I've got a bow that I just traded for and I'm wanting to remove the sideplate and rug to replace them. They are gonna leave a lotta junk (black leather and glue). Will it be safe and not discolor the wood or damage it to remove the residue from the bow with GooBeGone ???

Enquiring minds wanna know.........I already did a search and only found one thread back to around 2009 or so.

Anyone with any experience with this at all, I would appreciate your opinions.

Thanks..........in advance

Winterhawk1960

I would like to know as well. Every time I remove a strike plate and shelf material to install a rest I just can't get rid of all the residue.

Isopropyl alcohol doesn't do it.

Try mineral spirits.
I've used it on Bear & Martin bows and it worked really well.

Not sure what the finish is on your bow but normally min spirits won't harm a cured finish.

I just used googone to remove residue on two cheapo bows while replacing rest and sideplate and it seemed to work fine without marring finish.  I am no expert though and I may still be a little scared to try it on bows with any monetary value.

I've used it before just don't let it set to long,than wipe off any excess with alchohal.

Goobegone generally does not harm a finish if it is in decent shape.

ive used the laquer thinner with good results

Goof Off works better than Goo b Gone in my opinion. I spray it on, let it work a bit, and wipe it off. No damage to the finish. Acetone works too.

I've used it on dozens of old bows for years for just the purpose you mention. Great stuff, pretty mild solvent. Sometimes takes several applications for real hard/dry stuff. I'd be careful with Goof-Off. Pretty harsh stuff.

I've had good success with peanut butter.  Let is sit for awhile then wipe off, may take a few times but is gentle.

I had the best results with Oops! I had taped(camo) up my father's recurve when I was 14. It stayed on that bow until I was 32. Not pretty, but sure is now.

lots of experience with everything sold at Lowe's. I used to be a vendor there and was constantly having to clean shelving beams of residue. Oops is probably best for finish preservation. I used it on a Bear Brown Bear that was taped,(dried out as well) and the finish was unharmed. Goo Gone in the pump bottle,(orange liquid) is okay too. Goo Gone Extreme is to be avoided like the plague, as well as Goof Off. They will strip the finish. They are for graffiti removal and such and work great for that but I would never but it on a bow.Acetone?!! Really? I don't thinks so, but have no experience with that one on wood. I've cleaned metal parts with it and it was harsh.Use shop towels and take your time...it will take longer to fix the finish if you use any abrasives like steel wool.

wd40 is the ticket. It will not harm any finish.

I tried a bunch of different solutions recently on a bow I was working on. Nothing seemed to work, so I just refinished the whole bow    

First time ever doing it and now I wonder why I waited... It came out gorgeous!

Googone is great stuff, but it leaves an oily residue. Just be sure to wipe that off beofre you try to stick another rest on, and you'll be fine.

I have used GooGone to clean off sticky residue but never from a finished wood surface.  Think I would use caution with paint thinners, have had good results cleaning wood surfaces using Milsek with orange oil.

I was going to say WD40 but someone beat me to it.

i used goo be gone and wd40. they both worked well, with no harm to the finish.

Thanks everyone......actually it is called GooGone. I took the plunge and gave it a try, I kept the rubbing alcohol close by to remove the oily residue because it is petroleum based. It worked like a charm, the bow had quite an accumulation of "crap" on the strikeplate side of  the riser and the shelf. It now is clean as a whistle.

Winterhawk1960

Yup like SPS said, peanut butter!! No offensive smell and  usually only takes a couple applications!! Shawn