posted
What's the best and quickest way to remove hp vinyl on truck surfaces and prepainted aluminum. We have used heat guns and big erasers. We have used Rapid Remover and turpentine for remaining glue. Any other suggestions or tricks would be appreciated. Thanks in advance.
-------------------- Bill Diaz Diaz Sign Art Pontiac IL www.diazsignart.com Posts: 2107 | From: Pontiac, IL | Registered: Dec 2001
| IP: Logged |
I always maintain that the steamer is the absolute only way to remove vinyl. Safe, cost effective & complete. I have removed 1000's of yards with this tool. Even vinyl 12 years old...no problem.....less than $100.
""Good judgment comes from experience; and a lot of that comes from bad judgment" - Will Rogers Posts: 3484 | From: Beautiful Newaygo, Michigan | Registered: Mar 2003
| IP: Logged |
Another thing I have used are those heating lamps bodyshops have. Heats a larger area all at once and no need for a little heat gun with a frustrating gremlin type cord.
#1 method is still a good quality heat gun. A good quality is key because they are hotter.
[ November 16, 2004, 01:15 PM: Message edited by: Kelly Thorson ]
-------------------- “Did you ever stop to think, and forget to start again?” -Winnie the Pooh & A.A. Milne
Kelly Thorson Kel-T-Grafix 801 Main St. Holdfast, SK S0G 2H0 ktg@sasktel.net Posts: 5496 | From: Penzance, Saskatchewan | Registered: May 2002
| IP: Logged |
I am a distributor for them, but, you can get them direct @ 800-525-4339. It removes vinyl, adhesive and all. For best results, hold it an inch from the vinyl, and peel an edge up with a chisler, and pull the vinyl loose. Watch the steam, it's hot!
""Good judgment comes from experience; and a lot of that comes from bad judgment" - Will Rogers Posts: 3484 | From: Beautiful Newaygo, Michigan | Registered: Mar 2003
| IP: Logged |
posted
My vote is still for the "heat tree lamps" as Donna speaks of, they are SAFE,QUICK,CLEAN. We bought 3 different types of steamers, did not like the results of any, even the 600.00 dollar one.
Rapid Tac dosn't sell them, so you will need to visit a bodyshop supplier in your area.
Roger
-------------------- Roger Bailey Rapid Tac Incorporated 186 Combs Dr. Merlin Oregon 97532 Posts: 3020 | From: Merlin Oregon | Registered: Dec 1998
| IP: Logged |
I have removed lots of vinyl over my 25+ years and the steamer is far and away the best tool out there. The lamps create agressive adhesive sometimes and will play heck on fresh paint.
Todd
The steam DOES penetrate the vinyl and loosen the adhesive. Rather than detaching the vinyl from the adhesive, it detaches the adhesive from the painted surface. I have two of them...they are just the ticket. I have sold many to my body shops, dealers, etc
The steam shoots thru holes or nozzles. It penetrates the vinyl releasing it with the adhesive in one piece. I removed the graphics on my old shop van in about i.5 hours! Adhesive and all!
[ November 16, 2004, 02:22 PM: Message edited by: Rick Beisiegel ]
""Good judgment comes from experience; and a lot of that comes from bad judgment" - Will Rogers Posts: 3484 | From: Beautiful Newaygo, Michigan | Registered: Mar 2003
| IP: Logged |
posted
It sounds really neat Rick. Are you using the Jiffy Steamer (the one you linked to)? As that is only like $65. I'd be willing to experiment for $65, especially if it makes vinyl removal easy. I have only done that once (like 7-10 years ago), that was NO FUN! (Rapid Remover made removing the residue a breeze, tho).
[ November 16, 2004, 04:35 PM: Message edited by: William Bass ]
-------------------- William Bass wjb71@bellsouth.net Northwest Florida Posts: 636 | From: Pensacola, FL | Registered: Aug 2004
| IP: Logged |
posted
I use a wallpaper steamer ($15 day rental)to remove full bus wrap from last federal election in June. the steamer has an attachement that is about 12" x 8" that spreads the steam. One Person handles the steamer in a down motion while the other one pulls down on the vinylpeeling aproximately 14" wide at a time. No glue left. I had purchased 4 gallon of rapid remover just in case this would not work. But did not use any.It took 2 person 12.5 hours to completely strip an MCI Coach! we did two of them Good money!
""Good judgment comes from experience; and a lot of that comes from bad judgment" - Will Rogers Posts: 3484 | From: Beautiful Newaygo, Michigan | Registered: Mar 2003
| IP: Logged |
posted
No apology needed Rick, its a matter of what works best, I too was considering selling the steamer units, I bought several and tested but didn't find any that worked as fast and neat as the heat tree lamp system.
