Pinstriping removal

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POPPAJ

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Recently purchased a 2013 Lincoln MKT. The factory pinstriping which runs the length of the vehicle is degrading/coming off in a few areas and I want to safely remove it. What's the best method? It's real paint not tape.
 
Guess I should have asked which wax is best. :laughing:
 
there are a few things you can try.

if it's coming off already, it's obvious it's not under the clear, so it's likely aftermarket imo. if it's definitely paint, then you can try lacquer thinner first. see of that works. if not, take a basic compound by hand and see if that works. if it seems to affect it, then machine compounding might be the best bet at that stage. if you see no real results with the thinner or hand compound, then very careful sanding is required. this is honestly best left to a very experienced detailer or pro.

i just feel though that if it's coming off so quickly on a two year old car, it should come off pretty easily. just a feeling.
 
Thanks for the advice. Above the CC for sure. As the ps can be removed with a thumbnail I'm going to try using a single edge razor blade with lube. I'm hoping that an scratches will be light and easily polished out.
 
POPPAJ said:
Thanks for the advice. Above the CC for sure. As the ps can be removed with a thumbnail I'm going to try using a single edge razor blade with lube. I'm hoping that an scratches will be light and easily polished out.
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plastic razor might be something to try first. you can get them at Home Depot.
 
Razor blade is not a good idea. If it's coming off with your thumb nail then lacquer thinner will most likely wipe it away very easily with zero chance of scratching. If you get a slight haze from the thinner just follow it with a light polish.

Using a razor blade is jumping to the most aggressive method first and definitely risks marks that won't buff out.

My experienced recommendation.
 
My brand new 2011 Ford Edge came with some ugly painted on pin stripes. I tried everything including oven cleaner. Lacquer thinner worked the best and did not damage the clear coat. I just dabbed some on a rag and kept rubbing little sections at a time being careful to not let it sit on the clear to long. Make sure to just use your finger tip and keep using a different section of the rag. I quickly hit each 2 foot section with a little Mothers paint cleaner before moving on.
 
FWIW...and not to be 'that guy' - but I'm sure this isn't factory.

I use 3M GP adhesive remover, a bit of hot air, and a trusty old plastic putty knife. Mineral spirits (or lacquer thinner) will work too. Soak a towel or applicator, apply generously, follow with heat and some dwelling time, and see if this stuff doesn't just peel right off. Good luck.
 
Lacquer thinner doesn't touch it. Heat? It is paint, not tape.
Thanks!
 
POPPAJ said:
Lacquer thinner doesn't touch it. Heat? It is paint, not tape.
Thanks!
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I'm surprised Lacquer thinner doesn't work cuz it's the only thing that worked on my painted on pin stripes. Not to insult you, but any chance you use paint thinner instead of Lacquer thinner? I used to think they were the same myself but I was never that bright!!!!!
 
yeah i'm amazed your nail removes it but saturating/wiping with lacquer thinner doesn't work.
 
Try the 3M Eraser, I believe Autogeek carries them, if not your local auto parts store probably does. It uses a drill, but safely removes stickers, pin striping, and graphics on top of the clear coat.
 
you can use the rubber wheel on painted stripes? never knew that. i've only used my AES wheel for adhesive stuff, particularly stubborn German double sided tape.
 
FishyX said:
I'm surprised Lacquer thinner doesn't work cuz it's the only thing that worked on my painted on pin stripes. Not to insult you, but any chance you use paint thinner instead of Lacquer thinner? I used to think they were the same myself but I was never that bright!!!!!
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You can only insult me by throwing $100.00 dollar bills at me! :laughing:
Double checked and it is lacquer thinner.
I'm going to a local collision shop to see about hood alignment and will ask their opinion on this.
Somehow, as the striping is so easy to remove with a thumb nail, I'm pretty sure that I will be using a single edge razor blade with some lube for removal. Any scratches should be minimal and easily removed.

Thanks for all your replies!!!
 
I would not use lacquer thinner or paint thinner on automotive paint. It's just seems risky to me. This problem is, when you use "paint thinner", there is no standardization to exactly what you are using. "Paint thinner" can have various solvents in it including naphtha, mineral spirits, methyl ethyl ketone, xylene, turpentine, etc....

