Removing Labels from Old Bottles
 

While most of the posts dealing with labels deal with making new ones, I
am wondering how to deal with the ones on old bottles I am collecting to
bottle about 10 gallons of Zinfandel and Barberra I made this fall. Many
wine bottles these days seem to use plastic coated paper labels, which
look about impossible to get off without soaking them in a vat of
Acetone, or equally nasty solvent. Any ideas?

73 de Bruce N3LSY

Used to soak them in soapy water in a big plastic tub, sometimes for a
week till I got back to them, still hadda scrub, scrape & just
generally spend alot of time screwing around with some of them. I found
the best way to deal with them is to give them to somebody that wants
them, then go buy new bottles. Open the box, sterilize them, fill 'em,
cork 'em, have a nice day. It's worth it, to me, whatever I'm paying
for them at the time. Good luck.

Bruce_Nolte_N3LSY& wrote:

> While most of the posts dealing with labels deal with making new ones,
> I am wondering how to deal with the ones on old bottles I am
> collecting to bottle about 10 gallons of Zinfandel and Barberra I made
> this fall. Many wine bottles these days seem to use plastic coated
> paper labels, which look about impossible to get off without soaking
> them in a vat of Acetone, or equally nasty solvent. Any ideas?
>
> 73 de Bruce N3LSY

Found with some just filling the bottle with very hot water and letting
it sit for a few minutes softens the glue enough the label can be slowly
peeled off. try this first I found once they got wet this didn't work.

Rick

Bruce_Nolte_N3LSY& wrote:

> While most of the posts dealing with labels deal with making new ones, I
> am wondering how to deal with the ones on old bottles I am collecting to
> bottle about 10 gallons of Zinfandel and Barberra I made this fall. Many
> wine bottles these days seem to use plastic coated paper labels, which
> look about impossible to get off without soaking them in a vat of
> Acetone, or equally nasty solvent. Any ideas?
>
> 73 de Bruce N3LSY

Thanks for all the tips. The family is saving their wine bottles for me,
and hopefully I will have enough collected by Summer to bottle my 2004
batches.

Bruce_Nolte_N3LSY& wrote:

> While most of the posts dealing with labels deal with making new ones, I
> am wondering how to deal with the ones on old bottles I am collecting to
> bottle about 10 gallons of Zinfandel and Barberra I made this fall. Many
> wine bottles these days seem to use plastic coated paper labels, which
> look about impossible to get off without soaking them in a vat of
> Acetone, or equally nasty solvent. Any ideas?
>
> 73 de Bruce N3LSY

Thanks for all the tips. The family is saving their wine bottles for me,
and hopefully I will have enough collected by Summer to bottle my 2004
batches.

The best I found was really hot water with a little goo-be-gone
squirted into the water. After 5 minutes or so, either they peeled off
or I could get them with a vegetable peeler. But after a few years of
lost hours (and hours), more than a few tossed bottles, and a really
sore back, feet, and hands every time, I finally decided to just buy
clean bottles like Pater, and recycle all the old bottles, so that I
could buy them new again later.

Rob

Before delabeling, discard bottles that have non standard cork sizes.

I use a 5 gallon or so bucket, water filled bottles in bucket until just over
tops, then about a 1/2 or a cup of plain bleach. A few days then scrape with
table knife, a final scrub with a pot scrubber pad and then rinse.

John H.

Before delabeling, discard bottles that have non standard cork sizes.

I use a 5 gallon or so bucket, water filled bottles in bucket until just over
tops, then about a 1/2 or a cup of plain bleach. A few days then scrape with
table knife, a final scrub with a pot scrubber pad and then rinse.

John H.

"RKG" > wrote in message
...
> Bruce_Nolte_N3LSY& wrote:
>
> > While most of the posts dealing with labels deal with making new ones,
> > I am wondering how to deal with the ones on old bottles I am
> > collecting to bottle about 10 gallons of Zinfandel and Barberra I made
> > this fall. Many wine bottles these days seem to use plastic coated
> > paper labels, which look about impossible to get off without soaking
> > them in a vat of Acetone, or equally nasty solvent. Any ideas?
> >
> > 73 de Bruce N3LSY
>
> Found with some just filling the bottle with very hot water and letting
> it sit for a few minutes softens the glue enough the label can be slowly
> peeled off. try this first I found once they got wet this didn't work.
>

This is a brilliant idea!!!! I'll have to try it!!!!!
THANKS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

> Rick