This is what collectors have to face as their collections age or as they find them hopefully with the label before it completely falls off. And it's not just Atari 2600 labels - any cartridge with a sticker can have this happen if they used cheap adhesive.
This is what I've used to restick labels that have fallen off. Now, the remover shown isn't what you have to use, it's just what I found for a decent price. You need the little salt shaker (or some other little glass container) to control the fumes from the solvent remover. Apply it with qtips because it will damage the cartridge plastic case - use it sparingly on the plastic. Brush it quickly over the old adhesive a few times. The Qtip will turn a little black - some of the colorant from the plastic is coming out. This is why you have to be careful. Check it with your finger after the remover has dried or evaporated to see if you got it all off.
It's easier to know when you've gotten the old adhesive off the label - it'll leave a yellow stain on the Qtip when you remove it, and the stuff you need to remove is shiny on the label. When you've got enough off, it'll no longer be shiny.
So why do you need to remove the old adhesive? You need a fresh surface for the new stuff to grab onto. If you just leave the old stuff and then add new adhesive, you'll get an uneven look in the label. You don't want that. And it leaves things open for the label to fall off again rather soon.
Now, I chose a spray adhesive that wasn't expensive, didn't need venting because it has no odor, and was easy to clean up. The main problem with resticking a label is this will make it curl up and away from the surface you're applying it on. Try to spray a consistent light coat (as much as the pump spray will allow), and carefully put in place on the cartridge. Hold it down with your fingers as the adhesive begins to dry, paying attention to any lifting of the label. It will take some time, so be patient. I should see if using a blow dryer will speed up things. But it's during this stage you need to make sure it's sticking flat and eventually it will stay down and dry.
Parker Bros. labels tend to come off a lot, as will those labels on Games By Apollo. Atari end labels tend to fall off more often than any other, mainly due to how they're stored or displayed at flea markets.
The skills learned here can be applied to other sticky labels that fall off, like commercially released VHS tapes.
It's easier to know when you've gotten the old adhesive off the label - it'll leave a yellow stain on the Qtip when you remove it, and the stuff you need to remove is shiny on the label. When you've got enough off, it'll no longer be shiny.
So why do you need to remove the old adhesive? You need a fresh surface for the new stuff to grab onto. If you just leave the old stuff and then add new adhesive, you'll get an uneven look in the label. You don't want that. And it leaves things open for the label to fall off again rather soon.
Now, I chose a spray adhesive that wasn't expensive, didn't need venting because it has no odor, and was easy to clean up. The main problem with resticking a label is this will make it curl up and away from the surface you're applying it on. Try to spray a consistent light coat (as much as the pump spray will allow), and carefully put in place on the cartridge. Hold it down with your fingers as the adhesive begins to dry, paying attention to any lifting of the label. It will take some time, so be patient. I should see if using a blow dryer will speed up things. But it's during this stage you need to make sure it's sticking flat and eventually it will stay down and dry.
Parker Bros. labels tend to come off a lot, as will those labels on Games By Apollo. Atari end labels tend to fall off more often than any other, mainly due to how they're stored or displayed at flea markets.
The skills learned here can be applied to other sticky labels that fall off, like commercially released VHS tapes.
