Tips For Decal Removal From A Vehicle
If you have a car or truck with a decal or bumper sticker that you no longer want to be on the vehicle, these tips may help with decal removal from the vehicle without ruining the paint.
One trick is to get the adhesive that holds the decal in place warm. You can use a heat gun or iron over a damp towel. In some situations, a hair drier or parking the vehicle in the sun will give enough heat to melt the glue holding the decal in place.
After you melt the adhesive, you will want to have a soft scraper such as a plastic putty knife or credit card to lift the edge of the decal. If you are brave, you can use a razor blade to slide under the decal, buy you will want to be careful that you do not scrape the paint on the vehicle.
Once you have lifted the edge of the decal, continue peeling as far as possible. You may need to stop and reheat the adhesive if it has cooled. If the decal tears, try heating and lifting the edge again. Eventually, you should be able to get all of the upper portion of the decal off the vehicle.
If the decal is something like a pinstripe, you may choose to use a tool made by 3M called a “stripe off tool” It looks like a large eraser that fits into a power drill and erases the pinstripe from the vehicle. It can also be used for small bumper stickers.
Once the decal has been removed, you may still have some sticky residue which needs to be removed. Residue that is left on the vehicle will attract dust and make an unsightly mess so you will need to take steps to remove it.
Several solvents can be used to remove the sticky residue. Try some of the suggestions to see if they work for your residue. You should use solvents in a place that has plenty of ventilation. Fumes from solvents can cause many problems including brain damage or death if inhaled.
Some residue may be able to be removed using only rubbing alcohol mixed with dish soap or WD-40. Others will require a stronger solvent such as lighter fluid or even lacquer thinner. Do not apply solvents while the vehicle is warm and do not allow to sit on the surface of the paint long enough to damage the finish of the vehicle. One of these solvents should do the trick to remove the stickiness.
While in place, the decal may have protected the paint that is underneath it. The result is a shinny spot under where the decal was placed. Waxing the entire vehicle will help to make the shiny spot less noticeable and remove the final traces of the decal.
Unfortunately, if a decal has been on an older vehicle, it may be impossible to remove it without using a grinder and removing the decal and the paint underneath it. If this is the case, you will have to apply primer and repaint the vehicle to get rid of the decal.
Want to find out more about professional decal removal, then visit Hinton Water Blasting to find out about a new method of removing decals from vehicles.
