Best (and easiest) way to remove decals....

Walkertexasranger · 09-18-2006, 07:27 PM

Ya i got my truck with some gay racing stripe decal things all along both sides about a cm in width, round the whole truck, i want em off, but whats the best way, and how do i get the residue off afterwords?

ZQ8 NOMA · 09-18-2006, 09:39 PM

It depends how long the vinly stripes have been on your truck, and even what colout they are. Metallic colours are thinner and are usually harder to remove. If you are lucky you can use a hair dryer on high or a heat gun on low , and warm up a 1 foot section of stripe at a time. Start a edge with your finger nail and slowly pull the stripe off. You can use Varsol (Mineral Spirits), or Goo Gone to remove the glue residue after you are done. Just spray it on the glue let it soak for a bit and remove with clean rags. To be safe I usually wash the chemicals off the paint when you are done even though they won't hurt it.
If the vinyl is old, it may only come off in littly chunks at a time. If thats the case and there is lots to do then I would buy the 3M stripe removal tool. It's like a big giant eraser that attaches to a drill. You use it at low speed and it will remove the stripe and glue from you truck at the same time, with out hurting the paint.

Walkertexasranger · 09-18-2006, 09:53 PM

alright good to know thanx man

xbrightsidex · 09-19-2006, 01:01 AM

go get yourself a cheap heatgun at walmart... they're like 10-15 bucks. much better than the hair dryer, and it'll melt the glue, so it'll peel right off. for residue, i usually use a degreaser, but recently, i've found that the mr clean magic eraser is a miracle in itself.

the heat gun will find many uses over time. and if it dies after a few uses, it was only 10 bucks anyways.

neuronyx · 09-20-2006, 02:23 PM

Thanks to the OP and contributors of this thread. I was wondering how to do this. My stripes are starting to have little pieces missing in them.

**Sir Toad** · 09-20-2006, 10:12 PM

some old,dried out,cracked stripes...there's really no choice but the wheel.

the heat gun is the most effective way,but i only heat up 6-9 inches at a time.usually i'll spend about 30 seconds heating the area,back and forth,back and forth,from about 4-6 inches away...

then i'll set down the gun and peal the decal very slowly...as soon as it stops coming off easily stop...repeat ...it will break,you will cuss,it's the way of stripe removal

NevurMind85 · 09-22-2006, 08:23 AM

Quote: Originally Posted by paint toad

some old,dried out,cracked stripes...there's really no choice but the wheel.

the heat gun is the most effective way,but i only heat up 6-9 inches at a time.usually i'll spend about 30 seconds heating the area,back and forth,back and forth,from about 4-6 inches away...

then i'll set down the gun and peal the decal very slowly...as soon as it stops coming off easily stop...repeat ...it will break,you will cuss,it's the way of stripe removal

thats odd i dont remember the cussing part of doing it. oh well. i guess i misread the instructions

.

neuronyx · 09-22-2006, 02:41 PM

Do you have to be real careful with the heat gun? Will it quickly damage the clear if it gets too hot in one area?

**Sir Toad** · 09-22-2006, 06:31 PM

Quote: Originally Posted by neuronyx

Do you have to be real careful with the heat gun? Will it quickly damage the clear if it gets too hot in one area?

yes,you can blister the paint.

**Sir Toad** · 01-20-2007, 01:24 PM

klassix · 01-20-2007, 02:56 PM

You can buy a stuff called GooGone at Walmart. Its almost like an oil you put on and let it sit for about 10 minutes and it turns the sticker into a gooey crap you can scrape off. It can take a few hits with the stuff but it will take off anything. I used it to take off stickers on my body and glass, works like a charm.

shatfacedpanda · 01-21-2007, 12:02 AM

Goo gone (not the spray get teh gell) let it sit for about 30 secs and WASH it off, then use a heat gun and rubber or plastic scrapper.

TubbD · 01-21-2007, 06:45 PM

Quote: Originally Posted by shatfacedpanda

Goo gone (not the spray get teh gell) let it sit for about 30 secs and WASH it off, then use a heat gun and rubber or plastic scrapper.

