Decal, pinstripe removal

roger black

New member
Dec 2, 1998
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To remove decals, and other items with gummy stuff left, I use an item
called Goo Gone. K-Mart has it in the household area. Buck a bottle.
Great lemon smell so you may get your wife to do the job. Test it first.
Used it on my new truck to remove dealer decal and residue. Introduced to
it by antique dealer for removing price stickers.

As for removing pinstriping and the larger graphics, use a hair dryer to
loosen the stuff. Work small areas and remove gently. a heat gun will work
but very carefully or you might cause more problems than the striping. Then
go over the area with Goo Gone to remove any gum residue.

While working, I used green alcohol to remove gum left from decals on glass.
The clear doesn't work as well for some reason. Moisten a paper towel with
the stuff and apply to stubborn decals and it will work after several
applications. Works better if the decal can be worked loose with fingernail
so the alcohol can get under the decal. This will also work on other
surfaces to remove gum residue.

Roger
 
Has anyone tried sanding off the decals prior to a repaint?

Richard Guthart
'77 Birchaven

>To remove decals, and other items with gummy stuff left, I use an item
>called Goo Gone.....
 
Richard,

Sanding is usually not a recommended option because you will sand the body
where the decal does not cover just as much as you sand the part where the
decal is. By the time you get rid of the decal, you have sanded too much
all around the decal and not enough where the decal was. You would then
have to blend in the entire area with the rest of the body. Usually it is
best if you can get the decal off some other way (scraping, heating, Goo
Gone, etc.) first.

Zak

>Has anyone tried sanding off the decals prior to a repaint?
>
>Richard Guthart
>'77 Birchaven
>
>>To remove decals, and other items with gummy stuff left, I use an item
>>called Goo Gone.....
>
>
 
3M makes a disc specifically for removing decals. Its official name is
Scotch-Brite Molding Adhesive and Stripe Removal Disc, PN 051131-07501.
It must be used with a high speed drill (4500 RPM). It will completely
remove the decal and not do any damage to the paint underneath the decal
or around
it. I demonstrated this product at a convention several years ago. I
presume
it can be purchased at any auto paint supply house or 3M distributor.

>
> Has anyone tried sanding off the decals prior to a repaint?
>
> Richard Guthart
> '77 Birchaven
>
> >To remove decals, and other items with gummy stuff left, I use an item
> >called Goo Gone.....
 
Roger wrote...

>To remove decals, and other items with gummy stuff left, I use an
>item
>called Goo Gone. K-Mart has it in the household area. Buck a
>bottle.
>Great lemon smell so you may get your wife to do the job. Test it
>first.
>Used it on my new truck to remove dealer decal and residue.
>Introduced to
>it by antique dealer for removing price stickers.
>
>As for removing pinstriping and the larger graphics, use a hair dryer
>to
>loosen the stuff. Work small areas and remove gently. a heat gun will
>work
>but very carefully or you might cause more problems than the striping.
> Then
>go over the area with Goo Gone to remove any gum residue.
>
>While working, I used green alcohol to remove gum left from decals on
>glass.
>The clear doesn't work as well for some reason. Moisten a paper towel
>with
>the stuff and apply to stubborn decals and it will work after several
>applications. Works better if the decal can be worked loose with
>fingernail
>so the alcohol can get under the decal. This will also work on other
>surfaces to remove gum residue.
>
>Roger
>
>Don't make it sound so easy, Roger, until you have removed 25 year old,
baked on stripes from a GMC! I know some who have and it was the toughest
part of the pre paint prep chore. They ended up sanding the decals and
stripes off and, sad to say one can see thru the paint, where they were.

David Lee Greenberg
GMC Motorhome Registry
200 MacFarlane Dr PH4N
Delray Beach, FL 33483-6829
561/243-0402
 
Richard,

There are several methods that have been used by GMC'ers in the past.

3M company makes a woodgrain and strip remover under part and
adhesive remover under part The stuff is somewhat expensive per
can but it does work.

Scotch Brite make a special buffing disk in 4 & 6 inch sizes design to
be use with a portable drill or slow buffer(2000 to 3000 surface feet
per minute).
Part# for the 4" is #07501(aprox 16.00 ea), 6" is 07502( approx 19.00
each) and reloc and holder is #07500(8.00).

Another method is to use a hair dryer or heat gun and carfully scrape
the decal off. One of the best scraper is a plastic electrical outlet
wall plate using the sharp edge.

J.R. Wright
77 Eleganza II

>
> Richard,
>
> Sanding is usually not a recommended option because you will sand the body
> where the decal does not cover just as much as you sand the part where the
> decal is. By the time you get rid of the decal, you have sanded too much
> all around the decal and not enough where the decal was. You would then
> have to blend in the entire area with the rest of the body. Usually it is
> best if you can get the decal off some other way (scraping, heating, Goo
> Gone, etc.) first.
>
> Zak
>

> >Has anyone tried sanding off the decals prior to a repaint?
> >
> >Richard Guthart
> >'77 Birchaven
> >
> >>To remove decals, and other items with gummy stuff left, I use an item
> >>called Goo Gone.....
> >
> >
 
Dave,
How about 10-15 yr old decals off of Plexiglas of convenience store doors
without using scrapers, just technique, without scratching. Every job is
different, just have to find the technique that works. I know fiberglass is
different and soon I may be able to try that one too.

Roger
 
Thanks! I'll check this out.

I tried the heat method with scraper but was VERY slow-going.

Richard Guthart
'77 Birchaven

>3M makes a disc specifically for removing decals. Its official name is
>Scotch-Brite Molding Adhesive and Stripe Removal Disc, PN 051131-07501.
>It must be used with a high speed drill (4500 RPM). It will completely
>remove the decal and not do any damage to the paint underneath the decal
>or around
>it. I demonstrated this product at a convention several years ago. I
>presume
>it can be purchased at any auto paint supply house or 3M distributor.
>

>>
>> Has anyone tried sanding off the decals prior to a repaint?
>>
>> Richard Guthart
>> '77 Birchaven
>>
>> >To remove decals, and other items with gummy stuff left, I use an item
>> >called Goo Gone.....
>
 
Arch,

I'm tempted to try this to see if some critter with a rough tongue would
come along and try to lick it off! :-)

Richard Guthart
'77 Birchaven

>I know you are all going to laugh but here goes. Smear it in mayo.
>Let it set for at least 2 hours. Then try to rub it off. I do not know if
>this will work on decals but it works on old bumper stickers.
>
>Take Care
>Arch