Removing Decals

Angelo DiTocco · 02-24-2012, 07:29 AM

Any suggestions on reliable methods for removing old decals? Especially the stubborn ones that you discover have multiple layers as you try to peel them off.
I'm open to anything... I don't want to start experimenting and end up needing a paint job!

Stephen & Horace Johnson · 02-24-2012, 07:56 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Angelo DiTocco

Any suggestions on reliable methods for removing old decals? Especially the stubborn ones that you discover have multiple layers as you try to peel them off.
I'm open to anything... I don't want to start experimenting and end up needing a paint job!

i've always used a heat gun/hair dryer to peel the ones off our car.

MrWendy'sJr · 02-24-2012, 08:09 AM

Heat, i.e. hair dryer or heat gun if you are quick. And plastic razor blades. I'm not sure where we got ours but I have seen them in summit. I like Goo Gone to get the residual glue off after the decal comes off but other stuff is available that works just as well if not better. And take your time this is not a race.

A good coat of wax on the car and sticking the decal to your jeans before sticking it to the car will make them much easier to remove in the future.

Jeremy Stock SS/KA 3574

Rich Biebel · 02-24-2012, 08:28 AM

Heat gun and than use mineral spirits and WD-40 to remove any glue residue. A very tedious time consuming job sometimes.

Use the least amount of heat you can to soften the decal and peel it off slowly. If it over heats it gets to soft and will rip apart.

Some deacals are well made and come off easy. Some are junk and the facing seperates from the backing. They are tough to remove.

We used to have decals on all our service trucks. When it was time to sell them....we spent a lot of time removing the decals. There are always shadows in the paint where the decal was.

We get vans wrapped now......

Jim Wahl · 02-24-2012, 08:30 AM

Simple..... done this for years, hairdryer and WD40 and lots of clean rags. What makes it even easier before the fact is to wax the area before you put the decals on. Jim

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SSGN · 02-24-2012, 08:31 AM

Heat gun and we use a product called acrysol (sp) and it does not hurt the paint or fabric.

Kevin

Frank Bennett · 02-24-2012, 08:57 AM

Check with an auto body supply store in your area. There's a product in an aerosol can called " Decal and Adhesive Remover" made by a company called Klean-Strip designed for exactly this. Just follow the directions, and there should be no damage to any painted surfaces.

Carl Juliano · 02-24-2012, 09:12 AM

Hair dryer/Heat gun and go very slow when peeling em back. I put paste wax on the car and when it hazes I apply the decal....they come off pretty easy. Every season I go through this, removing non paying, and replacing with "paying" products. The paste style wax will also remove the glue residue when removing the decal.

dennis dunlap · 02-24-2012, 09:18 AM

I,ve used a rubber wheel on a drill or low speed buffer on the hard to get off ones,carefully .The w-d40 and lots of rubbing works as does the hair dryer method .Have a ample supply of cold beer cause your gonna be ther a while,,,,,,,

Jack Matyas · 02-24-2012, 09:39 AM

[QUOTE=MrWendy'sJr;311218]Heat, i.e. hair dryer or heat gun if you are quick. And plastic razor blades.

Ang - This what we use at our lot - and WD-40 on the glue .............and take your time .

02-24-2012, 07:29 AM	#1
Angelo DiTocco Senior Member Join Date: Dec 2001 Location: NY, NY Posts: 750 Likes: 175 Liked 189 Times in 48 Posts	Removing Decals Any suggestions on reliable methods for removing old decals? Especially the stubborn ones that you discover have multiple layers as you try to peel them off. I'm open to anything... I don't want to start experimenting and end up needing a paint job! __________________ Angelo DiTocco '98 Firebird SS/HA '98 Firebird B/SA

02-24-2012, 08:09 AM	#3
MrWendy'sJr Junior Member Join Date: Mar 2010 Location: Sandusky, OH Posts: 58 Likes: 2 Liked 25 Times in 1 Post	Re: Removing Decals Heat, i.e. hair dryer or heat gun if you are quick. And plastic razor blades. I'm not sure where we got ours but I have seen them in summit. I like Goo Gone to get the residual glue off after the decal comes off but other stuff is available that works just as well if not better. And take your time this is not a race. A good coat of wax on the car and sticking the decal to your jeans before sticking it to the car will make them much easier to remove in the future. Jeremy Stock SS/KA 3574

