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General Category => Maintenance => Topic started by: wildfire on December 27, 2014, 06:57:50 PM

Title: Decal Removal
Post by: wildfire on December 27, 2014, 06:57:50 PM
Does anyone have any tips on what to use to remove old decals/stickers . The backing of some stickers are on the fender and I dont want to damage the paint.
Title: Re: Decal Removal
Post by: Brook on December 27, 2014, 07:09:17 PM
.... I have heard, using a hair blow dryer works...... with clear coat??
Title: Re: Decal Removal
Post by: Mark Olson on December 27, 2014, 07:11:25 PM
I use a heat gun/blow-dryer to make it soft then peel off sticker. Use wd-40 to remove the gummy residue .  
Title: Re: Decal Removal
Post by: wildfire on December 27, 2014, 07:20:12 PM
Blow dryer. Hmm I will have to try that. Any chance of paint bubbling from heat?
Title: Re: Decal Removal
Post by: ribbert on December 27, 2014, 07:31:30 PM
Quote from: wildfire on December 27, 2014, 06:57:50 PM
Does anyone have any tips on what to use to remove old decals/stickers . The backing of some stickers are on the fender and I dont want to damage the paint.

Eucalyptus oil or Prepsol will remove sticker residue without paint damage. This is a challenge I face weekly, never found a sticker this won't work on ( the residue, not the sticker itself)
Just keep moving to a clean section of the rag as it fills or you'll just be spreading it around.

Noel
Title: Re: Decal Removal
Post by: Mark Olson on December 27, 2014, 07:39:27 PM
Quote from: wildfire on December 27, 2014, 07:20:12 PM
Blow dryer. Hmm I will have to try that. Any chance of paint bubbling from heat?

yes, keep the dryer moving and you will see sticker start to bunch up that's when it is ready to start peeling off . continue to apply heat as you peel .
Title: Re: Decal Removal
Post by: fjfool on December 27, 2014, 07:42:56 PM
Quote from: Mark Olson on December 27, 2014, 07:39:27 PM
Quote from: wildfire on December 27, 2014, 07:20:12 PM
Blow dryer. Hmm I will have to try that. Any chance of paint bubbling from heat?

yes, keep the dryer moving and you will see sticker start to bunch up that's when it is ready to start peeling off . continue to apply heat as you peel .

+1 to this method
i prefer the hair dryer to the heat gun- the heat gun is not forgiving
Title: Re: Decal Removal
Post by: giantkiller on December 27, 2014, 07:54:21 PM
They make an eraser wheel specifically for this. It's like the old tan rectangular pencil eraser's. Only it's a wheel you put on a drill. Works great, even on clear coated stickers. Just go to an auto body supply place.
Pretty cheap and I took off all the fj1200 stickers off in about 5 min.

Monkey used one. So I tried it. Super easy.
Title: Re: Decal Removal
Post by: wildfire on December 27, 2014, 08:06:06 PM
Quote from: giantkiller on December 27, 2014, 07:54:21 PM
They make an eraser wheel specifically for this. It's like the old tan rectangular pencil eraser's. Only it's a wheel you put on a drill. Works great, even on clear coated stickers. Just go to an auto body supply place.
Pretty cheap and I took off all the fj1200 stickers off in about 5 min.

Monkey used one. So I tried it. Super easy.

Come to think of it I remember reading about something like that a while back.
Title: Re: Decal Removal (Thread Hijack in Progress)
Post by: simi_ed on December 27, 2014, 09:44:31 PM
Anybody have any insight in removing residue from duct tape?  I have a few visible spots that have been pretty resistant to #2 Diesel, which is a pretty decent solvent (in the past, anyway) ...

Thanks for any help!

Ed
Title: Re: Decal Removal (Thread Hijack in Progress)
Post by: ribbert on December 27, 2014, 10:05:13 PM
Quote from: simi_ed on December 27, 2014, 09:44:31 PM
Anybody have any insight in removing residue from duct tape?  I have a few visible spots that have been pretty resistant to #2 Diesel, which is a pretty decent solvent (in the past, anyway) ...

Thanks for any help!

Ed

Eucalyptus oil or Prepesol - guaranteed to work, unless Northern hemisphere duct tape is different.

