masking tape - removing it from walnut stock

[painter777]

Use Vegetable oil or WD-40,
Soak the tape with a small rag. Then lay the soaked rag on the old tape and cover it with a piece of cellophane to keep it moist. This should pull the top off, repeat to get the glue residue off. When removing the glue residue a stiff toothbrush should remove it from the grain and pores.

Either of these won't pull your original finish, but you'll probably have some dis-coloration from the tape being on so long.
I've used this method on old antique dressers and document boxes multiple times with great results.

A Heat Gun can cause the Tape's adhesive to become tacky again... Depending on the grade of tape. Some were Low Tack- Others High Tack. If it Tacks up again it's possible you'll pull wood fiber. You don't need heat, you need to break down adhesion.

It'll work

Nearly 50 years of taping stuff !

Merry Christmas

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[browningautorifle]

All of this and yet... "Last On 12-17-2020 @ 08:16 PM"

So he hasn't even come back again to see.

[painter777]

All of this and yet... "Last On 12-17-2020 @ 08:16 PM"

So he hasn't even come back again to see.

I didn't notice that Jim or that this was his 1st post. Guessing he's the kinda guy not in a hurry. See he joined Feb 2020. He must really give things a lot of thought before he posts about them.
No one can say we didn't 'Try' to help.

[ssgross]

and he never even showed a picture.
...for posterity I guess...

[browningautorifle]

I could never stand seeing these threads get longer and longer and people getting upset with each other yet...the OP wasn't even there.

Like a school teacher writing a question on the board and going home.

[ssgross]

well, for what it's worth - I'm certainly not upset...except that my kids and I pondered all afternoon whether a hotdog should be a sandwich or not. To answer the cheerios one, I made them look up gazpacho - now I'm stuck trying to make it for them.

Like a school teacher writing a question on the board and going home.

You mean I'm not supposed to end all my lectures giving students an open question to think about till next time? Here I've been doing it all these years - the best is when its unsolvable problem. The internet has made it harder to come up with really fun ones anymore.
Supermil brought up an interesting point - is it possible to cleanup wood of all its deep grime etc. without "severely altering" (intentional grey definition) it, and better preserving its condition? There was a deep scratch and gouge showing bright wood when I got that rifle. Patina questions aside, it now looks like the scratch/gouge has been there for a hundred years. I'll continue the conversation over there with pictures in more varied lighting - for now I just thought of a documentary I saw once on the Mona Lisa and how it has been renewed/preserved - they did what to the patina? - yes they removed it without harming the underlying painting.

[browningautorifle]

You mean I'm not supposed to end all my lectures

Obviously you deliberately misread this. Instead of teaching... I taught for years too.

[ssgross]

deliberately misread this

I did. Just poking the bear...no offense intended. All smiles and pleasant conversation on this end.

[Daan Kemp]

The discussion afterwards makes it worth while, even when the OP never replies. So much to learn, so few threads.

[painter777]

The discussion afterwards makes it worth while, even when the OP never replies.

Daan,
I agree with the discussion part, but would be nice to see which method was used and if the desired results achieved.

Like I stated above I didn't realize the OP hadn't been back to read replies. Also didn't catch that he didn't own the piece.
OP signed off right after posting.
And had 2 replies in less than 45 minutes.

Hats off to those who replied. Shows there is a good bunch gathered here.

Be Safe and Enjoy the Holidays,