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Hey, can someone offer advice as to the best way to remove vehicle graphics? I have to do this tomorrow. It was Premium Cast vinyl, if it's of any consequence. I do have a heat gun, but am not sure if that's the best way. Thanks - Sarah
-------------------- Sarah F. Evans Appalachian Signs and Design 186 Parkside Road Boone, North Carolina 28607 Posts: 97 | From: Boone, NC | Registered: Dec 2006
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The best way is to have someone else do it. But a heat gun and paitience also work. You'll also need some adhesive residue cleaner, paint thinner, alcohol, Goof Off, or auto body cleaners are all possibilities. Also use only soft paper towels (like Bounty) or soft cloths.
posted
I use a regular hair dryer because I think a heat gun is too hot. I also use a L'il Chizler (I get 'em free at sign shows) to lift up an edge without scratching. You can also use those plastic razor blades from an auto parts store. and Rapid Remover or Goo Gone for the residual adhesive. I know some people who use a wallpaper steamer or a drill attachment like an eraser. Make sure to charge your hourly shop fee, this job can be pure drudgery. Love....Jill
Posts: 8834 | From: Butler, PA, USA | Registered: Jan 2001
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I use sunlight for warming the whole vehicle up at once, but it doesn't get too cold here and there's plenty of strong sunshine, ie: lots of infrared (same stuff Roger's lamps use) to heat up the vinyl.
Rapid Remover makes quick work of the adhesive.
Being cast vinyl, if it's not too old it should come up pretty easy!
-------------------- "If I share all my wisdom I won't have any left for myself."
Mike Pipes stickerpimp.com Lake Havasu, AZ mike@stickerpimp.com Posts: 8746 | From: Lake Havasu, AZ USA | Registered: Jun 2000
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Sarah, a wallpaper steamer works GREAT. The one Home Depot sells for about $50, its a wagner, worked great for me. If you let it heat things up just right, the glue and vinyl ALL comes off together.
It will get the floor wet, but that's a small inconvenience.
-------------------- Eric Houser Eric Houser Signs Richmond, Va Posts: 74 | From: Richmond, Va | Registered: Feb 2004
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Yes Roger, I did watch your video, and find your videos and your advice very helpful.
However, I had a dumptruck to remove lettering from, outside, in 40 degree temps. I struggled with it for about 2 hours with a heat gun, then figured i'd take a $50 chance with a steamer.I finished the removal in abot 30 minutes. (it was that chrome stuff and was coming off in 1/8 inch chips without the steamer)
I'm certainly not saying a steamer is better than the lamps, but i'm fairly certain it's cheaper, easier to store, and more mobile (about the size of a toaster).
-------------------- Eric Houser Eric Houser Signs Richmond, Va Posts: 74 | From: Richmond, Va | Registered: Feb 2004
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Eric I totally agree with you about the steamer. I had a big removal job and I bought one. It does make a mess indoors (no prob outside) but it sure does come off quickly. I've had a heat gun for years but the steamer is the best tool for a big job. It takes about 5 minutes for the steamer to get hot enough to start belching out steam but after that, it's all downhill.
-------------------- Ricky Jackson Signs Now 614 Russell Parkway Warner Robins, GA (478) 923-7722 signpimp50@hotmail.com
"If I have seen further it is by standing on the shoulders of giants." Sir Issac Newton Posts: 3528 | From: Warner Robins, GA | Registered: Oct 2004
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We like the steamer too. It works fast and it gets most of the glue too, so there is less residue to mess with when you are done. You still have to use the RapidRemover, GooGone or whatever you prefer after the vinyl is all picked off but there is less guck to get off then. We've tried it all, and the steamer is our prefered method.
-------------------- Jane Diaz Diaz Sign Art 628 W. Lincoln Ave. Pontiac, Il. 61764 815-844-7024 www.diazsignart.com Posts: 4102 | From: Pontiac, IL USA | Registered: Feb 1999
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Bill Lynch has the right idea though. Get someone else to do it if you can! OR sometimes I suggest the customer try to take it off themselves. That way when they bring it to you after trying, they respect what you have to do to get it off and don't think it should just be "thrown in with the job." They are willing to pay you "the big bucks"! Here's a link to the one we have: http://www.wagnerspraytech.com/portal/loader.php?seite=wagner_705_spray&navigation=43321&root=747
[ February 26, 2007, 04:12 PM: Message edited by: Jane Diaz ]
-------------------- Jane Diaz Diaz Sign Art 628 W. Lincoln Ave. Pontiac, Il. 61764 815-844-7024 www.diazsignart.com Posts: 4102 | From: Pontiac, IL USA | Registered: Feb 1999
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Wallpaper steamer here as well. Had a truck with about 7 or 8 year old vinyl that was coming off in little bitty pieces using heat gun & lil chizler... worked for about an hour on one quarter panel.