Thats what I used be fore and it takes them off pretty good.

anthony9789 · 01-21-2007, 10:07 PM

blow dryer / heat gun and mineral spirts worked best for me ...

01cherryreds10 · 01-23-2007, 01:24 PM

Plastic razorblades with a really strong adhesive remover that dries the stuff up and you can peel it off.

Make sure you get plastic blades so they don't scratch the paint.

ooopseyesharted · 01-27-2007, 10:27 PM

where do i get the eraser wheel?
I have alot of stupid stripes to remove

Paint Slinger · 01-28-2007, 04:11 AM

Quote: Originally Posted by ooopseyesharted

where do i get the eraser wheel?
I have alot of stupid stripes to remove

Any automotive paint store should have one. Just tell them you need a 3M stripe off wheel. Put it on a drill, spin it slow and apply light preasure. Dont go to fast though because if you get it to hot you could possibly blister the paint. Factory paint jobs usally hold up well but if your truck has been painted before I would be very very careful.

**Sir Toad** · 01-28-2007, 06:27 AM

3m eraser wheel....yeah....what he said

^^^^^^^

ooopseyesharted · 01-28-2007, 10:17 AM

i am gonna try to find one tomorrow

pimp99noma · 02-11-2007, 06:07 PM

I pulled off my stirpes by using a halogen worklight while pulling on a section I would move the light and it would heat the next aection up. I think that it worked better then a heat gun for that job.

comics22 · 02-14-2007, 09:55 AM

i just peeled and i had ALOT to remove... of course it was sitting in the july sun all day so that prolly had somehitng to do with it...

ooopseyesharted · 02-23-2007, 08:37 AM

Quote: Originally Posted by paint toad

some old,dried out,cracked stripes...there's really no choice but the wheel.

the heat gun is the most effective way,but i only heat up 6-9 inches at a time.usually i'll spend about 30 seconds heating the area,back and forth,back and forth,from about 4-6 inches away...

then i'll set down the gun and peal the decal very slowly...as soon as it stops coming off easily stop...repeat ...it will break,you will cuss,it's the way of stripe removal

I had a ton of gay vinyl on my truck....the heat gun worked great on most of it, but the wheel took care of the rest. Just remember, keep the wheel moving. If you stay in one spot to long it will leave divots (

i did in 2 spots). Just keep it around 2500-3000 rpms....it seemed to work the best in that rpm range for me.
I think the wheel said not to exceed 4000 rpms....my cheap single speed corded drill was 2900 rpm....perfect.

neuronyx · 03-12-2007, 10:22 PM

Quote: Originally Posted by ooopseyesharted

I had a ton of gay vinyl on my truck....the heat gun worked great on most of it, but the wheel took care of the rest. Just remember, keep the wheel moving. If you stay in one spot to long it will leave divots ( i did in 2 spots). Just keep it around 2500-3000 rpms....it seemed to work the best in that rpm range for me.
I think the wheel said not to exceed 4000 rpms....my cheap single speed corded drill was 2900 rpm....perfect.

Just wanted to say thanks to this thread. I removed my stripes last year and couldn't be happier. I ended up spending $20 for a 3M wheel. It was the best $20 wheel ever! Came right off.

Anyway, I made that same mistake at the beginnig. My clear got a little lumpy because I held the wheel there too long. DO NOT GO TOO FAST WITH THE DRILL'S RPMS! After that I got the hang of it and they came off like butter!

Killer Miked · 03-16-2007, 02:12 PM

i <3 the wheel!

