posted
I have to remove a small aluminum plaque, about 5" x 5" x 1/4" which is currently taped to a wall using VHB foam tape.
I know this sounds like a small, silly question, but I've already tried and failed once. I used a coping saw blade thinking I could cut through the tape. I got about 1" done in half an hour.
I also don't want to risk damaging the commercial wall covering that's on the wall. There is a new plaque going where the existing one is but it's no larger than the old.
This is an out of town job so I don't want to make too many more failed attempts. Plus it's not at the client's site so they let me in and then stand there waiting and watching.
Any ideas?
[ March 20, 2008, 08:46 AM: Message edited by: Paul Luszcz ]
-------------------- Paul Luszcz Zebra Visuals 27 Water Street Plymouth, MA 02360 508 746-9200 paul@zebravisuals.com Posts: 483 | From: 27 Water Street, Plymouth, MA 02360 | Registered: Jul 2003
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posted
Paul I have used a spatula (pancake flipper) and a new clean trowel (like you use for laying up bricks and mortar). You can push the tool up behind the sign and then slide it around slowly to free the sign.
Diane
-------------------- Balch Signs 1045 Raymond Rd Malta, NY 12020 518 885-9899 signs@balchsigns.com http://www.balchsigns.com Posts: 1701 | From: MaltaNY | Registered: Jan 2000
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posted
I've run into this before. I tried a wire attached to two wood handles. The wire breaks before you get very far. I called 3M. Their basic response was "good luck", that stuff is tough.
One thing comes to mind because I just bought one. It would probably ruin the tool, but at the cost, and if it works, it would be worth it in saved labor. You might pick up a Japanese saw. They either have straight teeth or the teeth can slant slightly toward the handle so they cut on the pull stroke. Either way, these saws have no offset teeth. They make a model called a flush cut saw where the blade is very thin and flexible, so you can slide the blade behind the plaque and pull the handle toward you enough to saw through the VHB tape and not scrape your knuckles on the wall. These saws are made cut a dowel pin flush to a board without causing damage to the board so I'm thinking this would work for you.
Here's a picture. Model B was listed at $12.95 in my 2003 Lee Valley catalog.
[ March 20, 2008, 10:17 AM: Message edited by: Dave Sherby ]
-------------------- Dave Sherby "Sandman" SherWood Sign & Graphic Design Crystal Falls, MI 49920 906-875-6201 sherwoodsign@sbcglobal.net Posts: 5398 | From: Crystal Falls, MI USA | Registered: Apr 1999
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Dave I have a couple of those saws and they sure come in handy. They are amazing.
-------------------- 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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I've always wanted one. Finally bought one to cut tabs left by the router when cutting small parts. Why American saws cut on the push stroke instead of the pull stroke is beyond me.
-------------------- Dave Sherby "Sandman" SherWood Sign & Graphic Design Crystal Falls, MI 49920 906-875-6201 sherwoodsign@sbcglobal.net Posts: 5398 | From: Crystal Falls, MI USA | Registered: Apr 1999
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posted
I bought one at Home Depot to remove a panel that absolutely refused to come off a wall.
I've used the guitar string, hack saw blade, band saw blade sections, etc. Sometimes, I've found that a putty knife behind with slow, steady, constant pressure will gradually pop it away from the wall.
My usual experience with VHB is that the sign will fall off the wall unless I want it to come off later.
-------------------- David Harding A Sign of Excellence Carrollton, TX Posts: 5089 | From: Carrollton, TX, USA | Registered: Nov 1998
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I've used a putty knife with success, similar to Diane's suggestion.
David's comment reminds me of a sign that fell off a lobby wall, where I put up numerous Avonite plaques throughout the building, mounted on painted drywall, but the front lobby had fancy wallcovering, and marble floors.
The property manager told me the sign fell off...
...then she told me it was stuck to the marble & she couldn't move it at all. I had to rush across the island, with my handy putty knife I had used many times for changing plaques on the painted drywall...
...I ended of breaking a $200 avonite sign into several pieces because that black body moulding tape I used was so agressive on a nice smooth surface like the floor.
posted
Dave's right, I'm thinking like Home Depot or Lowes, but for sure if you have a woodworking store near you like Woodcrafters or something like that, they will definitely have one.
Dave's also right on about it falling off the wall by itself if you don't want it to.
-------------------- Dave Sherby "Sandman" SherWood Sign & Graphic Design Crystal Falls, MI 49920 906-875-6201 sherwoodsign@sbcglobal.net Posts: 5398 | From: Crystal Falls, MI USA | Registered: Apr 1999
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posted
regular nylon cord with a dowel tied to each end should work. it will cut pvc just fine.
-------------------- Jimmy Chatham Chatham Signs 468 stark st Commerce, Ga 30529 Posts: 1766 | From: Commerce, GA, USA | Registered: Nov 1998
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Take an exacto knife and score into the drywall around the perimeter of the sign. Worst case if the wall paper or drywall starts to tear off the wall it will stop where you have scored a line instead of continuing to tear down the wall. Your new plaque should cover the area if you make it a tad bigger than the original one.
-------------------- Jean Shimp Shimp Sign & Design Co. Jacksonville Beach, Fl Posts: 1267 | From: Jacksonville Beach, Fl. USA | Registered: Nov 1998
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The removal took eleven seconds with the Japanese saw. The thin, flexible blade was thinner than the VHB so it fit behind the plaque. I pulled twice and the plaque popped off the wall.
A worthy addition to my toolkit.
Thanks, all.
-------------------- Paul Luszcz Zebra Visuals 27 Water Street Plymouth, MA 02360 508 746-9200 paul@zebravisuals.com Posts: 483 | From: 27 Water Street, Plymouth, MA 02360 | Registered: Jul 2003
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Paul, please put it back, then get someome to film you removing it, & then put it on Youtube, minus swearwords, so we can all watch!
Doug Allen can explain the process pretty well!
-------------------- "Stewey" on chat
"...there are no limits when you aim for perfection..." Jonathan Livingston Seagull Posts: 7014 | From: Highgrove via Toowoomba, Queensland, Australia | Registered: Dec 2002
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[ March 22, 2008, 09:39 PM: Message edited by: Ian Stewart-Koster ]
-------------------- "Stewey" on chat
"...there are no limits when you aim for perfection..." Jonathan Livingston Seagull Posts: 7014 | From: Highgrove via Toowoomba, Queensland, Australia | Registered: Dec 2002
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