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decal removal

I am going to change decals on my 1195 240 grand ville. What is the easiest way to take the decals off and where is the best place to buy the decals. thanks mike
Mike
1995 U240 36'  air bags added on rear of coach

Re: decal removeal

Reply #1 –
Mike,
.
This is not an easy job. I have used an electric clothing iron with a teflon face as well as a Harbor Freight heat gun. The secret is to heat it enough (but not too much) so it peels off leaving no sticky adhesive behind. Otherwise, it's a nasty job with lacquer thinner. I use a single side razor blade to lift an edge and then try to peel it back. Too much heat and it comes apart. Decals in really bad shape don't come off easily. One side of the coach pulls off easily, the other comes off in small pieces.

I am going to paint the coach and do my own design. Over $2000 for a set of decals unless someone else has a cheaper source.

Pierce
Pierce and Gaylie Stewart
'93 U300/36 WTBI
Detroit 6V-92TA Jake
1140 watts on the roof
SBFD (ret)

Re: decal removeal

Reply #2 –
I used a small clothes steamer and a 3m eraser wheel to remove my decals.  It took me aprox. 40 hours to remove the decals and compound and wax the gelcoat.  It just takes alot of elbow grease.
Terry and Cheryl Brown
1997 U295 36'
Build #5066
2006 Jeep TJ Rubicon
1993 BMW R100 GSPD

Re: decal removeal

Reply #3 –
Mine came off fairly easily with just a plastic scraper and a hand held hot air hair dryer. Used heat and the scrapper to get it started , and then just a little pull by hand on the decal and playing the heat just at the area that was pulling free. Gam
joseph gambaro
1999 U295 36'

Re: decal removeal

Reply #4 –
Quote from: mike5071 –
I am going to change decals on my 1195 240 grand ville. What is the easiest way to take the decals off and where is the best place to buy the decals. thanks mike
I watched Carrol Nelson remove his in the FOT parking lot. He made it look so easy and it did not seem to take much effort to do it.

Decal Removing
The selected media item is not currently available.Barry BEAM #16014
2003 U320 40' AGDS
Beamalarm, Foretravel technical help and specifications
"Whatever the mind can conceive and believe, it can achieve"

Re: decal removeal

Reply #5 –
do a search hopefully this copy paste works

New Decals


good luck
Rick

Re: decal removeal

Reply #6 –
I found an iron with a fabric pad tiewired on, dipped in water frequently, worked well.  Removing the adhesive just plain stinks, you can wipe it with acetone and immediately scrape it off in large globs.  Found a 3M adhesive remover at Walmart at $5.00 per spray can that works about the same but more convenient.
"Not so  long ago we were a nation of risk takers, riding five million pounds of  thrust straight into space."  Joe Gresh
Chuck Pearson
1996 U295
2018 Can Am X3 TurboRS

Re: decal removeal

Reply #7 –

Be very careful on how much heat you apply in a small area.  Too much = a bubble in the gelcoat.  The 3m eraser wheel works great with no heat but it is a slow process. 
3M-7498 STRIPE WHEEL W/ARBOR - Amazon.com  for $28.15.

As an Amazon Associate Foretravel Owners' Forum earns from qualifying purchases.
Terry and Cheryl Brown
1997 U295 36'
Build #5066
2006 Jeep TJ Rubicon
1993 BMW R100 GSPD

Re: decal removal

Reply #8 –
Mike,
    As Rick D. pointed out...if you are also interested in replacing your decals after removal with an exact copy or new design then RV Stripes and Graphics in Apache Junction. Az. is a place I would highly recommend. They use (exclusively) 3M tape and their data base produces EXACT replications of any year Foretravel tape or will help you with a new design. When I purchased Brett Wolfe's prior coach, a 1993 U240, the only thing it needed (imagine that) was new paint and tape. I considered removing the tape myself but contracted them to remove and, after new original BASF matched (color) white paint, am having them put the (exact copy) new tape on. My coach is currently being repainted and after the new tape is applied I will post more pictures. You can view pics now thru this Forum under "around the fire ring"..(topic).. Roamies transformation...to see before and after tape removal before I took it to the paint shop. Steve at RV Stripes and Graphics could make you 3M samples based on your color scheme and possibly mail them to you....BOB 
perrydise
1993 U240 36' coach 4297, Cat 3116
 (Brett Wolfe's previous coach)
2005 Saturn Vue AWD

Re: decal removal

Reply #9 –
Quote from: CAPEHORN31 –
Be very careful on how much heat you apply in a small area.  Too much = a bubble in the gelcoat.  The 3m eraser wheel works great with no heat but it is a slow process.  3M-7498 STRIPE WHEEL W/ARBOR @ amazon for $28.15.
That's the small wheel you need the 8" wheel and a heavy duty grinder/polisher and it rips the old graphics off very quickly with no extra cleanup.

