The local Fire co. just bought a fire truck. The doors are letterd with gold leaf with a painted black outline with a clear coat over the lettering. What is the best way to remove the old lettering without damaging the paint on the doors. The truck is a 1971 mack. Would it be better to have them go to an auto body shop to have it done? Thanks
Eric LaFore
------------------ Ace of Signs Selinsgrove, Pa. www.aceofsigns.com
Posted by Pierre St.Marie (Member # 1462) on :
Ace, I really like to everything in house, but this one..............If it's "first time" territory to you, sub it to a body shop and go watch them.
------------------ 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 Jerry Mathel (Member # 526) on :
I've gotta go with Pierre on this one. If you use the "search" you'll find a whole s**t load of posts on the subject of removing gold leaf, but most of them are sort of trial and error and "iffy" at best. If the lettering has been clearcoated it really compounds the problem.
------------------ Jerry Mathel Jerry Mathel Signs Grants Pass, Oregon signs@grantspass.com
Posted by bill riedel (Member # 607) on :
The answer you need is how to remove the clear coating. The gold leaf is not a problem to remove.There are so many clear coats on the market and only if you know what was used would you have a start. If it was done in the early 70's, chances are it was not an epoxy automotive clear which would be a real problem to remove. The next question is the background paint. If it is a repaint and not the original, you have another problem. Save yourself a big headache and let the auto body shop take all the risks.
------------------ Bill Riedel Riedel Sign Co., Inc. Little Ferry, NJ billsr@riedelsignco.com
