Shafts will not clean up. Tacky/Sticky

[DocParty]

Have a set of La Jolla clubs to re-grip. They are in perfect shape, just old, and have been sitting in a bag with the rain hood zipped up.

I took one out and re-gripped it and then as usual went on to clean the head and then the shaft.

I cannot get the shaft clean. It remains sticky/tacky.

I used typical grip solvent which always has worked for me. Then some grip wipes, with bleach in them. Then some Simple Green, 95% rubbing alcohol.

They all feel slick as cat poop on linoleum as soon as I stop cleaning, but less than 1 minute later, they are tacky again.

I'm lost? Any of you ever experience this? Feels just like the sticky side of painters tape or tree sap.

Cya

Doc

Edited May 18, 2016 by DocParty

[SavvySwede]

[David in FL]

Have you tried mineral spirits?

[DocParty]

Yes.

It seems that everything I use does a great job. then in a few seconds after I quit cleaning and rubbing it, the tackiness comes back. I'm lost. I have it 80% removed but it just keeps coming back albeit with less tackiness.

I'll try goo gone tomorrow but am stumped as to what this stuff is. Will it hurt the finish or paint of a golf club shaft?

Even the back of the iron heads have this stuff on it and it's cleaned off easier on the heads with a wire golf cleaning brush and some dish-washing liquid and some comet.

Maybe my steamer will help? I have a small one for tools and small items.

[Hardspoon]

If you have any nail polish remover around the house, give that a try.

[DocParty]

Will try the goo stuff first.

I'm concerned about anything too 'hot' that might take the paint off the shafts?

Any experience in using it on painted shafts?

[GLewis]

charcoal lighter fluid

 

[DocParty]

Thanks much to all.

Still have no idea what it was but I've gotten it off with all of your help.

[chilepepper]

Be careful with acetone/nail polish remover and other" hot" solvents on painted shafts. Might do a small test spot first to see if it affects the finish

[DocParty]

Understood completely.

After 4 different attempts, grip solvent, mineral spirits, regular rubbing alcohol and the 95% rubbing alcohol I finally tried a paint remover called Goo Gone and it worked in 30 seconds.

Thanks much for all the advice. I have never seen any set of clubs in my 65 years of living with such sticky stuff on them. I would really love to have known what it was. The inside of the bag was also coated in it. Just really sticky like the back of a bumper sticker before you put it on.

Cya

[Buckeyebowman]

On 5/18/2016 at 8:56 PM, David in FL said:

Have you tried mineral spirits?

Glad you got it worked out. I was going to suggest that if mineral spirits didn't work, acetone should. It always seems that one or the other will clean up a sticky mess.