09-18-2006, 07:27 PM	#1
Walkertexasranger Registered User Age: 20 Join Date: Sep 2006 Posts: 19 Location: Canada-Thats all u need to know User is: OffLine	Best (and easiest) way to remove decals.... Ya i got my truck with some gay racing stripe decal things all along both sides about a cm in width, round the whole truck, i want em off, but whats the best way, and how do i get the residue off afterwords?
	[Reply w/Quote]

09-18-2006, 09:39 PM	#2
ZQ8 NOMA Drivin' 2 Noma's Age: 30 Join Date: Aug 2002 Posts: 4,275 Location: Kitchener, Ontario User is: OffLine	Re: Best (and easiest) way to remove decals.... It depends how long the vinly stripes have been on your truck, and even what colout they are. Metallic colours are thinner and are usually harder to remove. If you are lucky you can use a hair dryer on high or a heat gun on low , and warm up a 1 foot section of stripe at a time. Start a edge with your finger nail and slowly pull the stripe off. You can use Varsol (Mineral Spirits), or Goo Gone to remove the glue residue after you are done. Just spray it on the glue let it soak for a bit and remove with clean rags. To be safe I usually wash the chemicals off the paint when you are done even though they won't hurt it. If the vinyl is old, it may only come off in littly chunks at a time. If thats the case and there is lots to do then I would buy the 3M stripe removal tool. It's like a big giant eraser that attaches to a drill. You use it at low speed and it will remove the stripe and glue from you truck at the same time, with out hurting the paint. Last edited by ZQ8 NOMA : 09-18-2006 at 09:45 PM.
	[Reply w/Quote]

09-18-2006, 09:53 PM	#3
Walkertexasranger Registered User Age: 20 Join Date: Sep 2006 Posts: 19 Location: Canada-Thats all u need to know User is: OffLine	Re: Best (and easiest) way to remove decals.... alright good to know thanx man
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09-19-2006, 01:01 AM	#4
xbrightsidex dixie highway destroyer Age: 24 Join Date: Dec 2003 Posts: 4,418 Location: louisville, ky User is: OffLine	Re: Best (and easiest) way to remove decals.... go get yourself a cheap heatgun at walmart... they're like 10-15 bucks. much better than the hair dryer, and it'll melt the glue, so it'll peel right off. for residue, i usually use a degreaser, but recently, i've found that the mr clean magic eraser is a miracle in itself. the heat gun will find many uses over time. and if it dies after a few uses, it was only 10 bucks anyways.
	[Reply w/Quote]

09-20-2006, 02:23 PM	#5
neuronyx Seeking Insight Age: 22 Join Date: Jun 2006 Posts: 554 Location: User is: OffLine	Re: Best (and easiest) way to remove decals.... Thanks to the OP and contributors of this thread. I was wondering how to do this. My stripes are starting to have little pieces missing in them.
	[Reply w/Quote]

09-20-2006, 10:12 PM	#6
Sir Toad drunk and bored Age: 40 Join Date: Mar 2006 Posts: 28,525 Location: galesburg(or morton), il User is: OffLine	Re: Best (and easiest) way to remove decals.... some old,dried out,cracked stripes...there's really no choice but the wheel. the heat gun is the most effective way,but i only heat up 6-9 inches at a time.usually i'll spend about 30 seconds heating the area,back and forth,back and forth,from about 4-6 inches away... then i'll set down the gun and peal the decal very slowly...as soon as it stops coming off easily stop...repeat ...it will break,you will cuss,it's the way of stripe removal
	[Reply w/Quote]

09-22-2006, 08:23 AM	#7
NevurMind85 ados egnaro Age: 24 Join Date: Jan 2006 Posts: 5,222 Location: Floyds Knobs/Clarksville, IN User is: OffLine	Re: Best (and easiest) way to remove decals.... Quote: Originally Posted by paint toad some old,dried out,cracked stripes...there's really no choice but the wheel. the heat gun is the most effective way,but i only heat up 6-9 inches at a time.usually i'll spend about 30 seconds heating the area,back and forth,back and forth,from about 4-6 inches away... then i'll set down the gun and peal the decal very slowly...as soon as it stops coming off easily stop...repeat ...it will break,you will cuss,it's the way of stripe removal thats odd i dont remember the cussing part of doing it. oh well. i guess i misread the instructions .
	[Reply w/Quote]