Made a trip to Home Depot for a steamer and finished the rest of the whole truck in about 45 minutes....
-------------------- Jon Jantz Snappysign.com jjantz21@gmail.com http://www.allcw.com Posts: 3395 | From: Atmore, AL | Registered: Nov 2005
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Sarah, You did not say how much you have to take off, but you do sound as though this removal is new to you.
So if it is a couple of truck doors or something like that, I doubt you will be going out and buying anthing equipment wise to get it done.
Use your heat gun to warm up the area you will be working on to get the vinyl and the vehicle good and warm not burning just hot to touch. Use common sense.
When it is warmed up pass the heatgun back and fourth over the direct area where you are peeling. I have gun in left hand and start peeling with my right.
You will start to get the feel of what it will take to do this job, because they all can act different.
Once the vinyl is off, I use Rapid Remover in a spray bottle. Mist it on to soften up the adhesive and squeegee it off.
Again if you don't have rapid remover and tomorrow is the day. Then I would use Xylol(Xylene) from the local hardware, soak up a rag and sponge it on.
When all is off clean the area. I use Rapid Tac to do that.
Be patient and things will go fine. Take mental notes on what you do and it will get easier as jobs come down the line.
Good Luck!. Sam
-------------------- Sam Staffan Mackinaw Art & Sign 721 S. Nokomis St. Mackinaw City, MI dstaffan@sbcglobal.net Posts: 1694 | From: Mackinaw City, MI | Registered: Mar 2004
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-------------------- Jane Diaz Diaz Sign Art 628 W. Lincoln Ave. Pontiac, Il. 61764 815-844-7024 www.diazsignart.com Posts: 4102 | From: Pontiac, IL USA | Registered: Feb 1999
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So a steamer does not work on Reflective? I was considering buying one for an upcoming firetruck job. Darn! Love....Jill
Posts: 8834 | From: Butler, PA, USA | Registered: Jan 2001
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I too use a steamer on hand.. Its one of those for like steam cleaning..and it was not expensive. Works great.. I dont like goo gone as it seems almost too strong. I use either the heat gun or the steamer and rapid remover.
-------------------- sue brown american instant signs pasadena, calif Posts: 90 | From: southern california | Registered: Jul 2006
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""Good judgment comes from experience; and a lot of that comes from bad judgment" - Will Rogers Posts: 3485 | From: Beautiful Newaygo, Michigan | Registered: Mar 2003
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We recently had a job that required removal of a bunch of reflective from painted panels, so I invested in the MBX Vinyl Zapper (I saw it at the Atlantic City Show) and it works great!
The time savings are worth the investment, and there was virtually no adhesive residue left or damage to the surface.
I stripped 2 van doors with 5 lines of copy the other day, in about 15 minutes!
It is available in air or electric. You can get it at a number of supply houses, the price is about the same all over.
posted
Hiya Sarah, As you now know, there are many ways to remove vinyl from a vehicle, and they all work. It's up to you to choose the appropriate method that works for you My personal favorite is, on a warm sunny day, to just let the vehicle bake in the sun a while and the vinyl removes easily. I've also seen installers remove vinyl and wraps with chemicals, weed burners and just about anything you can imagine.
Havin' fun,
Checkers
-------------------- a.k.a. Brian Born www.CheckersCustom.com Harrisburg, Pa Work Smart, Play Hard Posts: 3775 | From: Harrisburg, Pa. U.S.A. | Registered: Nov 1998
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It depends on the weather, vinyl and age of the lettering to decide which method I use.
Here's my method. I love chemical reaction, no fingernailing, no picking, no time wasting. Go right for the throat.
Spray a thick heavy coat of 3M Woodgrain and stripe remover on the lettering. (This chemical, product 8907 was developed for body shop owners to get the woodgrain decals off of vehicles and is extremely hard to find) The first coat soaks through the vinyl and "activates" the adhesive. wait 10 minutes until it drys - It will flake in white crystals. Give it a second coat. This stuff will soak through the rest of the goo and the vinyl and adhesive turn into a gel.
Srape everything off with a squeegee.
I remove any remaining adhesive off with a product called "KARNAK". It's an orange citus based product a roofer turned me on to for getting asphalt and tar off of his tools and truck. Vinyl adhesive does not stand a chance.
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