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Changing decals

S

stampedecarwash

Member
Hi all, is there a trick to remove the decal. Ive got new prints and going to glue them but like to remove the old one. Heat gun do? Pls see pic
 

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Heat gun, razor blade and 3M adhesive remover. You may need to go to a body shop supply store to get the 3M adhesive remover. Make sure you get every bit of old adhesive and residue off of the door. Any little bogger of old adhesive will telegraph there new decal and it will look terrible.
Post some before and after pics for us. New decals are one of my favorite projects! Always makes things look great if you take a little extra time to prep properly.
 
Eric H said:
Heat gun, razor blade and 3M adhesive remover. You may need to go to a body shop supply store to get the 3M adhesive remover. Make sure you get every bit of old adhesive and residue off of the door. Any little bogger of old adhesive will telegraph there new decal and it will look terrible.
Post some before and after pics for us. New decals are one of my favorite projects! Always makes things look great if you take a little extra time to prep properly.
Click to expand...

Does the 3M adhesive remover work any better than Goof Off?
 
I just did this. I used a razor blade scraper like ones used to remove inspection stickers, then cleaned any glue off with brake clean. Left a perfect and oil free surface for the new decals that I got from a local vendor.
 
Another trick

I’ve found that removing older baked on decals leaves a lot of residue and what I always do is “warm” it up with a MAP gas torch and then scrape off.

They usually come off one piece and leaves WAY less residue . Like 75% less
 
There are lots of suggested methods and all of them can suck based on the condition of the decals. We do hundreds of doors a year in our repair room and this is what we do:

1) Remove all components from door
2) Scrap off any loose pieces of decal
3) Soak door in a vat of mineral spirits over night. I know most don't have this on hand but a cheap tub and a gallon of mineral spirits is worth it. It dissolves the adhesive and most of the remaining graphics scrapes right off.
4) Use scrub pad or wire wheel to loosen any residue
5) Wipe the door down with rubbing alcohol. This is extremely important. If you don't get the steel completely clean you will shorten the life of the graphic.
6) Use the spray bottle of soapy water method of applying the new graphic.

Be very cautious if using any form of heat. If you use even slightly too much you can turn the decal into a sloppy mess and actually create more work for yourself and with all the newer electronics you can damage those.
 
As already stated above, a heat gun works great! Be careful around plastic & electronics. Keep the gun moving. Heat can cause "spider" cracks in plastic. I really enjoyed replacing decals! I typically use just a heat gun, medium steel wool, Goof Off & Rubbing Alcohol. TIP: Adhesive chemicals are different in every decal. Some decals remove better when hot & leave no residue. While others remove cleaner AFTER they've cooled slightly. Kudos to your efforts! Your customers will appreciate it!! :love:
 
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