo66]

It is a nice ashtray.

Do introduce yourself in the new member intro, we want to know more about you.

[Jackal]

c9belayer - 12/28/2015  2:40 PM

Thanks Jackal. Yes, it's the white part.
I'll try the lye thing as soon as I can find some.
I clicked the "Attach a file after posting" check-box, and will attempt to attach a picture to this thread.

From the pic, it looks like a plastic decal being held on by a pressure sensitive adhesive.  You are in for a tough one.  You will either need to lift and pull the plastic up, or find some kind of solvent that will either craze or dissolve the plastic.  Lye isn't going to cut it.

The other route that might work is application of heat.  This could soften the adhesive or cause the decal to deform enough to get you a starting place to work on lifting it.  Try a hair dryer (or heat gun if you have one) at its highest setting.  If you can get the label to bubble or lift, then you can get under it to attack the adhesive.

Odds are that you will have to elbow grease this one.  Use plastic tools if possible, so as not to scratch the glass.

[jharrisx5]

I'd get angry and bust out the dremel tool with a wire wheel.....but I have anger issues...

[plnortham]

jharrisx5 - 12/27/2015  9:54 PM

I'd get angry and bust out the dremel tool with a wire wheel.....but I have anger issues...

[Brlesq]

Its just a sticker?  Use WD-40

[Hot Stuff x]

If this is a glass ashtray -- maybe try one of those scrapers that uses a razor blade...

[Vroomp]

Gasoline removes almost any adhesive~!  

 

 Surprised Lacquer Thinner didn't do the trick.  Are you sure it's not etched in or between layers of glass?>

 

Final option.......

 

[Cfickter]

Good looking ashtray. What about Navel Jelly?

[C130Driver]

This should do the trick.

[c9belayer]

All good answers, fellas. But it's not a label or a decal, or any sort of plastic matrix that was printed and then adhered to the glass. There's simply nothing to get a razor blade under, which leads be to believe the Dremel trick won't work unless I move to diamond bits.... (Jharrisx5: My Dremel with wire brush is permanently plugged in and ready to rock - it's my go-to solution for many things - but I didn't want to scratch the glass.) I think Vroomp came closest in suggesting there's a thin layer of glass somehow sealing the print in. I think I'm going to have to get extremely aggressive on this one. Oh, and C120Driver, nuclear fission would just turn it all to glass... which is part of the problem...

-c

[nirab]

How about leaving it alone? Or covering it with a cigar sticker? Or, paint over that mofo? Or not...

[ntanner]

What Brian said. Borrow some of the wife's nail polish or put a cigar sticker over it.

[C130Driver]

In all seriousness, that really sucks. Everyone these days knows the risks of smoking, just let me do it in peace. I agree it takes away from the vibe the ashtray provides. Is it textured at all? Maybe a really high grit sandpaper.

[Ken Kelley]

I think what you got right there is a fired on ceramic decal. If that's the case then you are pretty much screwed. Ain't no way to get it off because it is part of the glass. Live with it or cover it up are your choices I reckon.



http://www.ceramicdecals.org/Glass_Decals.html

[c9belayer]

So I finally got out the Dremel and went to town. The wire brush did nothing. I switched to a diamond bit and that worked great, though it permanently etched the glass. I think I'll chalk it up to a loss, and get back to my many other projects like rebuilding the inside of my Whynter cigar cooler. So far I've made better shelves, and am now working on a removable tray system with configurable dividers. I'll post pics, specs, and dimensional drawings when finished. Thanks for the inputs, guys! What a great forum.

[McBryde]

Goes to show me which type of ashtrays to never get now, sorry for the bad luck, but thanks for the info!

E

[bstessl]

Holy shyte!  I never knew there were risks to this!

welcome to the site,  looking forward for pics on the cooler project!

[nirab]

How about a sticker, proclaiming the risks of not smoking cigars???

Warning: By choosing not to smoke cigars, you run the risk of being a complete and miserable a$$hole!    

[Ken Kelley]

nirab - 1/2/2016  3:51 AM

How about a sticker, proclaiming the risks of not smoking cigars???

Warning: By choosing not to smoke cigars, you run the risk of being a complete and miserable a$$hole!    

Yup! That pretty much takes care of the issue!