Noel
Title: Re: Decal Removal
Post by: simi_ed on December 28, 2014, 12:55:26 AM
Noel,  I looked about a bit before posting.  It seems like the only version of Prepsol I can find is a large-ish can.   I've found paint-prep chemicals that sound similar.  I'll have to dig a bit for the Eucalyptus oil.
Title: Re: Decal Removal (Thread Hijack in Progress)
Post by: ribbert on December 28, 2014, 01:04:57 AM
Quote from: ribbert on December 27, 2014, 10:05:13 PM
Quote from: simi_ed on December 27, 2014, 09:44:31 PM
Anybody have any insight in removing residue from duct tape?  I have a few visible spots that have been pretty resistant to #2 Diesel, which is a pretty decent solvent (in the past, anyway) ...

Thanks for any help!

Ed

Eucalyptus oil or Prepesol - guaranteed to work, unless Northern hemisphere duct tape is different.

Noel

Not sure how widely available Eucalyptus oil is OS and it doesn't like some plastics.

PREPSOL is "wax and grease remover" used most commonly for painting prep. Probably has all sorts of other names depending where you are.
No garage should be without a bottle of this stuff. Other than label residue removal, I wipe down everything I'm painting with it first, removes tar and chain lube with a single wipe, cleans surfaces I want something to stick to etc.
I just used it to remove the polish residue from my engine pipes.

It will not harm paint or plastic.
By volume, I go through more of this than any other solvent or cleaning fluids in the garage.

Noel
Title: Re: Decal Removal
Post by: ribbert on December 28, 2014, 01:14:20 AM
Quote from: simi_ed on December 28, 2014, 12:55:26 AM
Noel,  I looked about a bit before posting.  It seems like the only version of Prepsol I can find is a large-ish can.   I've found paint-prep chemicals that sound similar.  I'll have to dig a bit for the Eucalyptus oil.

Haha Ed, appears we were writing at the same time. I just re read my post and thought it might need a bit more explanation.
Prepsol is a generic name for the stuff here, everyone knows what you mean though. It is commonly available here at hardware stores in 1 litre bottles for about $10 under a variety of names. Unless you buy from a paint shop it will most likely just be called "Wax and Grease Remover" well it is here anyway.
As it is used on a rag, it is quite economical.

Noel
Title: Re: Decal Removal
Post by: movenon on December 28, 2014, 01:18:24 AM
http://www.walgreens.com/store/c/aceite-eucalyptus-oil/ID=prod6209978-product (http://www.walgreens.com/store/c/aceite-eucalyptus-oil/ID=prod6209978-product)

WD-40 - lighter fluid or Coleman lantern fuel ? Test it on the back side of a panel first ?  The last Prepsol I bought was at Ace Hardware. Heck one of the box lumber stores might have it.  "Wax and Tar removal" at the local Auto discount store.  Also you can try some plain old rubbing alcohol.
George
Title: Re: Decal Removal (Thread Hijack in Progress)
Post by: roverfj1200 on December 28, 2014, 01:48:18 AM
Quote from: simi_ed on December 27, 2014, 09:44:31 PM
Anybody have any insight in removing residue from duct tape?  I have a few visible spots that have been pretty resistant to #2 Diesel, which is a pretty decent solvent (in the past, anyway) ...

Thanks for any help!

Ed

Most auto paint shops will have a prewash cleaner. Should do the trick..
Title: Re: Decal Removal
Post by: simi_ed on December 28, 2014, 02:49:42 AM
OK, I've got better understanding of the stuff I'm looking for now.  I failed with #2 diesel and bug & tar remover.
Unfortunately this residue is about 2 & 1/2 years old and not very cooperative.  If all else fails I'll try something more abrasive.

Thanks!

Ed
Title: Re: Decal Removal
Post by: Arnie on December 28, 2014, 06:38:07 AM
If you can't find Eucalyptus oil, then there is a commercial product in the US called "Goo Gone" which works very well too.  I think the main ingredient is Orange oil (at least it smells like that).

Arnie
Title: Re: Decal Removal (Thread Hijack in Progress)
Post by: rlucas on December 28, 2014, 09:09:10 AM
Quote from: ribbert on December 27, 2014, 10:05:13 PM
Eucalyptus oil or Prepesol - guaranteed to work, unless Northern hemisphere duct tape is different.
Noel

Okay, new FJOC acronym: NHDT - Northern Hemisphere Duct Tape. "No problem. Safety wire and NHDT. Done."  :good:

rossi
Title: Re: Decal Removal
Post by: novaraptor on January 06, 2015, 02:37:49 PM
Bestine. Can find it in some hobby and art shops. It is an adhesive thinner, and is usually neutral toward everything else. Used in restoration work.
Title: Re: Decal Removal
Post by: theLeopard on January 07, 2015, 07:56:40 AM
Blowdryer for the decal.
Turtlewax Scratch Remover, green can, for the glue.