How to remove tape stripes?
Thread Starter
Heel & Toe
Joined: Oct 2010
Posts: 16
Likes: 0
From: Priceville Alabama
How to remove tape stripes?
PO used tape for the hood stripes on SA '78. Not a bad job but I would like to replace them with a OE decal. Need recommendations on removing tape without destroying paint on hood.
Race Director
Joined: Jul 2004
Posts: 12,706
Likes: 329
From: Scottsdale Arizona
I'll start with a SERIOUS warning to test this on a hidden area first. I used this on a car with bad paint so I didn't notice any harm. Use at your own risk!!!
Easy Off oven cleaner. Lifted the stock decals off of my 81 like they were surface dust.
Easy Off oven cleaner. Lifted the stock decals off of my 81 like they were surface dust.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jun 2006
Posts: 2,071
Likes: 147
From: S Nevada
No way I would use a chemical not designed for use on auto paint.
I have removed stripe tape using a hair dryer. It doesn't get as hot as a heat gun. Unless you have a heat gun that you can adjust the temp. Save your paint and borrow the wife's hair dryer. More than likely, the untaped paint will have faded. Leaving the outline of where the tape was. A good quality rubbing compound will help blend it.
I have removed stripe tape using a hair dryer. It doesn't get as hot as a heat gun. Unless you have a heat gun that you can adjust the temp. Save your paint and borrow the wife's hair dryer. More than likely, the untaped paint will have faded. Leaving the outline of where the tape was. A good quality rubbing compound will help blend it.
Race Director
Joined: Mar 2006
Posts: 14,112
Likes: 28
From: Florida
Depending on how long and how much exposer, you find the paint under the stripes a different color from not fading. If so, buffing might remedy that.
The above mentioned removal methods are all good. Personally, I use oven cleaner, it works well even with painted on stripes.
The above mentioned removal methods are all good. Personally, I use oven cleaner, it works well even with painted on stripes.
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Racer
Joined: Oct 2009
Posts: 256
Likes: 1
From: Burbank, Ca
Allot depends on the age and condition of the Vinyl stripe, Natural sun first (on hot day), Heat gun second being careful. Never had much patience for a hair dryer, To much heat and its hard to pull the Vinyl off in large sections. For old dried out Vinyl there's a round wheel eraser you put on the end of a power tool. Work well for me on a Corvette I had, Does make a little bit of a mess as the eraser fly's off.I also used a lil chizler tool to pick up and lift Vinyl.
http://www.lilchizler.com/
http://www.lilchizler.com/
Last edited by esierra; Sep 15, 2013 at 03:29 PM.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Aug 2008
Posts: 2,456
Likes: 10
From: Somerdale NJ
St. Jude Donor '11-'12-'13-'14-'15-'16-‘17-‘18
No way I would use a chemical not designed for use on auto paint.
I have removed stripe tape using a hair dryer. It doesn't get as hot as a heat gun. Unless you have a heat gun that you can adjust the temp. Save your paint and borrow the wife's hair dryer. More than likely, the untaped paint will have faded. Leaving the outline of where the tape was. A good quality rubbing compound will help blend it.
I have removed stripe tape using a hair dryer. It doesn't get as hot as a heat gun. Unless you have a heat gun that you can adjust the temp. Save your paint and borrow the wife's hair dryer. More than likely, the untaped paint will have faded. Leaving the outline of where the tape was. A good quality rubbing compound will help blend it.
Used to detail cars and had someone paint stripes for me - always used hair dryer to remove old tape stripes - much safer. There could be times when you should use a heat gun, but hair dryer will do the trick most times.
Last edited by JW3101; Sep 15, 2013 at 08:37 PM.
Team Owner
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 37,637
Likes: 3,118
From: Crossville TN
Only a pro that is very adept at using a [hi-temp] heat gun should try that approach. For us 'everyday DIY' folks, a hair dryer would be best...much less risk of bubbling any paint.
I would only use a 'tape softener' (chemical substance) if the tape were so old and brittle that hair dryer heat would not allow easy removal.
I would only use a 'tape softener' (chemical substance) if the tape were so old and brittle that hair dryer heat would not allow easy removal.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Sep 2008
Posts: 805
Likes: 5
From: Naperville Illinois
I used a hair dryer and a scraper with plastic razor blades; worked like a charm.
I was taking pinstripes off a Suburban...looong pinstripes. The wife's hair dryer did not survive the operation. I don't have to tell you how that turned out.
I was taking pinstripes off a Suburban...looong pinstripes. The wife's hair dryer did not survive the operation. I don't have to tell you how that turned out.
Team Owner
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 37,637
Likes: 3,118
From: Crossville TN
If you use a hair dryer, after using it on "Hi" heat, you must turn the heat setting to "cool" while the dryer is still running. This cools off the heating elements so that they don't just melt due to lack of airflow over them. After about 30 seconds you can turn it to OFF with no problem.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Sep 2008
Posts: 805
Likes: 5
From: Naperville Illinois
If you use a hair dryer, after using it on "Hi" heat, you must turn the heat setting to "cool" while the dryer is still running. This cools off the heating elements so that they don't just melt due to lack of airflow over them. After about 30 seconds you can turn it to OFF with no problem.
Thread Starter
Heel & Toe
Joined: Oct 2010
Posts: 16
Likes: 0
From: Priceville Alabama
Thanx for the help and recommendations. The hair dryer worked great and I returned it to the wife still in working order. I looks like the clearcoat was applied over the tape so there are lines in the paint and some discoloring. Looks like I'll have to have the hood repainted. I've been told the silver paint may be hard to match.
Team Owner
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 37,637
Likes: 3,118
From: Crossville TN
I think a good paint shop could fix that lack of clearcoat pretty easily...without having to repaint the hood. If the area below the stripes is a different color than the 'exposed' paint, that's another story.