09-22-2006, 02:41 PM	#8
neuronyx Seeking Insight Age: 22 Join Date: Jun 2006 Posts: 554 Location: User is: OffLine	Re: Best (and easiest) way to remove decals.... Do you have to be real careful with the heat gun? Will it quickly damage the clear if it gets too hot in one area?
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09-22-2006, 06:31 PM	#9
Sir Toad drunk and bored Age: 40 Join Date: Mar 2006 Posts: 28,525 Location: galesburg(or morton), il User is: OffLine	Re: Best (and easiest) way to remove decals.... Quote: Originally Posted by neuronyx Do you have to be real careful with the heat gun? Will it quickly damage the clear if it gets too hot in one area? yes,you can blister the paint.
	[Reply w/Quote]

01-20-2007, 01:24 PM	#10
Sir Toad drunk and bored Age: 40 Join Date: Mar 2006 Posts: 28,525 Location: galesburg(or morton), il User is: OffLine	Re: Best (and easiest) way to remove decals.... bump
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01-20-2007, 02:56 PM	#11
klassix Uber Leet Age: 23 Join Date: Jul 2006 Posts: 89 Location: Vancouver BC User is: OffLine	Re: Best (and easiest) way to remove decals.... You can buy a stuff called GooGone at Walmart. Its almost like an oil you put on and let it sit for about 10 minutes and it turns the sticker into a gooey crap you can scrape off. It can take a few hits with the stuff but it will take off anything. I used it to take off stickers on my body and glass, works like a charm.
	[Reply w/Quote]

01-21-2007, 12:02 AM	#12
shatfacedpanda Pirate Astrenaut Age: 26 Join Date: Jan 2007 Posts: 810 Location: Fayetteville, TN User is: OffLine	Re: Best (and easiest) way to remove decals.... Goo gone (not the spray get teh gell) let it sit for about 30 secs and WASH it off, then use a heat gun and rubber or plastic scrapper.
	[Reply w/Quote]

01-21-2007, 06:45 PM	#13
TubbD Tonight the world is mine Age: 22 Join Date: Apr 2006 Posts: 16,574 Location: Linwood, MN User is: Online	Re: Best (and easiest) way to remove decals.... Quote: Originally Posted by shatfacedpanda Goo gone (not the spray get teh gell) let it sit for about 30 secs and WASH it off, then use a heat gun and rubber or plastic scrapper. Thats what I used be fore and it takes them off pretty good.
	[Reply w/Quote]

01-21-2007, 10:07 PM	#14
anthony9789 Registered User Join Date: Jan 2007 Posts: 27 Location: User is: OffLine	Re: Best (and easiest) way to remove decals.... blow dryer / heat gun and mineral spirts worked best for me ...
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01-23-2007, 01:24 PM	#15
01cherryreds10 Former S10 enthusiast Age: 19 Join Date: Jan 2007 Posts: 5,639 Location: Illinois User is: OffLine	Re: Best (and easiest) way to remove decals.... Plastic razorblades with a really strong adhesive remover that dries the stuff up and you can peel it off. Make sure you get plastic blades so they don't scratch the paint.
	[Reply w/Quote]

01-27-2007, 10:27 PM	#16
ooopseyesharted Red Bull Addict Age: 37 Join Date: Jan 2007 Posts: 277 Location: Cape Coral Florida User is: OffLine	Re: Best (and easiest) way to remove decals.... where do i get the eraser wheel? I have alot of stupid stripes to remove
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01-28-2007, 04:11 AM	#17
Paint Slinger Custom Painter Age: 27 Join Date: Jan 2007 Posts: 137 Location: User is: OffLine	Re: Best (and easiest) way to remove decals.... Quote: Originally Posted by ooopseyesharted where do i get the eraser wheel? I have alot of stupid stripes to remove Any automotive paint store should have one. Just tell them you need a 3M stripe off wheel. Put it on a drill, spin it slow and apply light preasure. Dont go to fast though because if you get it to hot you could possibly blister the paint. Factory paint jobs usally hold up well but if your truck has been painted before I would be very very careful.
	[Reply w/Quote]

