Anybody got tips on removing old screened clear decals? I think even vinyl would be easier to remove that these decals. I thought about trying Oven Cleaner on them like I do to remove paint. I need to quote a price on cleaning off old decals and re-lettering with vinyl. I haven't got any idea how long it will take to remove these decals. Any help will be appreciated. Is there anything better? Judy
[ October 21, 2003, 04:59 PM: Message edited by: Judy Pate ]
Posted by Si Allen (Member # 420) on :
Judy...I doubt that oven cleaner will help.
If they are screened on clear....they may be on Mylar. Laquer thinner should take off the screen print, but the clear amterial will probably be a whole different barrel of snakes! My guess would be to use a heat gun and a lil chisler....or tell the customer to go to a detail shop and bring it back when it is all cleaned off! (I am assuming it is on a truck.)
Posted by Judy Pate (Member # 237) on :
Thanks Si, Yes,you are right, it's 8 trucks, 4 of which have the old clear decals. I know it's not going to be a fun job. Surely someone knows some magic to coax these decals off of the trucks. Well..I am trying to be optimistic :)about it!! Judy
Posted by Mike Pipes (Member # 1573) on :
Judy,
One of the stripe erasing wheels for your drill will probably be your best bet for something old like that, cause if you try peeling it up by hand it will probably just break into tiny slivers.
Rapid Remover should get the adhesive.
Jeff Bailey has a trick where he heats up a wet towel in a microwave til it's steaming then drapes that over the decals and let the steam work on it for a minute or two. It works great for removing old graphics from jetskis when an erasing wheel is still too slow for graphics that cover a large area.
Posted by Dave Grundy (Member # 103) on :
JUdy..if the eraser wheel doesn't work..nothing will. BUT, if you don't have an eraser wheel try using a single edge razor in a holder..."hone" the blade by dragging it backward in a smooth steel surface like a table saw top...be sure to "hone" off the two corners really well.
I have used these blades for years and they work well. Bill Biggs uses the same method but he also sprays WD 40 onto the decal and the surrounding areas also to help "glide" the blade.
Give it a shot Judy, but tell the customer up front "NO GUARANTEES AGAINST DAMAGE"
Posted by Kissymatina (Member # 2028) on :
quote:Originally posted by Judy Pate: Surely someone knows some magic to coax these decals off of the trucks.
Sandblaster! Just kidding. Posted by Checkers (Member # 63) on :
Hiya Judy, 3M woodgrain & stripe remover will take just about anything off. Nasty stuff though. And if the decals are that old, it probably will cause paint damage.
Brian's right about the 3M. It's expensive and will make the ink run onto the painted surface and could damage or stain. Zip makes a decal remover for half the price , but you'll need a case for big trucks. Also it makes a mess of the adhesive.
[ October 21, 2003, 10:41 PM: Message edited by: Santo ]
Posted by Joe Endicott (Member # 628) on :
The best method I've found for getting the old graphics off of a vehicle is to tell the customer that we charge our shop rate whether we're creating a sign or getting rid of his old ones.
They will usually find a way to get them clean for you.
Otherwise, heat and elbow grease. Best if you can have one person holding the heat gun, while you work the vinyl and scraper. Rapid Remover for the adhesive.
Posted by roger bailey (Member # 556) on :
The fastest and easiest way I have found is a "heat tree lamp fixture", these come from the body shop industry, they work better because they heat (uniformly) an area like 4ft.x 4ft. in just 2 or 3 minutes.
I started using them in the 60s and havn't found a more dependable way, I have also tried the eraser wheels, heat guns, they take too long and the guns don't heat uniformly.
My 2 cents.
Roger Posted by old paint (Member # 549) on :
OGA SCAMPA MAGA WAKA DECALA GETA OFF THA DORA....see if that helps....say it 10 times...
Posted by Don Hulsey (Member # 128) on :
Hey OP... what did you say about my wife???? Posted by Si Allen (Member # 420) on :
Don...OP said that she's cheating on both of you!
Posted by Greg McRoberts (Member # 3501) on :
Judy,
I've done a ton of huge dump trucks that had those lousy mylar decals on 'em. I had pretty decent luck with a propane torch (used very carefully) on metal-only doors.
Glass doors are a different story tho...
Rapid remover or laquer thinner for the adhesive. Add your aggravation fee, you'll need it.
Posted by old paint (Member # 549) on :
hahahahahahahaha don......you shoulda heard what she said about you........
Posted by roger bailey (Member # 556) on :
Lacquer thinner only makes the adhesive "ball up", kinda like buggers that stick to EVERYTHING!
Roger Posted by Ryan Ursta (Member # 1738) on :
Judy, I do work for a local hospital, their trucks had that stuff on them too. The maintenance department has a steam pressure washer for cleaning hospital equipment. It worked GREAT at blasting those buggers off. I blasted all the plastic off and removed the adhesive with rapid remover and denatured alcohol. If you can find someone with a steam cleaner i'd give that a shot.
Posted by Cheryl Lucas (Member # 1656) on :
Hi Judy!
I had the pleasure of removing one of these 'once'... Don't think I EVER want to go there again... I'd suggest they have a body shop do the removal, that way when they ruin the paint they've got what it takes to fix it and will surely charge for it...
Sheesh, took me over an hour to remove a 12"x12". It was old and brittle.
I tried the Lil Chiseler first, adding Rapid Remover into the action. Nope!
Tried a plastic scraper. Nope!
I scored it with an Xacto and sprayed with Rapid Remover. Nah!
Aha, the heat gun and plastic scraper, Nah!
I finally made it over the hump, when I used a metal scraper and applied the heat to the blade. Ahhh, things were going smooth... Ooops! There went a chunk of paint! Ut Oh...
Good Luck, Girlie!
Cher.
Posted by roger bailey (Member # 556) on :
Has anyone ever tried a "heat tree lamp" from the body shop ??????
Roger Posted by Judy Pate (Member # 237) on :
Thanks to everybody who responded to my post. Jeff, I haven't tried a "heat tree lamp" but I may get a chance to try it on these trucks. I will keep you updated on what works...I tell my client that they could save soe money if they removed the old decals and vinyl(keep your fingers crossed)I don't mine cleaning the adhesive off as bad as peeling the vinyl or decal off. Joe...Your magic spell has a kink in it. Everytime I say those words 10 times..Dora shows up for about 5 minutes..then she fades away!! Ryan, I am gonna give the steam pressure washer a try along with a heat lamp. I am doing these trucks on site. This is a John Deere tractor dealer..hopefully they have one on site.
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Laquer thinner should take off the screen print, but the clear amterial will probably be a whole different barrel of snakes!![[Smile]](smile.gif)
(I am assuming it is on a truck.)![[Razz]](tongue.gif)
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