least destructive way to remove & re-mount BH badge?

S

spaniard02

New member
Looking for recommendations/tips/tricks for how to remove & remount a BH badge in the least-destructive manner possible.

The best idea I can think of so far for removal is using a butane torch with a hot blower tip (or possibly a cleaned-up soldering iron directly applied to the brass?) to warm it up and loosen the adhesive on the back so that less force is required to wedge it off (leaving the wood underneath fairly unscathed/even).  I realize I'll have to re-work the finish on the spot where it's removed. 

After that, my best thought was to sand / steel wool the back of it as well as the mounting point and try a super-thin spot of the wood glue I have on-hand to see if that'll work on the sanded brass.  If not that, though, then what's a good adhesive to use for both surfaces?

Thanks
 
How is your wood finished? Something you might try depending on what you have used is to tape up round the badge leaving the top clear and use a pipet to drop nail varnish remover (normally a acetone based derivative) onto the adhesive tab which should soak it up build up the saturation and it should easily come free with a little soak time as the solvent softens the adhesive.

Edit Another way is to try soaking with WD40 the spray oil which should also work by softening the adhesive, give it time to soak first.
 
My first thought was Goo Gone.  That also depends on your finish on the base.

It is not as aggressive as nail polish remover/acetone but might stain unsealed wood.
 
Using fishing line or dental floss to "cut" the adhesive should work.  Wd40 will remove the residue and not mess up the finish. 
 
fullheadofnothing said:
I like that the first idea for a non-destructive technique was shooting fire at wood.
Click to expand...
When I said butane torch, I meant a dinky little Bernzomatic micro torch - basically, a glorified bic lighter.  It's not even all that focused/powerful of a flame.  Was thinking of holding it at a distance underneath the brass badge - so, coaxing warmth towards brass, not 'shooting fire at wood.'    ;)

Turns out the (waxed) floss suggestion worked like a charm for the removal - took about 10 minutes of pretty forceful 'sawing' through the adhesive starting from the one corner out of four that I could get under, but that was definitely best case scenario for removal.  Thanks, bainjs.

Some of the adhesive stayed on the back of the badge, too, so I'm optimistic that I can either re-activate what's there with some light heat or otherwise use some super-light sanding there & on the mounting point with a drop or two of the wood glue for a new adhesive.

Thanks to everyone that chimed in.
 
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