Okay, they are different types of vinyl Zappers. Which one should I get? Air powered or electirc? What brand? Does Harbor Freight Tool carry them? Maybe Granger tool? I wish the guy who sells tools out of of van had one. Maybe today I'll give him a visit. Plus I'll call some of thge local pawn shops. I love pawn shop, they always have a sale going on, but it's a secret sale.
Posted by Kelly Thorson (Member # 2958) on :
I bought a MBX Vinyl Zapper - it didn't work too well on the project I was working on removing decals from anhydrous tanks - mind you NOTHING worked on them. I lent it to a friend in the business and he said it worked well for him (removing reflective) and bought it from me. Not sure this post helps you any though. Posted by Michael Gene Adkins (Member # 882) on :
Electric should work fine. I stuck an eraser on a slow hand drill and worked fine. And yes, for some reason it is an impossible secret figuring out where to buy one. A supplier close to me sells 10 erasing wheels for 120 dollars and gives you the electric grinder with it. So am i buying a grinder with free erasers or vice versa? Why cant i buy wheels separate?
Posted by Alicia B. Jennings (Member # 1272) on :
At Fellers they sell the MBX Vinyl Zapper for $515.00 dollarrunies. I could think of other things I'd like to spend 500 bucks on. Maybe I could just buy the wheel and modify it. I'm gonna have to check youtube to see if anybody else has tried that.
Posted by Bill Modzel (Member # 22) on :
I bought an electric one a half dozen years ago because a customer had a partial name change and a half dozed panel vans the needed the old one stripped. It works great in my book. No complaints. I did have a couple of the erasers crack but were replaced at no charge. I bought mine from Fred Floyd of Carolina Sign Supply but he passed on a few years ago. I'd shop around. Wensco Sign Supply has them for $385.
Posted by Tony Lucero (Member # 1470) on :
We brought the MBX....our expectations were too high and we stopped using it....then my son figured out a technique that worked for him and we now use it with good results. You gotta work from one side and NOT drag melted adhesive back onto an area you've cleaned off. Tried an eraser on a drill...RPMS too slow...but I imagine you can develop a rhythm and technique that gets decent results. When old vinyl is coming off in tiny pieces...the MBX is worth the $$$.
Posted by Michael Gene Adkins (Member # 882) on :
500 seems crazy ... I don't have experience with this particular type, but I've heard large areas of vinyl, full coverage, etc., are not going to work well every time. A body shop friend of mine tried it on a 10" tall solid piece of vinyl running the length of a police car and finally just switched over to fingernails and heatgun.
Another thing I've seen that works well is someone out there used to sell erasers that had a 1/4" stem sticking out of them so you could put it in a 1/4" die grinder. Cranked to full speed, it would annihilate those factory chromey-chrome decals on a new pickup like it wasn't even there. It would also make quick work of the eraser too. I was told these little eraser wheels were only ten bucks a pop, but I haven't shopped to find them.
Posted by Michael Gene Adkins (Member # 882) on :
found this pic of the one I'm talking about ... don't know about stem size on this one, but works awesome in air-powered die grinder (just be careful about heating up the paint!!!) .....
this may not work well on large areas of coverage ... I've never tried it so can't say...probably would, you'd just go thru a bunch of them.
Posted by Alicia B. Jennings (Member # 1272) on :
I have two RV decal removal jobs pending. The purchase of the Zapper would be paid for by the first job, then the second would be all money. A friend of mine at a body shop has a Zapper(Different brand), works for him. It's air-powered. Plus, I have seen the Zapper on youtube in action. I thought, "That's fer me!"
Posted by Elaine Beauchemin (Member # 136) on :
[ September 25, 2011, 05:49 PM: Message edited by: Elaine Beauchemin ]
Posted by stein Saether (Member # 430) on :
hot water damp tapestry remover tool is cheap and works as a charm
Posted by Mikes Mischeif (Member # 1744) on :
...from a post last year...I've tried everything. 25 years has taught me one sure fire method, and I'm giving it up here for free boys & girls.
You just can't beat 3m's 8907 woodgrain & stripe remover. Two coats of that SH*T and a little heat with a Lil chizzler and your done.
There's a reaon it's $15 bucks a can, it doesn't mess around.
Clean up with rapid remover.
Posted by Michael Gene Adkins (Member # 882) on :
Be sure to keep us updated, Alicia!!!
We want all the gory details!!!
Posted by Rick Sacks (Member # 379) on :
I like steam. All I have though is a hand held device. Some truck cleaning shops have big wands and that's what I'd want to try.
Posted by Louie Carrica (Member # 12164) on :
Can purchase eraser wheels from NAPA, any good drill with a second side handle works great. Did two ambulances last week, no problem. If you want steam, and it does work real well, go on line and look for used upholstery steamers, they have a large enough tank and wand to do the job.
Posted by Jane Diaz (Member # 595) on :
I use these for most everything...haven't had great luck with any of the above...tried them all. Fits on a regular electric drill...can be bought at almost any auto supply place..
Jane, almost the same as I have, vinyl almost jump off. On glass I prefer a "flat" knife: Stanley glass scrape
Posted by Donna in BC (Member # 130) on :
If anyone ever wants to remove old vinyl flooring, the steamer Jane showed works AMAZING.
So am I old fashioned to still use a heat gun for vinyl removal? May have to try my steamer!
Posted by Patrick Whatley (Member # 2008) on :
quote:Originally posted by Michael Gene Adkins: Another thing I've seen that works well is someone out there used to sell erasers that had a 1/4" stem sticking out of them so you could put it in a 1/4" die grinder. Cranked to full speed, it would annihilate those factory chromey-chrome decals on a new pickup like it wasn't even there. It would also make quick work of the eraser too. I was told these little eraser wheels were only ten bucks a pop, but I haven't shopped to find them.
I want to say I read they had to quit making them after too many people severely injured their wrists when the eraser running at full speed gripped the paint.
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