Poster Glued to Hardboard - DIY Restoration

[Roughoutline]

I've recently procured a "The Man with the Golden Gun" British Quad poster, but some twerp has only gone and glued it some hardboard.

I was wondering if there was any ways of safely removing the poster from the hardboard myself? Some of the edges are peeling slightly, one corner in particular has come free. Please see pictures below.

Full -

Corner Angle 1 -

Corner Angle 2 -

 (not my hair )


I've seen suggestions of steaming, ironing etc but no chance I'm going to dive in head first, without hearing some advice from this esteemed community before hand.

[Harry Caul]

The glue looks like it isn't saturated into the paper too badly, so you might be able to get it off the board without too much damage.  However, usually you would do that by getting the poster wet... and once it gets wet, you'll need to re-back on some other (ideally archival) base like linen.  You'll need to wait for others to chime in to see if it can be removed without getting it so wet that it would require backing.  Maybe some bestie to release the glue?  That will soak into the paper and it can dissolve many adhesives, but then it evaporates off quickly without wrinkling the paper.  CAUTION: USE IN A VENTILATED AREA -- NOXIOUS FUMES!   

Good luck with your project! 

Condition note: in addition to being glued, it has also been trimmed (see top edge). 

[Roughoutline]

Yep, its been trimmed too, its a bit of a mess really.

What is 'Bestie'?

[50s]

Maybe steam on the underside, iron on the top side but don't dive into it head first

Bestie? It's the best

I wouldn't use water as it might leach the backing into the image staining it.
Can you peel it off (working it carefully) could take hours or days but you might get there?
Maybe try a few drops of heptane/Bestine to see if it helps unstick it

Probably not worth separating otherwise if not easyish as above

It looks like even if you get it off, the poster back might still be sticky and stick to something else later or stick to itself, accidentally then tearing it?



 

[Harry Caul]

What is 'Bestie'?

Sorry, spell check censoring... Bestine. 

http://www.amazon.com/Bestine-Solvent-and-Thinner-4-Ounce/dp/B0027AEEFI/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1433424422&sr=8-2&keywords=bestine

[Roughoutline]

Sorry, spell check censoring... Bestine. 

http://www.amazon.com/Bestine-Solvent-and-Thinner-4-Ounce/dp/B0027AEEFI/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1433424422&sr=8-2&keywords=bestine

So with a cloth, literally go over the entire poster with solvent thinner?

[Harry Caul]

So with a cloth, literally go over the entire poster with solvent thinner?

I would start in one spot (one of the corners that is already lifting) and do a little at a time.  You'll see how it works pretty quickly.  Maybe use cotton balls to saturate a small section of the paper, then carefully lift the poster -- maybe also use a paint scraper/butter knife to aid in separation.  Just remember that the bestine will (hopefully) release the adhesive, but it will also make the paper saturated and weak until it evaporates.  Just go slow and be careful.  If you rush it you'll probably punch through the paper -- I would expect to do that a few times given this is your first try with it.  And again, get a mask and use good ventilation! 

[110x75]

And again, get a mask and use good ventilation! 

And miss all the fun? 

[paul waines]

If your UK based Lighter fluid will do the trick. I took one off a couple of months back.

[Roughoutline]

I tried white spirit (heptane), didn't do anything.

I'll try lighter fluid (butane) and report back.

[paul waines]

White spirit won't shift it.. it's a different thing altogether. Oh and don't use water of any kind on it, it will kill the paper...

Make sure you get a good lighter fluid like Ronson or the like. Then don't be scared to use plenty, let it soak in for a while, but keep the paper wet as you start to lift it. You can do corners at first to get a bit of confidence, but when you go for the whole lot, make sure you have plenty of time, as steady away is the only way you can do it. A Knife is a good idea, but not too sharp as you don't want to cut the paper by mistake, you just need to help ease it up.

I did have some pics in a thread somewhere, but I think they were wiped off in the Photobucket saga..  

[Roughoutline]

I'm going to get some Swan stuff, how much in terms of 'ml' do you think it will take?

Also, when you say use plenty, are you talking about dousing it straight on, or just dabbing generously with a cloth?

I'll probably try a stanley blade, whilst being very, very careful.

I'd love to see some pics of your effort, would be a shame if they've been wiped.

[paul waines]

I've used Swan before, it works fine but the other is a bit better.

I used about 3/4 of a bottle or so on the full poster I did. Don't use a cloth, just squirt it on using the nozzle. It will seem like you have a big patch of the fluid, but don't worry, and give it enough time to soak through. You'll tell when there's enough and it's soaked through as it will start to lift, with a gentle pull, but if it feels like it's pulling back, you need more on and give it a bit more time. You can at this point use the knife just to ease the paper off by working it back and forth slowly.

I wouldn't use a Stanley blade, they are too sharp, see what's in the kitchen drawer.... They can be cleaned afterwards with the fluid, so the misses won't know.

I'll have a look to see if I can find any of the pics.

[Roughoutline]

Tried lighter fluid, no luck. And I was pouring it on. Would not budge.

The outer edge is glued on by something very strong, whilst the inside is some weak glue that can be separated with a bit of gentle force.

[erik1925]

Could be an epoxy-based kind of glue, too. 

Tough stuff, it can be, as the solvents used for that could also be deadly harsh to the paper.

Be careful, if that's what this adhesive might be.

[Roughoutline]

On the back of the hardboard, it says its from a professional framers, who I've tried to get in contact with but to no avail, so yeah, its probably something very strong and not meant to budge. Though that one corner I've shown in the photos has peeled away somehow, completely fine. Its an annoying mystery.

[erik1925]

And that one corner may not have ever been secured to begin with, either.

 

[paul waines]

That corner may have peeled off with heat over time..

If lighter fluid doesn't touch it, I think it's there to stay. I'd get a frame for it and put it up as is.

[50s]

I tried white spirit (heptane), didn't do anything.

White spirit won't shift it.. it's a different thing altogether.

Paul is correct White Spirit wont work

Though, Heptane is not a white spirit

Bestine® is 100% Heptane  Ref 1 2
See video of using heptane to remove a sticker

[Simes]

Looks like this chap gave up as the poster is back up for sale - 10 bids and current price is 99p.

Good luck fella.

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Original-James-Bond-The-Man-With-The-Golden-Gun-British-Quad-Film-Movie-Poster-/301654766487?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_3&hash=item463c067397

[Undead]

More than likely it is dry mounted if it still won't budge and is the most common way that professional framers destroy, I mean mount a poster to be framed.

[Bart]

Hi,I've just bought a poster that's glued to a half inch thick piece of chipboard.Ive been reading this thread and desired to have a go of trying to remove the poster using Ronson lighter fluid,it's allready started peeling away at the left hand corner,so I will try it there first.Im going to buy the fluid now and will let you know how I get on later,I'll try and post some pics as well.

[50s]

^ good luck... Be careful not to ignite it by accident!

[paul waines]

Just make sure you have plenty of time, this isn't a quick job, and don't be afraid to soak the paper with the fluid. Good luck.

And do post some pics..

[50s]

Yesterday I read on Facebook about someone wanting to remove a heap of posters glued to a wall and the suggestion was using a clothes steamer but not make direct contact somehow... Maybe something like that could work in this case?