Another sign shop had applied letters to a window and I was removing them but found that the glue was hanging on and smudging. I tried alcohol and then nail polish remover and finally a glue remover paste that they use for removal of glue for hair extensions; I know you're going to laugh, but it's like goo be gone. It took off a little bit more. ( it was at a hair salon and I didn't realize that I would be removing when I visited). I have rapid remover at home, but is that the correct thing to use? IS rapid remover safe for glass and will it leave residue also? If so, what can I use to clean that off to leave a clear window? Help! What should I use?! Can anyone give me any good advice?
[ May 19, 2008, 10:57 PM: Message edited by: Deb Fowler ]
Posted by John Arnott (Member # 215) on :
lacquer thinner
Posted by Deb Fowler (Member # 1039) on :
okay, thanks, John!
Posted by Duncan Wilkie (Member # 132) on :
Mineral Spirits or lighter fluid usually work. Lacquer Thinner does the job too, but is a little nasty to work with. You don't want to splash it around and get it on window frames etc. Use rubber gloves in a well ventilated area (or outside). Then, either way, come back with a window cleaner like Bon Ami.
Posted by Sonny Franks (Member # 588) on :
Xylene (also called Xylol) works very well and isn't as "hot" as lacquer thinner......
Posted by Dawud Shaheed (Member # 5719) on :
on glass. Windex and a clean razor blade. All day. Anything else is overkill. The windex will firm up the adhesive and the blade will take it off with one swoop and you can clean the window at the same time.
Posted by Russ McMullin (Member # 5617) on :
I'm with Dawud on the razor blade. I scrape off as much adhesive as possible before I ever apply any type of solvent. That way I'm not dealing with a bunch of sticky slime. The razor will take off just about every trace, and then I follow up with denatured alcohol. I haven't tried windex yet. I guess I'll try it next time I strip a window.
Posted by Bill Lynch (Member # 3815) on :
Yep, razor blade takes it all off , vinyl and residue, then a cleaning with alcohol usually leaves it spotless.
Posted by Si Allen (Member # 420) on :
All the above is good advice.
Posted by Jon Butterworth (Member # 227) on :
Broad blade scraper powers off the vinyl and almost all of the glue in one hit.
Hint: Big graphics don't attack square on with the scraper. Chew sections no wider than half the width of the scaper at an angle. Like slicing beef.
Wipe the window down with a paper towel loaded with ordinary mineral turps and go over with the scraper again wiping the blade off with the towel you used.
Quick spay and wipe with windex and Go!
Posted by Checkers (Member # 63) on :
Hiya Deb, Any "chemical" remover will lave some sort of residue that needs to be cleaned off before applying new graphics. I'm a big fan of Rapid Remover for adheasive removal. I follow up with a good cleaning with Rapid Tac and apply the graphics as usual. But, like Si said, the other suggestions will work fine too.
Havin' fun,
Checkers
Posted by Richard Heller (Member # 2443) on :
Here's the best tool I've found. http://img.villagephotos.com/p/2008-4/1307145/28-593_mid_res.jpg It is a Stanely window scraper. You should use it as mentioned above with windex or Rapid Tac and it will take everything right off. Jon also has the right idea for larger graphics, and this tool gives you much leverage.
Posted by Pierre St.Marie (Member # 1462) on :
The fourth one from the bottom doesn't work at all. P
But now its the fifth one.
But seriously, the one we've used for years that's the least invasive for any and all materials comes from the CarQuest chain of automotive supplies. Comes in spray quarts called AutoTech. We swear by it for glass, paint, whutevah. P
[ May 20, 2008, 11:25 AM: Message edited by: Pierre St.Marie ]
Posted by Brent Logan (Member # 6587) on :
Dawud is absolutely correct. Windex or soapy water. Keep the glass good and wet and use a scraper with a sharp blade. The vinyl falls right off and and the glass will be clean.
Posted by Pierre St.Marie (Member # 1462) on :
Anyone remember Remov-It-All? Best stuff evem made hands down. A gel that came in gallons and no film ever made stood up to it, but......... OSHA in it's infinite wisdom decided that none of us had the brains to use it safely and removed it from the market. We hoarded two gallons of it for years and finally ran out.
P
Posted by Ray Rheaume (Member # 3794) on :
Rapid Remover.
Hit it with Windex when you're done to clean up any residue.
Takes a couple of minutes. Rapid
[ May 20, 2008, 05:38 PM: Message edited by: Ray Rheaume ]
Posted by Deb Fowler (Member # 1039) on :
Thanks everyone! I got it off. Yesterday I used the above mentioned. Today, I was running out the door and grabbed some of that goop remover that comes in a can like any of the thinners. It worked very well and then I used the window cleaner. It didn't take long at all. was going to use rapid remover, but it doesn't have a proper container cap so I didn't grab it this morning to sit in my car all day...still, I love the rapid remover too. well, thanks again folks. Back atcha!
