Painted on Decal Nightmare!!

[ShineTimeDetail]

So I worked last night and I got all the vinyl decals off my van within an hour and a half but there is still a ton of decals that have been painted on. The paint is very tough paint. I have tried paint thinner, easy off oven cleaner, 2000 grit sand paper, barely does anything and 1500 works but it's taking a very long time.

If I go down to 1000 grit will this be to much of an abrasive?

 

[oldmodman]

You may even need to go to 600 grit. And pray that you don't go through the clear (if there is any). Then of course 1000, 2000 and polish.
Sure sounds like a real pain. And if you do go through the body's paint it will need a respray anyway.

 

[ohmy34]

most of the lettering paint is oil based, you may want to try mineral spirits and a scotch brite. see if the mineral spirits will soften up the paint. then use the scotch brite on it. jonathan

 

[ShineTimeDetail]

Everything that is painted

After wet sanding 1000 then 2000

After Coumpound- not the best pic but it looks really good(Can still see a little where the red was)

Still have the whole other side to do plus the left side!

 

[ShineTimeDetail]

most of the lettering paint is oil based, you may want to try mineral spirits and a scotch brite. see if the mineral spirits will soften up the paint. then use the scotch brite on it. jonathan

May try this out!

 

[Mike PhillipsMike Phillips is verified member.]

1500 works but it's taking a very long time.

If I go down to 1000 grit will this be to much of an abrasive?

I've done this exact thing on a friends Sanger Runner Bottom Dragboat and even though the gel-coat was/is thicker than an automotive paint finish it was still a pain to remove everything to the point that you could no longer see ghosting of the previous artwork.

It was a white gel-coat Sanger dragboat with the words Tequila Sunrise over a graphic of a guy riding a donkey into the sunset...

The boat looks so much cleaner with the graphics removed. I used to have 35m pictures of the before and after, not sure if I have them anymore. I have this one but it's hard to see the graphic on the bow from the side angle the picture was taken.

This was a very fast boat... also my favorite hull design... the bubbledeack runner bottom v-drive with a bbc. Oh yeah...

If sanding is working, but is slow... at least it's working and you don't want to break through the clear layer and have to repaint a van.


I would try this, at least it will take all the elbow grease out of the process and finish with a sanding mark pattern that you can easily remove.


Dampsanding with 3" Griot's Garage Mini Polisher

 

[C. Charles Hahn]

Heh... I see you left that Hurst emblem in place. Too bad you don't have a 4-speed or something to make that legit :laughing:

 

[BobbyG]

Tom,

Would using a heat gun work to soften the lettering enough so it can be scrapped off with a plastic blade of knife?

Just wondering.....

 

[ShineTimeDetail]

Tom,

Would using a heat gun work to soften the lettering enough so it can be scrapped off with a plastic blade of knife?

Just wondering.....

I used the mineral spirits but went to 800 grit and then 2000- Still need to buff it all out then I have some specks of yellow stuff on the hood...wouldn't clay off...oh and I used detailing clay!! :dblthumb2: haha

Oh and hush shinydetailer! LOL