How to remove bottle labels the easy way.

[Falco]

So, update on the superglue that StAustell use on Proper Job.

It’s a proper sticky label glue for a proper beer unfortunately, you might be right about it's secret chemical makeup

My earlier post about isopropyl alcohol doing the business no longer seems to work on these labels, also tried contact adhesive solvent which works up a point but it's a right faff.

I'd be interested to hear about your heating method. I'm thinking put the empty bottles in a warm oven (60C ish) for 10 minutes or so then peel off the label hopefully with most of the pixie glue with it

 

[An Ankoù]

Suggest a quick email to St Austell Customer Services advising of imminent boycott of their products until they change their glue.
Consumer power! Yeah!

 

[Cheshire Cat]

I've got 4 Proper Job bottles whose labels are stubbornly refusing to shift, so my plan is get more and brew a clone. I've got a batch of Proper job now but it's in the Corny.

 

[Cheshire Cat]

I've got 4 Proper Job bottles whose labels are stubbornly refusing to shift, so my plan is get more and brew a clone. I've got a batch of Proper job now but it's in the Corny.

Or the Viz version
Can't get labels off Proper Job bottles? No problem buy additional bottles up to 40 in total, empty them down the drain and refill with your clone.

 

[Jon1964]

I've got 4 Proper Job bottles whose labels are stubbornly refusing to shift, so my plan is get more and brew a clone. I've got a batch of Proper job now but it's in the Corny.

You should send me the corny immediately, then I can test out my proper job bottles with your proper job clone

 

[Jon1964]

Solved it
I have beaten the pixie glue
Tried heat, didn't work
Bottle in microwave 20 secs on 800 power. Label crackled a bit, glass very hot. Label came away, glue still intact.
This did the job in 7 minutes

 

[Jon1964]

Apply the spray onto label glue (it stinks BTW might be best outdoors) leave the bottle standing for 7 minutes as instructions, then wash immediately with warm soapy water and wipe with a green scour pad.
Result squeaky clean bottle.
Available in Halford amongst others

The stuff is called DE-SOLV-IT and goes a long way.

 

[Falco]

I’ve had success this afternoon with a stainless steel scrubber, a small amount of liquid hand soap and hot tap water. Didn’t take too long, couple of minutes. I’ll keep an eye out for the De‐Solv‐it Sticky Stuff though, cheers for that @Jon1964

 

[Jon1964]

I’ve had success this afternoon with a stainless steel scrubber, a small amount of liquid hand soap and hot tap water. Didn’t take too long, couple of minutes. I’ll keep an eye out for the De‐Solv‐it Sticky Stuff though, cheers for that @Jon1964

It's a good product looking at reviews, and worth having a can in for other uses.
My next bottle investigation is Marstons old empire Ipa
Cheers Jon

 

[wobblywalker]

With 'Proper Job' labels, I find, if I nick a 'm*rigold' (left hand) from 'er indoors and run the bottle under hot running water (50 degrees +) the label peels of pretty easy.Then using a metal pan scourer (like coarse wire wool) with washing -up liquid the glue comes off pretty well for me,just needs a bit of elbow grease.

 

[Cheshire Cat]

I’ve had success this afternoon with a stainless steel scrubber, a small amount of liquid hand soap and hot tap water. Didn’t take too long, couple of minutes. I’ll keep an eye out for the De‐Solv‐it Sticky Stuff though, cheers for that @Jon1964

Yes sounds fun but what about label removal?

 

[micklupulo]

I
Personally I don't bother and like to package in bottles appropriate to the brew. I also think this beats Damien Hirst's medicine cabinet any day!

 

[Clint]

View attachment 34117I
Personally I don't bother and like to package in bottles appropriate to the brew. I also think this beats Damien Hirst's medicine cabinet any day!

...you must do a lot of small batches.

 

[micklupulo]

...you must do a lot of small batches.

Not at all I have at least 300 bottles and do not have much trouble selecting 40 of a particular type.The photo was taken before I adopted this admittedly rather anal practice.

 

[Clint]

300...a respectable amount!

 

[Nidger]

View attachment 34117I
Personally I don't bother and like to package in bottles appropriate to the brew. I also think this beats Damien Hirst's medicine cabinet any day!

I was wondering the point of label removal.
The brown lidl cider bottles I've collected are a real pita,
Three labels per bottle and a plastic/foil affair.

Out of around 50 bottles i think I've de'labeled 20.
I won't bother with the rest and use them for my MYO strawberry and lime cider kit, just as the labels state

I'll do all my wine bottles,
They are easier being paper type and would probably end up looking tatty.
Cheers

 

[Mavroz]

Not sure what is so complicated about removing plastic labels that are heavily stuck such as St Austell labels.
I have recycled maybe 1000 bottles in a couple of years now. (Not all plastic labels)
I have posted this a few times and it really does save all the faff with chemicals, scrubbers, gauntlets, losing skin from fingers, damage to health etc.

Warm bottle under hot tap.
Peel label off plastic labels.
Buy a can or two of this.
31629-AB | Ambersil 200 ml Aerosol Label Remover | RS Components
Spray over label glue left on bottle.
Leave one minute.
Wipe off with cloth.
Spray over label glue.
Leave another minute.
Wipe last residue from bottle.
Wash bottle under warm tap with some washing up liquid.
Rinse wash liquid off thoroughly.
Now Follow your regular bottke cleaning procedure.

Failing that, steer away from plastic labelled bottles and just drink beer from bottles with paper labels.

 

[Binkei Huckaback]

So, update on the superglue that StAustell use on Proper Job.
I think it is Cornish Pixie sweat and Unicorn grease
Full overnight soak in sodium percarbonate, slight movement using a green scotchbrite pad
Magic Eraser rubber, nothing at all.
99.9% acetone nope
25grams per litre caustic soda (sodium hydroxide 99%pure) soak for 1 hour, we have movement with green scourer at last.
For doing a large amount it will be costly making up enough solution, and always wear gloves preferably long arm gauntlet style, and eye protection.
Next batch, I am trying a heating method.
More to follow
Cheers Jon

Would it not be easier to use different bottles which have paper labels and no embossing on the bottles?

 

[Jon1964]

Would it not be easier to use different bottles which have paper labels and no embossing on the bottles?

I like a challenge
I have actually got some Marstons empire Ipa ones now, which are a lot easier.

 

[Twostage]

Recently re-joined the forum after a few years of not brewing. Thought I'd resurrect this thread as I've been label removing today. I've found that different bottles need different techniques and there are different label materials now. Maybe others could add to this thread too.

So today I've found out :-

Erdinger, Theakston's black sheep, Greene king IPA and Abbot (and possibly their other bottles too) the labels just peel off after a soak. No residue. Nice.

Shipyard and Saltaire blond - soak and peel off relatively easily. Leaves a residue that a soft steel wool brush on a dremel removes quite easily.

Theakston's Cry wolf Black IPA the label is metallic and just peels off (you have to pick at a corner) without soaking. It leaves a sticky residue which you can put up with which I decided to do. I tried the dremel approach and it was being reluctant so packed in.

Double maxim - I should have tried the Cry wolf method I think. Tried soaking and scratching with a sharp knife and it didn't want to move. Gave in.

Cheers,