Hood decal removal?
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Jun 2008
Posts: 164
Likes: 0
From: Groton MA
Hood decal removal?
I have a beige/dark bronze 81 that has the large "c" shaped decal on the hood. Does anyone know a way to remove this without damaging the paint? The paint is in good condition, but the decal is in bad shape. I can buy a stripe kit for about $300 which includes this decal, so I can replace it if I can get the old one off.
Safety Car
Joined: Oct 2000
Posts: 3,547
Likes: 12
From: Carbondale Pa.
Maybe you should look into this 3M tool, I've seen guys use it with amazing results but they tell me it takes some practice to avoid f'ups.
3M™ Stripe Off Wheel 07498, 4 in x 5/8 in with Mandrel, 5 per case
Designed for high-speed removal of vinyl, decals, graphics and double sided molding striping and trim. Use on tools with 4,000 RPM . MOS: optimum speed is 2,000 RPM plus or minus 200. Includes a 3/8 in Mandrel.
Good Luck, Peace,,,Moosie
3M™ Stripe Off Wheel 07498, 4 in x 5/8 in with Mandrel, 5 per case
Designed for high-speed removal of vinyl, decals, graphics and double sided molding striping and trim. Use on tools with 4,000 RPM . MOS: optimum speed is 2,000 RPM plus or minus 200. Includes a 3/8 in Mandrel.
Good Luck, Peace,,,Moosie
Melting Slicks
Joined: Aug 2005
Posts: 2,821
Likes: 204
From: Lincoln CA
Use a hair dryer. A heat gun gets too hot and puts your paint at risk. Heat an edge or a point and lift it with your finger nail. Continue heating the decal out in front of the removal site, pulling slowly. Many times the decal is too old and brittle to come off in one or more major pieces. I've used the stripe removal wheel mentioned above and it works great on pin stripes. I've never used it on a larger decal, though.
Safety Car
Joined: Jul 2005
Posts: 3,692
Likes: 833
From: WI
Surely there is some kind of solvent that will soften/melt/dissolve the decal but not attack paint/clear-coat...?
Once you get the decal off, you'll still see where the stripe was, in the form of a new looking area. On metal-bodied cars, you can even repaint the area and still see the 'ghost' decal bleed through unless you cover with an epoxy primer and sand smooth prior to painting (the adhesive bleeds through the paint and impregnates the metal). I don't know if this applies to glass-bodied cars.
Mark G
Last edited by Mark G; Nov 12, 2009 at 03:34 PM.
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Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Jun 2008
Posts: 164
Likes: 0
From: Groton MA
Thanks for the responses. I think I will try the heat gun first. I have one I can turn way down. The solvent will be plan B. As for the "ghost" of the decal, I'm planning on replacing it so that shouldn't be a problem.
