Decals & vinyl Lettering removal help!

[TroyS]

Hey guys,

I have been tasked with detailing all the "work" trucks for my dad's business. All something like 12 of them, and several of them are waiting to be re-lettered this week or next week, so I have to get them all cleaned up before hand.

I'm just looking for the best way to remove old vinyl lettering from the side of the truck. These trucks pretty much are in the sun every day, and the lettering is cracked, pealing, water-bubbled, and worse. The trucks have probably never really been waxed more than once or twice - but generally washed about once a week.

A lot of dirt has become lodged into the decal residue, being construction trucks also.

I'm just looking for tips and tricks for the easiest way to remove the old vinyl.

Thanks!

[Mike Phillips]

When vinyl graphics are in this condition, the adhesive that holds them on has pretty much converted to concrete and getting them off without damaging the underlying paint is going to be tough.

The usual methods would be to try a plastic scraper with Goo-Gone or a heat gun with a plastic scraper.

Let us know how it goes...

[PhantomR/T]

the best way to do this.. take a hair dryer and an extension cord..
heat up the letters you want off right now. use a piece of string or a razorblade and veery carefully get the edge of the sticker up

Then Use 3m Adhesive Remover on it. I have done many vehicles like that, including my own

[TSR6]

Mike - Thanks for the reply, and that was what I was afraid of. The old good is pretty much concrete, and the vinyl that hasnt flaked off, is well.... brittle.


PhantomR/T - Thanks, I have access to an industrial heat gun, blow torch, ect. Maybe i'll just wax off the surrounding area and torch it off. Ha! Ok, maybe not....

-Troy

[roaringlion]

I to had a question about decals removal and so forth but it got ignored for some reason, so i'll re-post it on this thread if thats ok with the thread starter

I was just wondering if any of the MOL members have come across any annoying decals on you car that you wnated to remove or just simply wanted to remove, my question is, is it worth it, i went to my local crash repairer to ask if it can be done with minimal damage, he told me it depended on the age of the car and whether the decal had become brittle or not he als mentioned that if i did go ahead with the removal it would leave the paint underneither with a faded look (decal on lower half of car between rear of the front wheel arch to the front og the rear whel arch, i think you call them wheel dams or something like that) so if i do ahead with the decal removal would it be best to use scratchX any sugestions

P.S. my decal is a clear base only 10yrs old in really good condition

[inthedetails]

I have had success using heat, mineral spirits (paint thinner) and elbow grease......

obviously heat and paint thinner don't mix.....


I use a hair dryer for heat, and razor blades to get the decal off.

Paint thinner was used to remove the adheasive...(goo be gone works too)

I then usually scracth the area under and around the decal and 90% of the time, you can't tell it was even there.

Most of these have been in area where a slight difference in the paint would not show too much.