What do you use to remove vinyl from a truck window...window is tinted so don't want any residue. Can I use Orange Peel, razor blade, wipe with laquer thinner, then alcohol -of course being careful not to get any of this on the truck paint...just want to make sure- this is my first removal of vinyl on glass.
Posted by Dave Grundy (Member # 103) on :
Beth..If the vinyl is on the outside of the glass and it is an aftermarket tint on the inside, just slice it off with a rasor blade and clean up with Orange Peel or Rapid Remover.
After that you can use Windex or whatever to do the final cleanup.
(Obviously, if it is an aftermarket tint film on the inside and vinyl was applied to it, you might as well tell the customer to figure on a re-tint)
If the vehicle is an original factory finish don't worry about solvents hurting it.
(edited to add..I always "hone" the rasor blade by dragging it backwards over a smooth steel surface to remove any sharpness on the underside of the blade, paying particular attention to tilt it to REALLY round off the two corners well. I use this method and can slice vinyl off a painted finish without any damage, so slicing it off glass is not a problem)
[ October 23, 2005, 06:09 PM: Message edited by: Dave Grundy ]
Posted by John Arnott (Member # 215) on :
The tint is on the inside. The vinyl is on the outside. Use a plastic "Lil chisler" or razor blade. . .its fast and easy. You really can't hurt the glass. A little lacquer thinner to remove the glue.
Posted by Dave Grundy (Member # 103) on :
John..Personally, I find that lacquer thinner flashes way too fast to be an effective adhesive remover.
I have found that you need something that sits and softens the adhesive without evaporating too fast. I always use Rapid Remover, but in a pinch I have found varsol to be the best of the "pinch hitters".
Posted by Beth Jenkins (Member # 5542) on :
Thank you guys!...Just want to make sure I don't mess anything up here.
Posted by roger bailey (Member # 556) on :
Your right Dave, we added a "wetting agent" to Rapid Remover when we formulated it, it keeps it penetrating deep for a few minutes.
Nope its not water, one drop of water in Rapid Remover will taint it into a milkey look.
Roger
Posted by Kimmy Fitzgerald (Member # 5109) on :
Beth, I always have used a single edge razor blade and windex, you should avoid using lacquer thinner if you dont have to. on the glass the windex keeps the adhesive wet and easy to scrap off.
Roger, I must admit... I never used any Rapid products aside from Rapi Tac, I just looked at the other stuff as "expanding the product line" but..... at Moose Mania, I got a sample pack which included Rapid Remover. So I did a big box truck last week, and used my not so traditional methods of removal (heat gun, then carb cleaner} which has always worked 'good' afterwards some adhesive was left behind, I grabbed the RR as sprayed it on, used my lil chisler to scrap away the rest of the adhesive, effortlessly! this suff works! and no chemical buzz. I will be using it from here on out, great product. would be awesome in an erosol can.
(edited to say, this is Captain Ken, I didnt realize I was signed in under Kimmy's name)
[ October 24, 2005, 08:26 AM: Message edited by: Kimmy Fitzgerald ]
Posted by Al Checca (Member # 2216) on :
Only thing I can add to this already great advise is just make sure it isn't a plastic window. I know for a while a few car manufactures used them in the 80's and never heard of trucks having them but that is the only time you can't use a blade. Also let them know there will be a shadow when the glass gets rain on it till it wears off. Posted by roger bailey (Member # 556) on :
Thanks Captain Ken ! Rapid Tac Inc. does not and will not sell products that don't provide end users with dramatic results. We try harder !
Roger
Posted by roger bailey (Member # 556) on :
Oh btw, the aerosol would cause us to ad propelent, we like to keep our products safe for the user, as well as full of usable components only.
Roger
Posted by captain ken (Member # 742) on :
Roger, I realize we might be highjacking the post, but I think Beth's question is answered..... interesting, has an erosol version ever been worked on? I understand your theroy on health and environment but other products I have used in the past have had been erosol and i felt like the propelants were half of what was cutting the adhesive. plus, it sure would be easier than squirting it out of the little pump sprayer, especialy on larger jobs
Posted by Deb Fowler (Member # 1039) on :
This post interests me. I have a back window with heater element within the glass. I am not sure if the rapid remover would bother that. About 4 months ago, I was asking this too. My son and I did take the side tint graphics off the backseat windows. The rapid remover did drip down on the speaker cloth, and melted it. Our fault, but, just be careful, of course. My question, and I hate to hijack this post, too; what would be safe for the back window? I do need a softener agent since it is difficult to remove. Will rapid remover harm the heater elements? Aren't they inside the glass?
Posted by Ryan Long (Member # 5881) on :
heater elements are not 'inside' the glass, they are on the surface of the glass. The worst thing you can do is cut them with a knife or pull up some tint that is still stuck to them, this will break them. one single cut or break in a line will cause large portions of the rear defrost to stop working -- they do sell kits to patch/repair broken lines.
i'll let roger answer this for sure, but i cannot imagine rapid remover harming the lines at all. using an inferior product that doesn't loosen the adhesive properly and pulling the tint off -- well, that could hurt them.
Posted by Dave Grundy (Member # 103) on :
Ken..To address your question about the little pumps on the sample bottles. I have never used them.
I buy my rapid stuff by the gallon and pour it into WD-40 sprayers that I bought new and empty. The spray pumps are like those on Fantastik bottles but seem to be much more durable and reliable. Mine are at least 8 or 9 years old and still work like new.
(I just wrapped the bottles with different coloured vinyl and lettered each one, so I don't pick up the wrong one by mistake)
Posted by roger bailey (Member # 556) on :
Deb, I have not seen one case of R.R harming the defrost matrix things, Ryan is right.
A major "window tint film manuf." actually distributes Rapid Remover to comercial shops for this purpose !
Roger p.s. yes, always lay a protective barier over upholistry when working with R.R., an old blanket works well.
Posted by Deb Fowler (Member # 1039) on :
Thanks for the info, Ryan and Roger. First I have to admit, I applied the R.R. then let my 17 yr old scrape last the window. I was so busy I didn' think about the plastic getting on the fabric. I know better! Shame on me. You're right. I haven't examined the back window. It's an old Eagle Talon with a hatchback. So, R.R. should be applied and left on for a bit? We had to scrape pretty hard to get that plastic off on the sides. So, a razor blade and R.R. won't hurt it? We'll give it a try, (gently and carefully.) Thanks a bunch. Oops, I forgot: How much would you charge me to send some of that nice weather over here, Roger? We have frost on the pumpkins!
Posted by roger bailey (Member # 556) on :
Deb I'm not in Aloha land anymore, moved to Idaho, but its been nice here of late so I'll send some yer way ! Oh, and be very carefull with that blade, how bout one a those plastic ones ?
Roger
Posted by Ryan Long (Member # 5881) on :
I would take vinyl off the outside of the window using a heat gun, then use rapid remover to get any adhesive that's left over.
Posted by Dave Grundy (Member # 103) on :
Deb..I think you are mis-understanding the purpose of Rapid Remover?
It isn't used to aid in removing the vinyl but it is used to soften the left over adhesive making IT easy to remove.
A heat gun, as Ryan says, is probably the best bet to make vinyl removal easier.
Posted by Frank Smith (Member # 146) on :
A heat gun? Won't that crack the glass?
Posted by Ryan Long (Member # 5881) on :
quote:Originally posted by Frank Smith: A heat gun? Won't that crack the glass?
maybe if it was freezing cold outside when you did it. i've taken plenty of vinyl off glass using a heat gun, no problems.
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