A future project has me replacing some graphics. Anyone ever use acetone along with heat to pull off graphics? I have heard pros and cons.
My experience has been the acetone softens the gel-coat making it very easy to gouge it. I resorted to a product called Vinyl-Off along with heat. Here's an old write up: Decals (http://www.foreforums.com/index.php?topic=10045.msg45843#msg45843)
The topic has been cover on other post too and there seems to be a variety of successful methods.
Be very careful using acetone. It can damage the gel coat and the epoxy binder of the fiberglass. Its been my experience that heat, a plastic scraper and elbow grease is the safest way to remove the Foretravel graphics. If you use a heat gun, keep it at leat 6" away from the surface and don't put it on high as it can scorch the gel coat.
When I had my graphics replaced on t g e 88, the shop used a water pressure sprayer.. done I a little over 7 hours. Then deep cut 3M compound 12hrs later ready for 10yr uv 3M graphics... very thin stuff ^.^d
Another problem with Acetone is the color of the graphics can/will bleed deep into the softened off white gelcoat :facepalm: .....
Ted
Thanks guys it looks like acetone is out. Anybody ever use a steamer rather than a heat gun?
yes me. I took decals off a bay door 4 yrs ago at Extreme and it was a cinch. That is what they do. Clean and easy.
JohnH
I use a 1800 watt hair dryer. Warm them up and then pull them off.
Yes I bought a steamer to do mine.I used many many plastic razor blades and heat. I also used my heat gun and on some areas I used chemical Decal remover. Overall the heat gun works best for me. My decals are very very cracked etc,The thick dark decals will hold together for the most part and come off all in one piece. The lighter thinner decals tear and require more scraping. and the real faded
light colored decals won't peel so I just had to use chemical stripper and plastic blades. I have my passenger side almost done. I bought a gallon of Rapid Remover and it removes any old adhesive great. It's a lot of work but just have patience.
Thanks John, and Stump, I have a heat gun and a hand held steamer. Looks like thats the ticket. I only plan on removing the graphics on the storage bay doors so no ladder work and I have a small stool to sit on.
Joe I also noticed when doing mine the decals that have multi colors in them,On mine the whole decal would start to come off but then the real dark part of the decal would separate and it would continue to come off in one piece leaving the lighter shades still there,then i'd go back and work on them. Hopefully you'll get lucky and your decals are not as bad as mine and with a little heat and finness the whole decal will come off in one piece! It is so nice when they do,You'll say YAY!!lol
I used a commercial power washer with heated water. Decals still slow coming off and glue was a problem. You could run hand over coach and feel the glue. I used starter fluid, DuPont decal remover and Awesome from Dollar store. Awsome did best job, spray on, let sit about a minute then light scrape.
Still fighting outline of old decals, so far 3M fiberglass compound, and Meguiars oxidation remover.
Meguiars seems to be a little better.
Have not decided on painting decals or vinyl decals.
Larry
1998 U 270
I am hoping not to get to many shadow lines since its on the storage bay doors and its a straight line. we shall see. Waiting for temps to warm up a little before attempting.
I have a gallon of ghost off which worked pretty good google it.
I'll check it out thanks, Stump