3M    #7517 LARGE AREA STRIPE REMOVAL DISC
 $66.00
Search results for: '3M-07517'
Rick

Re: decal removal

Reply #10 –

 That one is $78.76 at Amazon.
 
They also carry a 4" version for $8.50 (not 3M):
 
AES Industries 4" Smart Eraser Pad for Pinstripe, Decal & Adhesive Removal [Made In USA]
 
AES Industries 4" Smart Eraser Pad for Pinstripe, Decal & Adhesive Removal [Made
 
"The Smart Eraser Pad is the fastest and most economical way to remove pinstripes, decals and double-face tape. Wide range of functionality includes automotive and boating contexts. Will work on any cordless drill, corded drill and pneumatic drills."
 
Trent

As an Amazon Associate Foretravel Owners' Forum earns from qualifying purchases.
Trent and Jean Eyler
2000  U295  4003  WTFE  ISC  350
Build#5603 MC#17385

Re: decal removal

Reply #11 –
I bought 3 of the 4" dia. cheaper ones off of Amazon for $8 ea. While they worked okay, this past Saturday it took 5 hours and consumed all 3 to remove about 75% of the lower graphics on only the passenger side of my '95 U300 SE. I used them with an air-powered die grinder.

So -- I just ordered the 8" dia. 3M 7517 for $63, and will use it with my new Makita 9227 and hopefully make better progress. As the Makita holds a constant speed, does anyone who has used this exact wheel know what the "sweet spot" is? -- what rpm?

Thanks for any comments. The project continues.

Michael
Michael
1995 U300SE CAT 3176B Build # 4612 ("Marvin")

Re: decal removal

Reply #12 –
On one side of our U300, the decals don't have any cracks and don't look too bad. With a heat gun or iron, they peel off nicely if you are careful and don't leave any residue. On the other side, the decals have cracks and no matter what I have tried, are a huge pain to remove with lots of cleanup with lacquer thinner or acetone needed. I still have days worth of work ahead of me. You're not alone.

Pierce
Pierce and Gaylie Stewart
'93 U300/36 WTBI
Detroit 6V-92TA Jake
1140 watts on the roof
SBFD (ret)

Re: decal removal

Reply #13 –
Xtreme uses a steamer - like a wallpaper steamer - to remove decals, and they were pretty fast on our coach.  "Plastic razor blades" were used for the tough spots, and I guess any residual glue was removed with solvent.
Dave and Nancy
1999/2013 U270 36' Xtreme
Motorcade # 16774
2013 Subaru Outback
KD0NIM

Re: decal removal

Reply #14 –
Quote from: geomm –
I bought 3 of the 4" dia. cheaper ones off of Amazon for $8 ea. While they worked okay, this past Saturday it took 5 hours and consumed all 3 to remove about 75% of the lower graphics on only the passenger side of my '95 U300 SE.
You must have missed my previous posts on this.

Quote from: geomm –
I used them with an air-powered die grinder.

So -- I just ordered the 8" dia. 3M 7517 for $63, and will use it with my new Makita 9227 and hopefully make better progress. As the Makita holds a constant speed, does anyone who has used this exact wheel know what the "sweet spot" is? -- what rpm?

Thanks for any comments. The project continues.

Michael

The rpm reqt increases as the wheel wears down.The instructions are included with the wheel and give the speeds. They are well within your 9227. Somewhere around 1800 to start and keep the wheel moving. The wheel also removes the adhesive with the decal. Try the wheel at various angles to maximize the path of the wheel. As I remember you can get about a 4-6" swath cut as you go. There will be some tight spots where the small wheels will come in handy.
Good luck,
Rick
Rick

Re: decal removal

Reply #15 –
The company A&M graphics on gilber rd mesa, az 480 964 4254 we hired near Apache Junction used 4 of the 8 inch wheels for less than half a job.
They used a 4500 psu water pressure sprayer to complete the job, compounded the coach and installed 3m graphics for $2200.

John & Cheryl ;D
The selected media item is not currently available.
My advice and experiences are Free, you decide if they are worth anything .

John - driving Old Faithful
1994 U280 GV
C8.3, Banks, Pacbrake, 900 watts, Resonator, XLHD tow dolly
Retired Army Warrant Officer

Life is what you make of it - if it is lemons, make lemonade!
Former Coaches:
1988 GV 40' ORED 300HP CAT - 9 years
1990 Winnebago LeSharo - 3 years
2000 Newmar London Aire - 3 years (#18 of 23 produced)