01-28-2007, 06:27 AM	#18
Sir Toad drunk and bored Age: 40 Join Date: Mar 2006 Posts: 28,525 Location: galesburg(or morton), il User is: OffLine	Re: Best (and easiest) way to remove decals.... 3m eraser wheel....yeah....what he said^^^^^^^
	[Reply w/Quote]

01-28-2007, 10:17 AM	#19
ooopseyesharted Red Bull Addict Age: 37 Join Date: Jan 2007 Posts: 277 Location: Cape Coral Florida User is: OffLine	Re: Best (and easiest) way to remove decals.... i am gonna try to find one tomorrow
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02-11-2007, 06:07 PM	#20
pimp99noma Pimp in training! I wish! Age: 25 Join Date: Mar 2006 Posts: 207 Location: Appleton, Wisconsin User is: Online	Re: Best (and easiest) way to remove decals.... I pulled off my stirpes by using a halogen worklight while pulling on a section I would move the light and it would heat the next aection up. I think that it worked better then a heat gun for that job.
	[Reply w/Quote]

02-14-2007, 09:55 AM	#21
comics22 Pac is a hackin! Join Date: Jan 2005 Posts: 6,124 Location: Middle of freakin IL User is: OffLine	Re: Best (and easiest) way to remove decals.... i just peeled and i had ALOT to remove... of course it was sitting in the july sun all day so that prolly had somehitng to do with it...
	[Reply w/Quote]

02-23-2007, 08:37 AM	#22
ooopseyesharted Red Bull Addict Age: 37 Join Date: Jan 2007 Posts: 277 Location: Cape Coral Florida User is: OffLine	Re: Best (and easiest) way to remove decals.... Quote: Originally Posted by paint toad some old,dried out,cracked stripes...there's really no choice but the wheel. the heat gun is the most effective way,but i only heat up 6-9 inches at a time.usually i'll spend about 30 seconds heating the area,back and forth,back and forth,from about 4-6 inches away... then i'll set down the gun and peal the decal very slowly...as soon as it stops coming off easily stop...repeat ...it will break,you will cuss,it's the way of stripe removal I had a ton of gay vinyl on my truck....the heat gun worked great on most of it, but the wheel took care of the rest. Just remember, keep the wheel moving. If you stay in one spot to long it will leave divots ( i did in 2 spots). Just keep it around 2500-3000 rpms....it seemed to work the best in that rpm range for me. I think the wheel said not to exceed 4000 rpms....my cheap single speed corded drill was 2900 rpm....perfect.
	[Reply w/Quote]

03-12-2007, 10:22 PM	#23
neuronyx Seeking Insight Age: 22 Join Date: Jun 2006 Posts: 554 Location: User is: OffLine	Re: Best (and easiest) way to remove decals.... Quote: Originally Posted by ooopseyesharted I had a ton of gay vinyl on my truck....the heat gun worked great on most of it, but the wheel took care of the rest. Just remember, keep the wheel moving. If you stay in one spot to long it will leave divots ( i did in 2 spots). Just keep it around 2500-3000 rpms....it seemed to work the best in that rpm range for me. I think the wheel said not to exceed 4000 rpms....my cheap single speed corded drill was 2900 rpm....perfect. Just wanted to say thanks to this thread. I removed my stripes last year and couldn't be happier. I ended up spending $20 for a 3M wheel. It was the best $20 wheel ever! Came right off. Anyway, I made that same mistake at the beginnig. My clear got a little lumpy because I held the wheel there too long. DO NOT GO TOO FAST WITH THE DRILL'S RPMS! After that I got the hang of it and they came off like butter!
	[Reply w/Quote]

03-16-2007, 02:12 PM	#24
Killer Miked LethalFabrication.com Age: 24 Join Date: May 2004 Posts: 3,448 Location: Tampa, FL User is: OffLine	Re: Best (and easiest) way to remove decals.... i <3 the wheel!
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