Old Decal Removal Tips?

[ted_naps]

I’m going to lose my mind scraping my old vinyl stripes that are cracked and baked on. Picture is from an hour of work. Any tips to make this go quicker?

Sponsored

 

[SheepDog]

Heat. Goof off, eraser wheel.

https://www.amazon.com/Remover-Adhe...9519-B0B421XZVL-&hvexpln=73&gad_source=1&th=1

 

[S550HPP]

Heat gun to get the film off as much as possible then acetone, lacquer thinner or gun wash to get residue off using cotton rag.

If residue is problematic use razor blade after chemicals soften it up and then white scotchbrite saturated with chemical. Use protective gloves in a well ventilated area.

The clear can handle all of these chemicals. Do a test spot first

 

[jloshotz]

As mentioned above, HEAT. Just don’t get it so hot that you bubble the paint. A few years back (and I know this is a WAY smaller job) I used a heat gun to get a 15 year old dealer sticker that was cracked and couldn’t even be read anymore off of a plastic Camaro bumper. With a decent amount of heat, it basically WIPED right off with a rag, leaving zero trace of it have ever being there, paint underneath held up perfectly. Definitely give it a shot in a small area so you can get a feel for how much heat is enough

 

[Geodudes550]

Heat. Goof off, eraser wheel.

https://www.amazon.com/Remover-Adhe...9519-B0B421XZVL-&hvexpln=73&gad_source=1&th=1

Second the eraser wheel. If you get one, it works a lot better if you roughen it a bit on cement before taking it to the decal. Check the wheel with your finger to make sure there’s nothing embedded in the rubber before you put it on the paint though. If the eraser wheel is smooth and not roughened a bit, it will heat the paint faster. Just absolutely make sure there’s no grit in the rubber before it touches the car if you elect to roughen the eraser wheel.

 

[skinnyb]

Second all the above hardware removal methods. For a sledgehammer chemical to help soften it up, Koch Chemie Eulex is fantastic for that. It's really potent and do not get it on plastic. But safe for clear painted metal surfaces..

 

[ted_naps]

After wasting 3 hours I bought an eraser wheel and now I won’t kms Thanks for the tips. With how baked in these are, heat didn’t really affect anything. I’ll end up buying some cheaper ones online to do the rest of the stripes and report back on how those compare.

 

[MAGS1]

If you know someone with a steamer, that will do the trick and will be a lot cleaner. I encountered the same issue on my 2016. Stripes were baked on and I spent several hours trying to remove them. I gave up and paid a detail shop to remove them with their steamer. They were done in a couple hours and even polished everything for me (which I was planning to do myself). Best $300 I ever spent

 

[Cobra Jet]

Does an eraser wheel mess up the clearcoat? I’ve never had to use one, but it looks like it makes quite a mess…

 

[MAGS1]

Does an eraser wheel mess up the clearcoat? I’ve never had to use one, but it looks like it makes quite a mess…

I’m not a fan of eraser wheels personally but if you get the automotive ones they’re not too bad. You’ll need to polish the car after using one but they don’t leave anything deep unless you just grind away in one concentrated area. Similar to a polisher, keep it moving and you’ll be ok.

 

[Tucker80]

The absolute best remover is "un-do". It's seriously magical, alien technology.

 

[50ALM]

I would warn against using Goof Off.
It contains acetone, and that is not good for paint.

 

[Bob Lob Law]

That is exactly why I had the factory "over the top" stripes removed when I bought the car. Painted stripes would have been ok, but, screw stickers!

 

[Unbridled5.0]

Citrol

 

[CobaltFilly]

Heat. Goof off, eraser wheel.

https://www.amazon.com/Remover-Adhe...9519-B0B421XZVL-&hvexpln=73&gad_source=1&th=1

Exactly this. This is what I do in my detailing business.
Apply these seperately though as it can be quite abrasive. Stick to using smaller amounts of goof off on a disposable towel.

Sponsored