If anyone has an older coach with decal issues this may be of interest! After much research we decided to replace the decals instead of paint because of the $$$. We didn't want the shadows to be visible so there was no change in the pattern and we stayed close to original colors. The company we chose was Rv Stripes and Graphics in Mesa, AZ. We have nothing but positive feelings about this entire process. Our older coach has new life and that makes us feel good! We want to thank everyone at RV Stripes and Graphics (Steve and Dale Zacher, Thomas and Omar). If we had the $$$$ we would have FT or Extreme in Nacogdoches do the makeover but we are very happy with the outcome! Just wanted to share our experience!
Josh
Josh, could you be more specific on the work done? Did they clean and gel coat/buff the rest of the coach? Were the decals made or purchased? Estimate of $$$ saved?
Josh could you also post pictures, Thanks
I bought the stripes from that Co. and put them on myself. It worked pretty good untill I decided the stripes looked to "busy" so I took them all off and buffed the area. At certain algles you can still see the ghosts, but overall I'm pleased with the results. nlh1250
I removed the lower stripes yesterday and am wondering if I should put some graphics back on the bottom or not. Some ghosting is visible but nothing I can't live with. Looks kind of nice without the lower stripes. I also removed all of the striping on the front to make polishing and waxing easier.I blasted the old stripes off with the 3M 8" Large area graphics removal wheel and it works unbelievably well. It took about 3 hrs to get them all off of one side and the front.
got a part number? You using a buffer, drill?
I don't have the ability to send pics by computer at this time but can text if anyone is interested. The cost was $2700 (removal/application labor) and they made the decals with current technology (5 year warranty) .No gel coat work except prep for area where decals were applied. There is a business who can do this in Mesa. Again, I know FT can paint any design with multiple options and have talked with James Stallings(Extreme) and was very impressed with his options. However, the $$$ was an issue with a coach that is worth X. I (will) have James paint the roof next year so this old man doesn't have to wax the roof anymore. The decals can and should be waxed with a UV blocking product per instructions. Good luck and let me know if anyone has any other questions.
Safe travels,
Josh
A slight correction. The decals should be treated with a UV protectant (303 Aerospace), but no wax or product containing petroleum products.
Brett,
Steve (RV stripes and graphics) said that I could use Meguiar's marine carnauba blend on this product. The material manufacturer also recommends a carnauba type wax. Could be that the technology uses a different material for the decals. Just have to protect them in someway.
Thanks,
Josh
Dave,
This is about the best price I could find, part no. 3M-07517
Search results for: '3M-07517' (http://paintguysupplies.com/catalogsearch/result/?q=3M-07517)
I used it in a Milwaukee 5455, 1750rpm polisher/grinder. You need a 5/8-11 coupling nut to attach the male threads of the wheel to the male threads of the polisher. Local hardware store had one for about $4.00. This big wheel would probably not work on a drill. Some/most of lower black stripes and graphics peeled off with a little application of heat from heat gun. Doing the one side and front wore down the wheel from the original 8" diameter to 5 1/2" diameter. I could probably complete the removal of the upper graphics with the one wheel. It is recommended that as the wheel gets smaller that the rpm's be increased, but at the 5 1/2", the 1750rpm still seemed to be ok but you can tell the difference in performance. My 5455 has been around me for a long time and if I had a choice now I would get the 5540 that can be dialed in up to 2800 rpm. I bought 2 wheels and the other side graphics of the coach are in very good condition so I am not sure what I will do.
Good luck,
Rick
Josh,
I may have unintentioanlly hijacked your thread and apologize but I think it is under an appropriate topic where people searching for a solution for "New Decals" would find it. Maybe moderator can move my posts to a new topic "Graphics removal info" as once Dave asked the question I felt compelled to offer as much detail as I could.
One of my pet peeves with the graphics is that if you are polishing the gel coat you have to be careful around the graphics otherwise you will be abrading away the graphic material and although most of the graphics are color thru they eventually look faded, as would paint too, but then you have to go back and treat the graphics with a UV protectant etc., etc, etc. Some people mask off the graphics when polishing but I pass on that extreme.
Good luck with you new graphics I'm sure they will go another 12 years fine.
Rick
Rick,
Thanks for posting about the removal of the lower stripes. I have the same Coach as yours, and had been contemplating over the best way to remove some of the graphics. I agree by looking at your pictures -- that without the lower's and the front cap adornment -- your Coach looks not only better, but more modern. I've re-posted your pic for reference.
I've heard of a "sticker-removal" spray that softens the material for easier removal. Anyone have any experience with it? I was thinking that pre-applying this, letting it soak into the adhesive layer -- might make make things go easier & faster with the 3M wheel.
Or possibly -- it would just get "too gummy" and have the opposite effect.
With regards,
Michael McLaughlin
Michael,
I bought a small bottle of "vinyl-off" to try first. CrystalTek - Non-Toxic - Biodegreadable - Green Products That Work (http://www.crystaltek.us.com/)
Not sure it was working very well for me but in some places it may have done some good. I think it will work better on the upper graphics better. The wheel is far and away the best method. The Vinyl-off" did not seem to affect the performance of the wheel one way or the other.
Good luck,
Rick
Does any body know of a paint or dye that could be used on the existing graphics for touch up?
Can your decal company make up graphics to replace sections instead of replacing everything?
I have the same 95 graphics on my U320. The tops of the ribbon lopes are faded, the rest of the decal looks ok.
On the subject of removing Decals, when I was at Extreme in March, I did the removal of the lower storage ones from a door that was taken off a write off as it matched the one that I demolished. I used their steamer and it was fast and easy. Once I cleaned it up and light sanded it was easy to spray to match my pattern. I removed decals, mechanism and replaced the lock and cables off mine and set it up in 4 hrs. I even had to straighten one of the side bars as it was bent some.
John h
I had RV Stripes & Graphics replace my ribbon graphics without touching the stripe graphics. They worked well until I went with FBP at Xtreme.
While in Nac some time ago I watched a man remove all his decals in the parking lot using an iron and towel. He made it look so easy and fast. I dont know of a faster way to do it. I took a few photos. Decal Removing (http://beamalarm.com/Documents/decal_removing.html)