Region: AZ/SoPac
Car #: 92
Year : 99 Posts: 131
Status: Offline
posted
i use a hair dryer. get the vinyl warm and slowly pull it at an angle(you will find the correct angle that makes it easy with trial and error). wd-40 removes the adhesive left behind, as does goo gone or other stuff already mentioned. there is also a plastic spatula/scraper available that works well for this job.
Like Kevin said, use a heat gun. You can buy one at a local auto body supplier. Hair dryer takes too long. Just keep the heat gun moving and don't keep too close, they get very,very hot and fast.
Region: Oregon
Car #: 68
Year : 91 Posts: 2359
Status: Offline
posted
Nothing works like 3M general purpose adhesive remover sold at Napa. In some cases you just soak the decal for a while and just slide it off. For stuborn decals I warm and peel first, but always finish off with the adhesive remover. Also works great for removing rubber marks on paint, and cleaning fluids/oil spills!
-b
-------------------- Bruce Wilson 2010 Oregon Region Champ 2010 Monte Shelton Driver of the Year 2010 25 Hours of Thunderhill E3 and Under 2 liter Overall Champion Oregon Region SM Class Advisor
Region: kc
Car #: 20
Year : 92 Posts: 1801
Status: Offline
posted
Harbor Freight has a pretty cheap heat gun that I have used for years. Be sure to use the 20% off coupon, available in any auto mag. I second the 3M adhesive remover. wheel
Region: NWR / Oregon
Car #: 88
Year : 95 Posts: 2000
Status: Offline
posted
Wonderful...thanks everyone! I was thinking heat gun but figured I'd ask before another episode of, "This should be easy... How to do it wrong 40 ways before you ask for advice from people who know what they're doing."
I do like the 3M adhesive remover. After seeing what a great job it did removing the tire wall from the side of Ken's car, I borrowed some and it did a great job of getting somone elses front tire and bumper from being a permanent stain on my bumper.
-------------------- Keith Novak (Will work for tires)
Thanks for the NAPA 3M pointer. That sounds way easier and safer than the heat gun method that I've always used. Any impact to the paint when using this solvent?
Region: Oregon
Car #: 68
Year : 91 Posts: 2359
Status: Offline
posted
quote:Originally posted by Mark: Bruce,
Thanks for the NAPA 3M pointer. That sounds way easier and safer than the heat gun method that I've always used. Any impact to the paint when using this solvent?
No impact to the paint other than maybe removing the wax.
-bw
-------------------- Bruce Wilson 2010 Oregon Region Champ 2010 Monte Shelton Driver of the Year 2010 25 Hours of Thunderhill E3 and Under 2 liter Overall Champion Oregon Region SM Class Advisor
Region: NNJR
Car #: 48
Year : 1996 Posts: 191
Status: Offline
posted
quote:Originally posted by wheel: Harbor Freight has a pretty cheap heat gun that I have used for years. Be sure to use the 20% off coupon, available in any auto mag. I second the 3M adhesive remover. wheel
HF also sells a nice 3-pack of plastic putty knives that work well for scraping decals off.
One word of advice on using a heat gun (HF or otherwise) - depending upon your paint type you may heat it up enough to pull it off along with the decal.
Don't ask me how I know.
Signed, Offering a racecar for painting to the local community college
Region: South East
Car #: #92
Year : 91 Posts: 189
Status: Offline
posted
you can go to the local harwadre and get either some mineral spirits (weak solvent) or something a little heavier duty like zylene or tolulene, buy the gallon, you can use this stuff for all kinds of things.