Removing Decals
 

Any suggestions on reliable methods for removing old decals? Especially the stubborn ones that you discover have multiple layers as you try to peel them off.
I'm open to anything... I don't want to start experimenting and end up needing a paint job!

Re: Removing Decals
 

i've always used a heat gun/hair dryer to peel the ones off our car.

Re: Removing Decals
 

Heat, i.e. hair dryer or heat gun if you are quick. And plastic razor blades. I'm not sure where we got ours but I have seen them in summit. I like Goo Gone to get the residual glue off after the decal comes off but other stuff is available that works just as well if not better. And take your time this is not a race.

A good coat of wax on the car and sticking the decal to your jeans before sticking it to the car will make them much easier to remove in the future.







Jeremy Stock SS/KA 3574

Re: Removing Decals
 

Heat gun and than use mineral spirits and WD-40 to remove any glue residue. A very tedious time consuming job sometimes.

Use the least amount of heat you can to soften the decal and peel it off slowly. If it over heats it gets to soft and will rip apart.

Some deacals are well made and come off easy. Some are junk and the facing seperates from the backing. They are tough to remove.

We used to have decals on all our service trucks. When it was time to sell them....we spent a lot of time removing the decals. There are always shadows in the paint where the decal was.

We get vans wrapped now......

Re: Removing Decals
 

Simple..... done this for years, hairdryer and WD40 and lots of clean rags. What makes it even easier before the fact is to wax the area before you put the decals on. Jim



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Re: Removing Decals
 

Heat gun and we use a product called acrysol (sp) and it does not hurt the paint or fabric.

Kevin

Re: Removing Decals
 

Check with an auto body supply store in your area. There's a product in an aerosol can called " Decal and Adhesive Remover" made by a company called Klean-Strip designed for exactly this. Just follow the directions, and there should be no damage to any painted surfaces.

Re: Removing Decals
 

Hair dryer/Heat gun and go very slow when peeling em back. I put paste wax on the car and when it hazes I apply the decal....they come off pretty easy. Every season I go through this, removing non paying, and replacing with "paying" products. The paste style wax will also remove the glue residue when removing the decal.

Re: Removing Decals
 

I,ve used a rubber wheel on a drill or low speed buffer on the hard to get off ones,carefully .The w-d40 and lots of rubbing works as does the hair dryer method .Have a ample supply of cold beer cause your gonna be ther a while,,,,,,,

Re: Removing Decals
 

[QUOTE=MrWendy'sJr;311218]Heat, i.e. hair dryer or heat gun if you are quick. And plastic razor blades.

Ang - This what we use at our lot - and WD-40 on the glue .............and take your time .

Re: Removing Decals
 

Wax and Grease remover works best for removing the glue.

Re: Removing Decals
 

A more fun way of removing decals is with your fingernails. If after repeated attempts, and a few beverages, they don't come off, it is easier to just buy another car. Another tip form beyond common sense.

Ron Ortiz
U/SA goo gone

Re: Removing Decals
 

Napa sells the plastic razor blades and they work great along with a little heat.

Re: Removing Decals
 

I use a heat gun, and I don't pull up on them. They seem more prone to come apart that way. Fold them over and pull straight back on them has worked best for me. Taking several off mine this weekend.

I usually take the glue off with a shop towel damp with Safety Kleen parts washing solvent, and WD40 works pretty well. Not as fast but does work.

Re: Removing Decals
 

Ron - as sad as it sounds... that's how I've been trying to do it -


Thanks to all for the tips - gonna give it another try today

Re: Removing Decals
 

Hair dryer or heat gun. Just finished taking them off the Cuda. Painfully long, just put some tunes on and take your time. Tar and bug remover works ok for excess glue.

Re: Removing Decals
 

PATIENCE and any of the above methods combined in any form.
Oh, and PATIENCE!!!!!!!
Gasoline will cut glue as well as any of the other methods mentioned.

Re: Removing Decals
 

I was told to try Easy Off Oven cleaner and I was a little afraid of the paint on the car being damaged.
However, I tried it and it works pretty well. You must rubber gloves but it did not damage the paint at all.
It is also much easier and faster than WD-40.
You will need a good supply of soft rags or soft shop paper towels.
I used it and it works.
My 2 Cents
Rick Cates

Re: Removing Decals
 

The hair dryer then a coat of Goo Gone from Magic American Products,Bedford Heights,Oh. Then plenty of elbow grease. Seems to be more comming off of cars than going on these days. That trick of getting clothing lint on the sticky side of the new decal does work well.

