vga's 1 minute guide to removing tape from (video) game boxes
if you've got a box with old tape on it that you'd like to remove, this is the method i've refined over the past 20 years. it takes patience and time, but it works without doing *more* damage to the box, and leaves the art intact. this method uses NO chemicals which only make things worse. goo-gone is not the way.
pic 1. apply heat with a hairdryer to the tape. remove only an inch or two at a time by lifting firmly but gently
pic 2. inevitably you'll find a tear in the artwork. peel the tape *towards the tear*, increasingly gently as you get near it.
it took me about 20 minutes to remove all of this tape on this box, peeling away an inch at a time, heating the next section of tape, on repeat.
if the surface is nice because the tape took all of its glue with it, you're done.
but you'll more likely end up with a gooey surface.
pic 3. apply a piece of scotch tape to the gooey adhesive on the box. goo loves to stick to goo! lift the scotch tape, and then press it down again on the goo. if the goo is really hard, use the hair dryer for 15-30 seconds to melt it a bit. do this process over and over, and you'll notice more glue gets lifted off of the surface. toss the scotch tape after a few pulls, and do it again with a fresh piece.
pic 4. you're done. pat yourself on the back for taking 1.5 hours to do a job no one else on the planet would bother doing because no one is that neurotic
