Debadging help

[tguil]

Yep, I did a search and found suggestions for debadging, but how about one more time.

I just bought a 2007 White Dodge Hemi "Big Horn Edtion". I'd like to remove the "Big Horn Edition" letters on the tailgate.

Please give me a sure fire method on how to remove these letters with *no* chance of damaging the finish.

Thanks.

Tom

[astaticwinter]

Re: Debadging help

A lot of guys over at matrixowners.com all use the same simple method. I did this on my '03 Black Matrix XRS, and you could never tell the badges were there.

1)Start by heating up the badges with either a blow dryer, or a heat gun. You dont want them scorching hot so that they burn your paint, just enough to get the glue warm and starting to loosen.

2) Take fishing line, or strong dental floss is your desperate, and place it behind the emblem. Work your way from end to end, gently sawing the glue off. If it gets too hard, warm them up again and continure until the badge is off.

3) You'll have an ugly blob of glue still on the paint. Take Goo-Gone, squirt it on the glue, and let it sit for a minute. You'll probably have to rub the glue off with your fingers. Blisters might happen, so be careful.

4) Work with the Goo-Gone until all the glue is off.

5) Once there's no glue left, give the area a nice wipedown of some carwash on a rag, then dry. Take a step back and look for shadows, or any evidence that the badge was there.

6) Any shadows or discoloration can be worked out with ScratchX and Polish. Work the scratchX all over the area, overlapping sections, until you can't see the shadow anymore, and the finish looks even. Work a small amount of a fine polish to smooth out the area and take away and swirl marks. Little wax on the area, let dry, and buff off, and you should be all set.

-TJ

[ADHD]

Re: Debadging help

I woould do everything u said except for step1.. I would not heat up my paint! I just use the fishing line method and pull!! it works great

[Michael Stoops]

Re: Debadging help

I woould do everything u said except for step1.. I would not heat up my paint! I just use the fishing line method and pull!! it works great

If you use a hair dryer it will impart enough heat to help the removal process but nowhere near the amount of heat a true heat gun can generate.

Beyond that, I've used the exact same steps as outlined by astaticwinter and it works great!

[astaticwinter]

Re: Debadging help

I woould do everything u said except for step1.. I would not heat up my paint! I just use the fishing line method and pull!! it works great

The heat gun just helps it go a little faster...it's just two or three quick passes along the badge on the low setting. If you don't feel comfortable using a heat gun or a blow dryer, park your car so the sun is on the badges for an hour or so, and it will work almost just as well.

[tguil]

Re: Debadging help

I "dehorned" my 2007 Big Horn Edition today. Been lots of posts on debadging, but no one has mentioned that the letters for the "Big Horn Edition" and probably many other badges are simply foil with an adhesive backing, A little bit of hair drier time, a little bit of dental floss to grab an edge of the letters to loosen them, and they pulled right off with my fingers. Followed up with 3M Adhesive Remover, ColorX and I was done.

Tom