02-24-2012, 08:28 AM	#4
Rich Biebel VIP Member Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: Northern New Jersey suburbs Posts: 2,314 Likes: 25 Liked 544 Times in 213 Posts	Re: Removing Decals Heat gun and than use mineral spirits and WD-40 to remove any glue residue. A very tedious time consuming job sometimes. Use the least amount of heat you can to soften the decal and peel it off slowly. If it over heats it gets to soft and will rip apart. Some deacals are well made and come off easy. Some are junk and the facing seperates from the backing. They are tough to remove. We used to have decals on all our service trucks. When it was time to sell them....we spent a lot of time removing the decals. There are always shadows in the paint where the decal was. We get vans wrapped now...... __________________ Rich Biebel S/C 1479 Stock 147R

02-24-2012, 08:30 AM	#5
Jim Wahl Veteran Member Join Date: Jan 2002 Location: Central Florida Posts: 5,844 Likes: 666 Liked 683 Times in 129 Posts	Re: Removing Decals Simple..... done this for years, hairdryer and WD40 and lots of clean rags. What makes it even easier before the fact is to wax the area before you put the decals on. Jim . __________________ Jim Wahl....NHRA #2239 S/SS - IHRA # 8 Stock, D2 Stock Champion (forever I guess) 2019 Baby Gators Stock Champion 2009 NHRA D2 National Open Stock Champion 1982 NHRA D2 West Palm Beach LDRS SS Runner Up Past President, Southern Stock / Super Stock Association.

02-24-2012, 08:31 AM	#6
SSGN Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2006 Posts: 644 Likes: 131 Liked 140 Times in 51 Posts	Re: Removing Decals Heat gun and we use a product called acrysol (sp) and it does not hurt the paint or fabric. Kevin

02-24-2012, 08:57 AM	#7
Frank Bennett Junior Member Join Date: Oct 2011 Location: Connecticut Posts: 15 Likes: 11 Liked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Re: Removing Decals Check with an auto body supply store in your area. There's a product in an aerosol can called " Decal and Adhesive Remover" made by a company called Klean-Strip designed for exactly this. Just follow the directions, and there should be no damage to any painted surfaces.

02-24-2012, 09:12 AM	#8
Carl Juliano Member Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: Queens, NYC Posts: 294 Likes: 233 Liked 64 Times in 25 Posts	Re: Removing Decals Hair dryer/Heat gun and go very slow when peeling em back. I put paste wax on the car and when it hazes I apply the decal....they come off pretty easy. Every season I go through this, removing non paying, and replacing with "paying" products. The paste style wax will also remove the glue residue when removing the decal. __________________ Carl Juliano TS 1275 John Juliano SG 151 Carl Sr.

02-24-2012, 09:18 AM	#9
dennis dunlap Member Join Date: Sep 2011 Posts: 221 Likes: 0 Liked 1 Time in 1 Post	Re: Removing Decals I,ve used a rubber wheel on a drill or low speed buffer on the hard to get off ones,carefully .The w-d40 and lots of rubbing works as does the hair dryer method .Have a ample supply of cold beer cause your gonna be ther a while,,,,,,,

02-24-2012, 09:39 AM	#10
Jack Matyas Live Reporter Join Date: Nov 2001 Location: Bethlehem , PA -Christmas City , USA Posts: 4,926 Likes: 406 Liked 2,046 Times in 398 Posts	Re: Removing Decals [QUOTE=MrWendy'sJr;311218]Heat, i.e. hair dryer or heat gun if you are quick. And plastic razor blades. Ang - This what we use at our lot - and WD-40 on the glue .............and take your time . __________________ Jack Matyas 1547 FS/C 2015 Camaro COPO # 62- 2012 Camaro Convertible COPO