Some of these can harm paint.... In fact, I just read a thread on another forum where some dude used "paint thinner" to remove sap from his BMW and it either stained the paint or removed the clear coat. Bad.

I've come up with a method to remove pretty nasty sticky stuff from paint, and likely will remove these pin stripes with out any damage that a standard polish can't fix. This is assuming you are pulling your hair out and are at wits end.

Get a white microfiber hand wax pad, and wet it with mineral spirits (not the white mineral spirits eco friendly stuff - use the real deal). Mineral spirits are generally considered safe on factory paint. Then, place a generous amount of some high quality compound on the pad.

Get a heat gun. Gently / carefully heat up the stripes/goo/whatever yr trying to remove. Then, "passionately" hand polish it off with he applicator with MS & compound off it. If everything is done carefully, this won't hurt the paint and will remove pretty tough stuff. Since the paint will be "warm", the mineral spirits will want to flash off. Keep it wet by spraying more MS from a spray bottle.

The combo of compound, mineral spirits, heat, and hand polishing with microfiber seems to work synergistically - opposed to just relying on one thing.
 
Easy -off oven cleaner in small sections at a time (1 foot). let it sit a minute or two, wipe with cheap microfiber towels like you get at wal-mart. Follow up with polish and wax. I have done this many times to remove painted on stripes. As always ,try an inconspicuous spot first.
 
I have used goo gone gel on vinyl things like this on paint with good luck.
 
swanicyouth said:
I would not use lacquer thinner or paint thinner on automotive paint. It's just seems risky to me. This problem is, when you use "paint thinner", there is no standardization to exactly what you are using. "Paint thinner" can have various solvents in it including naphtha, mineral spirits, methyl ethyl ketone, xylene, turpentine, etc....

Some of these can harm paint.... In fact, I just read a thread on another forum where some dude used "paint thinner" to remove sap from his BMW and it either stained the paint or removed the clear coat. Bad.

I've come up with a method to remove pretty nasty sticky stuff from paint, and likely will remove these pin stripes with out any damage that a standard polish can't fix. This is assuming you are pulling your hair out and are at wits end.

Get a white microfiber hand wax pad, and wet it with mineral spirits (not the white mineral spirits eco friendly stuff - use the real deal). Mineral spirits are generally considered safe on factory paint. Then, place a generous amount of some high quality compound on the pad.

Get a heat gun. Gently / carefully heat up the stripes/goo/whatever yr trying to remove. Then, "passionately" hand polish it off with he applicator with MS & compound off it. If everything is done carefully, this won't hurt the paint and will remove pretty tough stuff. Since the paint will be "warm", the mineral spirits will want to flash off. Keep it wet by spraying more MS from a spray bottle.

The combo of compound, mineral spirits, heat, and hand polishing with microfiber seems to work synergistically - opposed to just relying on one thing.
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there is no problem using lacquer thinner on cured multi-stage paint. at least automotive lacquer thinner, such as what i have used from Paintscratch.

when Paintscratch sends out their touch up paint, you can request lacquer thinner to 1. thin the paint and/or 2. remove the touch up paint if you make a mistake w/o harming the surrounding paint. side note: i am not sure what differences there are between automotive lacquer thinner and what you can get at the hardware store, but they specifically say to NOT use hardware store lacquer thinner and if you don't get theirs, source yours from an auto body store.

that said, apparently lacquer thinner didn't work for this situation, so maybe he can try your technique to see if that will work.

OP, i see you mentioned using a single bladed razor again. it's your vehicle, but i'm telling you a plastic razor blade is not only massively safer here, but will be more useful in the future in detailing arena than the metal ones.

also, i believe the OP confirmed a while back it's paint, not vinyl. it's getting confusing because some users keep referring to this as if it's a vinyl stripe and i believe he said otherwise.
 
builthatch said:
also, i believe the OP confirmed a while back it's paint, not vinyl. it's getting confusing because some users keep referring to this as if it's a vinyl stripe and i believe he said otherwise.
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oh, I missed the point of confirming it was paint. It's weird that he can peel paint with finger nail.

I agree a plastic razor is MUCH safer than a metal one.
 
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