Re: Removing Decals
 

I would use a hair dryer before the heat gun, you can bubble paint with a heat gun with no problem at all. A hair dryer is without a doubt your safest bet. I use regular gasoline for glue removal and have done it on hundreds of cars over the years. If you have static electricity issues in your area use the wd40, but be prepared to be patient. I have never had an issue with using the gas but I am also very cautious when using it. It will not hurt your paint......least it never has hurt anything i've used it on.

Joe Bohannon
A Plus Signs and Screen Printing
502-797-1352

Re: Removing Decals
 

Wife & three kids

Re: Removing Decals
 

Everyone's ideas on here are good for removing decals. Before sticking new ones on, consider this.

Go to a sign shop and see if they will sell or give you some static cling vinyl. Stick the decals to the static cling then cut out around the edges of the decal. Now stick the decal on the car. You will be able to move the decals around remove or reapply them easily.

I have been doing this for years. It is a little work to apply the decals to the cling-on vinyl but nothing compared to peeling them off without using static cling.

Re: Removing Decals
 

After hair dryer and removal, I always use goo gone to get the glue off.
Apply the goo gone stand back drink a beer then wipe off, if needed after you let the goo gone set for 5 minutes you can use a rag and plastic razor blade works excellent

Re: Removing Decals
 

Yep. "Pants them", as my old friend Mike Smith would have said. Hey, it worked.

Re: Removing Decals
 

Angelo,just invite Billy Nees over and buy him a bottle of Cuervo Gold and some sauerkraut.He'll either blow on the decals and they'll just drop off or the kraut is for plan B.
Can't guarantee the paint will survive Plan B though.Oh yeah,open the windows and have a milsurp. gas mask available.I hope that helps.Plan C is to invite Himes over too.

Re: Removing Decals
 

Be Careful Using Oven Cleaners!
Test a small spot on whatever surface your trying to remove the decals on!
Nick tried to remove "painted lettering" from a trailer, the oven cleaner not only removed the lettering but the paint from the panel as well......

Oven cleaners will streak and dull the finish if left to penetrate for a long period of time!

Re: Removing Decals
 

LMAO!!

Angelo, 3m makes an adhesive remover that wont harm the paint and will take the glue residue off. Heat gun on low always worked for me on the stickers.

Re: Removing Decals
 

George, I was thinking of you recently and happy to hear what you posted, LOL!

Re: Removing Decals
 

[QUOTE=Monte Howard;311335]After hair dryer and removal, I always use goo gone to get the glue off.
Apply the goo gone stand back drink a beer then wipe off


Repeat as needed!

Re: Removing Decals
 

After the old ones are off, put a dozen or so coats of wax on the car to make removal easier next time.

Re: Removing Decals
 

Any new ideas ??
A lot of these sound good !!

Re: Removing Decals
 

I found a tool for decal removal at Harbor Freight.
It looks somewhat like a old school soldering iron
and heats a standard single edge metal razor blade.

I will let you know how it works..... if we ever get our new
cars back from Ohio!

Re: Removing Decals
 

Tried that to remove some decals that were on a trailer.

Did not care for it at all.

Your results may differ.

Heat gun from Harbor seemed to work better.

Re: Removing Decals
 

Ang, borrow one of the kids hair dryers, works just fine. This cold weather does not help at all. Wait till spring and until then buy me dinner.

Re: Removing Decals
 

Cutting torch? Might be a bit severe.

Re: Removing Decals
 

we used a pressure washer to get them off at the dealership

Re: Removing Decals
 

this is what ive used in the past..works great..i liked the fact that I didn't need to use any chemicals.
http://solutions.3m.com/wps/portal/3...beRJ5GMFSMV0gl

Re: Removing Decals
 

Aerosol can Goof off works great

Re: Removing Decals
 

Does it affect the paint underneath the decal ?

I found this on KleanStrips web site....http://www.wmbarr.com/product.aspx?catid=33&prodid=121
Now if I can find a place to buy it .....!! Might have to take a trip to Dallas...except in the rush hours, if there is such a thing !!

Re: Removing Decals
 

Lots of great ideas. My problem is a little different, I have a decal of a drivers name on my plastic windows and now have changed drivers. Any ideas on how to remove the decals without screwing up the windows? Also if I ever join the HRA's again I am sure I will not get the same numbers. They are on the windows too.