posted
A few years ago, I was asked to submit a price on creating and installing large graphics to be mounted on refrigerator trucks. We lost out on the job to a franchise shop 100 miles away. Now the company is eager to deal with us and understands why we were a bit more expensive, they have to replace the graphics on the entire fleet. So, here's the problem, removing the old graphics. I removed the occasional door panel jobs and a couple of larger jobs, but never removed 5'x 12' solid prints over rivets. Any suggestions will be greatly appreciated.
posted
If they are just faded & not coming off, maybe you caouild just add new graphics right over it?
No, that would be too easy & you would already be doing that instead of asking about removal. I would offer to do one at an hourly rate & after that place your bid. On the first one try out all the various solvents, & the rubber erasure wheel thingy.
[ April 16, 2002, 10:36 PM: Message edited by: Doug Allan ]
posted
Oops, must of clicked something by mistake. Tried to fix a typo in my first post, but ended up with a double post with the second one showing as a quote. Well I will add that last week when I upgraded my leased truck to a new one, I sold the used car manager my services to remove my own vehicle graphics off the old truck. I kind of under bid that one but now they want me to do 2 more. My concern from many years experience I know that some graphics are ten times faster to remove, but it is hard to know which until you start. Who has used that erasure?
[ April 16, 2002, 10:39 PM: Message edited by: Doug Allan ]
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Bryan, get a "heat lamp tree" from the bodyshop, set it aprox. 2to3 feet away from outside surface (or put it inside the truck) it will heat up an area of 4 ft. to 5ft. wide and high, in just a couple minutes.
If you cut (vertically) the graphic every 4 ft. you heat up that section, move lamps over to next section while you start peeling fast!!
One guy should be able to remove 2 of these in aprox.3 to 4 hours or less.
Then go back with the Rapid Remover and get off whatever adhesive remained (maybe another hour)?
Roger
-------------------- Roger Bailey Rapid Tac Incorporated 186 Combs Dr. Merlin Oregon 97532 Posts: 3020 | From: Merlin Oregon | Registered: Dec 1998
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posted
Bryan, the easiest way to remove these decals, if there Vinyl is to use a chemical called "XXL Decal Remover 1000". You can get it at most sign suppliers. Be sure to read the instructions and safety precautions.. it works like magic. You spray it on using a spray bottle, leave it there for about 20 min, it looks like it's doing nothing for about that long and then all of a sudden the vinyl starts to soften and Crinkle, then all you do is lift it off the truck. It also takes almost all the glue with it as well. Be sure to wear a mask because it stinks, but boy does it ever work fast.
-------------------- "Keep Positive"
SIGNS1st. Neil Butler Paradise, NF Posts: 6277 | From: St. John's NF Canada | Registered: Mar 1999
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Here is the perfect solution to your problem. No chemicals involved. Go to a rental place and ask for a Wallpaper removal steamer. The unit holds water and with a hose attached to a 4"x6" flat plate with handle.
add water to the unit and allow it to heat up.
Take a exacto blade and cut 6" lenght strips in the graphics (top to bottom). Once the unit is ready then apply pad to the top area and allow to soften the adhevise, start pulling down on it and apply they pad just below were it was. Continue doing this as you are pealing the graphics off (you'll get the hang of it!)
It leaves no mess behind except for the water! A very fast removal, but one word of caution!
Being that the steam is very hot so watch your hands as you are doing this.
Rent of unit is cheap for a days use!
Good Luck.
-------------------- Stephen Deveau RavenGraphics Insinx Digital Displays
Letting Your Imagination Run Wild! Posts: 4327 | From: Lower Sackville, Nova Scotia, Canada | Registered: Jan 2000
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posted
Hiya Brian, As the others mentioned, heat and chemicals in the right combination is the solution. Depending on the weather, I normally let the truck bake in the sun for a few hours and start peeling. Follow up with some Rapid Remover and a good washing. I would be careful though. Try to do a test first. Depending on the decal material used, it, might come off in sheets and take almost no time, or, the extreem opposite. Then you gotta use chemicals like Neil suggested. I never quote a flat price on jobs like this, always time and materials. 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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posted
Using the Talladega method. 190 mph around the track a couple hundred miles, then pull into the pits and pull loose decal briskly. The heat lamp is the way to go.
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That chemical, that Neil, mentioned is awesome... sometimes heat just aint goin to work, like once, when i had a gas tanker to re-sign... how can you possibly heat up a whole tank.... anyway that chemical came in handy..... its also real good for really old cracked up vinyl.....
In canada, EM plastics sells it!
-------------------- Del Badry philmdesign Sylvan Lake, Alberta Posts: 636 | From: Sylvan Lake, Alberta | Registered: Nov 1998
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