This is topic Vinyl removal from large windows in forum Old Archives at The Letterville BullBoard.


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Posted by Donna in BC (Member # 130) on :
 
Hi all,

I'm about to remove some 4 year old vinyl from my old shop windows in preparation for my move.

The windows are 6 feet wide, and the patch of vinyl that needs removal is about 12" high. There are four large windows with this same treatment, as well as two doors.

For years I've been installing neat window packages, however have never yet had to remove old ones. On the ones I have removed, they've been small enough to simply scrape off with a wide blade making removal a snap.

Our current weather is 'around' the freezing temp. I'm concerned that if I attempt a heat gun on the windows that they may break. The patches of vinyl run along the whole bottom and touch the sides of each window.

There's also an illuminated sign outside that's ground level, mounted to my building.

Many tenants simply up and leave their old premesis with all the window vinyl intact, however my current landlord is being super accomodating to my questionable final moving day, so I'd like to thank him in return and remove what I put up.

The vinyl we used was 3mil Arlon. Looks good as new today as it did when we put it up!

What are your suggestions on this one? Thanks!

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Graphic Impact
Abbotsford, BC, Canada
gisigns@sprint.ca


 

Posted by Mayo Pardo (Member # 138) on :
 
Within the last two weeks I have installed vinyl on the outside of glass windows/doors and removed some as well.

The temps were right around freezing or below if windows feel the effects of wind chill.

The vinyl removal was just 4" high address numbers and they came off using a wide scraper, then some orange-all citrus solvent to remove the leftover adhesive.

I was leary about heating glass which was that cold, in order to install the new vinyl, but the guy I was working with assured me if the heat gun was kept in motion, it would be OK. It went fine. I heated the inside of the glass while he installed vinyl on the outside of it.

I suspect you could just heat the vinyl and at the right temperature most of it should come off in large pieces. Then just deal with any remaining adhesive.

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EmpYŽ is also known as Mayo Pardo. Has wandererd Australia, currently in Elgin IL. Soon to be cutting stuff on my router table.
847 931-4171

I also refill inkjet cartridges for people (someone's gotta do it) http://www.difsupply.com
 

Posted by roger bailey (Member # 556) on :
 
Maybe I'm wrong, but I bet you didn't try applying vinyl with Rapid Tac II.
You may have not needed the extra person waveing the heat gun around on backside of glass, even at freezing temp.

Roger

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Roger Bailey
Rapid Tac Incorporated
Waikoloa, Hawaii



 

Posted by Pierre St.Marie (Member # 1462) on :
 
empY is right. If the heat is judiciously applied the film will release. Just be careful of your dwell time. Here in NW Montana we do it all winter long. No choice. Rosemary and Latigo are quite adept at film/glass removal. You can do it too. Just take your time till you get the "feel" of it.

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St.Marie Graphics
& Makin' Tracks Sound Studio
Kalispell, Montana
stmariegraphics@centurytel.net http://www.stmariegraphics.com
800 735-8026
We're chiseling every day of the week! :^)



 

Posted by Bill Biggs (Member # 18) on :
 
I have never had freezing temps to deal with Donna. But I find a blade and a can of wd 40
invaluable.
WD 40 in this climate softens the vinyl and helps remove the glue.
SJust spray it at the top of the graphics and start using your blade at the top down, let the wd40 go behind the graphics, it will lubricate your blade and soften the glue.
Maybe some of Rogers Rapid remover might work too, but don't know if it would freeze or not.
Bill
(70F today)and raining

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Bill & Barbara Biggs
Art's Sign Service, Inc.
Clute, Texas, USA
Home of The Great Texas Mosquito Festival
Proud Third year Supporter of the Letterheads Website
MailTo:twobeesusa@netscape.net


 

Posted by roger bailey (Member # 556) on :
 
Only one of our products will freeze, Rapid Clear.

Roger

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Roger Bailey
Rapid Tac Incorporated
Waikoloa, Hawaii



 

Posted by Monte Jumper (Member # 1106) on :
 
Donna ...pick up a 4" wallpaper scraper and blades at your local paint store.It has a nice long and strong handle to apply pressure with ...(the blades are as sharp as a single edge)Bill Biggs is right about the wd 40 but I'd try it first with out it.

"Werks fer me it'll werk fer you"

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Monte Jumper
SIGNLanguage/Norman.Okla.
 

Posted by Stephen Deveau (Member # 1305) on :
 
Donna
what Monte say is a great tool...Wallpaper scraper...I us it all the time for vinyl or enameled work on windows.
scrape at a 45 degree angle... price for unit is around $12.oo and a pack of blades 4-$5.00.
Don't worry about the adheasve Just use anything you normally use to remove after you get the vinyl off!

Hope this helps.

Raven/2001

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Raven/2000
Airbrushed by Raven
Lower sackville N.S.
deveausdiscovery@sprint.ca

 

Posted by Mark Matyjakowski (Member # 294) on :
 
When removing names off slatz (unpainted ones) I lay a paper towel soaked in laquer thinner over the vinyl ... come back 10 minutes later and the vinyl is mush and will fall right off ... then clean any excess adhesive.(gooey)

Would probably work for glass too ... maybe take one square of laquer damp paper towel ... lay over portion of vinyl for test

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Designing... it's like an itch in the brain... an itch you can't scratch, that if you can figure out how to scratch it, it just itchs more

http://www.slamgraphics.com
Rochester, N.Y.
mark@slamgraphics.com



 

Posted by Mike Pipes [in a cubicle] (Member # 1841) on :
 
Zap it with a heat gun.. if it's that cold there, it wont take much heat at all to release the vinyl.
Keep the gun moving and as long as it doesnt get too hot in one spot, the heat will discipate towards the colder areas anyway.

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Mike Pipes
-----trapped in a box with a computer and a slice of cheese-----
 



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