Guess its about "what works best for you" !!
Roger
-------------------- Roger Bailey Rapid Tac Incorporated 186 Combs Dr. Merlin Oregon 97532 Posts: 3020 | From: Merlin Oregon | Registered: Dec 1998
| IP: Logged |
""Good judgment comes from experience; and a lot of that comes from bad judgment" - Will Rogers Posts: 3484 | From: Beautiful Newaygo, Michigan | Registered: Mar 2003
| IP: Logged |
posted
I removed graphics from a 2000 Chevy pick-up today. 16 minutes complete, and ready to re-apply new graphics. Steamer used less than a cup of water.
""Good judgment comes from experience; and a lot of that comes from bad judgment" - Will Rogers Posts: 3484 | From: Beautiful Newaygo, Michigan | Registered: Mar 2003
| IP: Logged |
posted
Hey Rick...I'm kinda a multi-task kinda person.For those of us who live and work in the same place,do you suppose the kind of steamer you use in your shop could be used to remove wrinkles from clothes too?(LOL) It's kinda the reverse of Karyn's question...er, at least related.
-------------------- Nancie W. Phillips White Dove Painting Studio 74 Dacula Road, Dacula, GA 30019 678-887-3339
posted
Rick, Thanks to Avery I'll have to redo a lot of large graphics on some 18 wheeler trailers, will a small unit like you have do ok on a big area like that?
-------------------- Mark Perkins Performance Signs & Graphics Eunice, Louisiana "The heart of Cajun Country" Posts: 506 | From: Eunice Louisiana 70535 | Registered: Nov 1998
| IP: Logged |
""Good judgment comes from experience; and a lot of that comes from bad judgment" - Will Rogers Posts: 3484 | From: Beautiful Newaygo, Michigan | Registered: Mar 2003
| IP: Logged |
Making the simple complicated is commonplace; making the complicated simple, awesomely simple, that's creativity. — Charles Mingus Posts: 6712 | From: Mendocino, CA. USA | Registered: Nov 1998
| IP: Logged |
posted
I thought that there was a liquid that you could roll on over top of the vinyl, let it sit and then pressure wash off. I seem to remember one of my suppliers mentioning that. That was about 7 years ago, can't remember the name or which supplier.
posted
Here's a question that's sort of a side issue to this one (and that doesn't affect me now, but could in the future):
Is there anything one can do about the image of the vinyl graphics left on the vehicle due to the fact that the paint under the vinyl didn't age as terribly as the surrounding paint? More importantly, perhaps, SHOULD one do anything about that?
The one vehicle I removed old vinyl from and relettered (approx 7 to 10 years ago), I didn't do anything because I figured anything I would try would make a bad situation worse. Seems like after I relettered, it wasn't all that noticeable anyway, but still, I'd like to hear what others do after they peel the old vinyl off.
[ November 19, 2004, 01:09 PM: Message edited by: William Bass ]
-------------------- William Bass wjb71@bellsouth.net Northwest Florida Posts: 636 | From: Pensacola, FL | Registered: Aug 2004
| IP: Logged |
That condition is called "ghosting" It seems that with increased usage of clear coat paints, that has been dramatically reduced. In the old days, I would reccomend a good coat of Simmoniz to lessen the condition.
Most generally, you can remove graphics and see very little evidence of them.
[ November 19, 2004, 04:53 PM: Message edited by: Rick Beisiegel ]
""Good judgment comes from experience; and a lot of that comes from bad judgment" - Will Rogers Posts: 3484 | From: Beautiful Newaygo, Michigan | Registered: Mar 2003
| IP: Logged |
posted
William, As I tell customers, the car is continuously getting "sandblasted" while the area under the vinyl is not. The area under the vinyl is also being protected from UV, which just compounds the problem.
Like Rick said, a good car finishing liquid of some sort will do wonders to revive some of the finish. An automotive store will have something good.
-------------------- Gene Golden Gettysburg Signs Gettysburg PA 17325 717-334-0200 genegolden@gettysburgsigns.com
"Art is knowing when to stop." Posts: 1578 | From: Gettysburg, PA | Registered: Jun 2003
| IP: Logged |
![[Smile]](smile.gif)
![[I Don t Know]](graemlins/dunno.gif)
![[Rolling On The Floor]](graemlins/rolf.gif)
![[Frown]](frown.gif)
) Yes, I use mine many times a month. It is identical to the one shown on the website.
![[Cool]](cool.gif)
Printer-friendly view of this topic