Quick & Easy Emblem Removal

Nick McKees37

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Ever since I purchased my Honda Civic Si a year and a half ago it has repeatedly been referred to as the "Honda Si" from friends, techs at the Honda dealership, and so on. Since it is currently the only model Honda makes with the "Si" designation, it makes sense. For that reason - and because I dislike taping the emblem off anyway - I decided it was time to remove the Civic emblem altogether. This makes for a much cleaner appearance.

Most emblems on vehicles manufactured in the last 25 or 30 years are attached with an adhesive backing. If you have an older car, the emblem more than likely bolts onto the panel. This guide is for removing the former.

It's real simple, so don't click away just yet. Here's a couple basic tools you will need:


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First you'll want to heat up the emblem using a heat gun or hair dryer. I used a hair dryer for two reasons: 1. I don't have a heat gun. 2. Less chance of damaging the panel.

You only need to heat the emblem for 15-30 seconds or so, and pay close attention to the surrounding finishes. Use the "fight or flight" method to determine if the surrounding panels are too hot. If you can't touch them without yanking your hand away in pain, then it's too hot. Take your time - better safe than sorry.

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Once the emblem has been heated up, take your fishing line and wrap it around your index finger on both hands. It's kind of like flossing a tooth, but much bigger. Perform a "sawing" motion as your work your way behind the emblem.

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Normally the emblem will pop right off, but mine wasn't as easy so I simply had to pry it off with my fingers. Be careful, the emblem might still be hot from the hair dryer.

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What you see is leftover adhesive. You can remove this with a plastic razor blade, or simply use your fingernail. A plastic razor blade works much better.

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Once you remove the majority of the remaining adhesive, spray 3M Adhesive Remover directly onto a DAMPENED (with water) microfiber towel.

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GENTLY wipe the panel until all the remaining adhesive from the emblem has been removed.

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Tada!

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Just to be on the safe side, I quickly washed the panel using a rinseless wash. This is to ensure any residue from the adhesive remover is completely gone.

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3M Adhesive Remover is pretty potent stuff, so it will remove your wax or sealant. I quickly applied a coat of Wolfgang Fuzion to protect the area.

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That's it!



:dblthumb2:
 
nick, looks much better (and cleaner) without the badge. all the cars (including mine) in my family have all the badges taken off except for the middle logo badge (H or whatever).
 
Is there ever an issue of the letters shapes being left behind on cars a few (+5 years old) years older from UV fading the surrounding paint?
 
Slick!!! How did that suspension go in?!?!

New suspension was installed late Saturday night. So far so good. :dblthumb2:

nick, looks much better (and cleaner) without the badge. all the cars (including mine) in my family have all the badges taken off except for the middle logo badge (H or whatever).

It does make for a much cleaner appearance.

Is there ever an issue of the letters shapes being left behind on cars a few (+5 years old) years older from UV fading the surrounding paint?

It's certainly possible, but it should polish right out.
 
Fishing line, Rapid Remover and polish or wax ......... golden.
 
Thanks for sharing your de-badging tutorial, Nick. :xyxthumbs:


Note:
Maybe it's the "old-school" that's embedded in me...

(remembering how people once desired that the vehicles
they wished to "collect" wear all that originally came with
them from the factory)...

but I like "badging".


Bob
 
Thanks for sharing your de-badging tutorial, Nick. :xyxthumbs:


Note:
Maybe it's the "old-school" that's embedded in me...

(remembering how people once desired that the vehicles
they wished to "collect" wear all that originally came with
them from the factory)...

but I like "badging".


Bob

Bob,

If I had a Corvette Z06 you can bet I would keep the badges on it. ;)

Bragging rights.

:dblthumb2:
 
If you don't have any fishing line, you can use dental floss also.
 
I've used two paint brush handles to tie the fishing line to so the line doesn't slice into your fingers when doing the "sawing" action. Just tie the line to the holes on the ends of the two paint brush handles and now you have a more comfortable grip for the fishing line.

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Anything with a handle and a hole will work I suppose. I just have small paint brushes handy. :xyxthumbs:

Randy
 
Thanks for the tutorial, Nick.
Yesterday, I denuded my DD of the trunk lettering.
IMG_2062.jpg

I've done plenty of trim removal over the years using fishing line, but it was never this easy before. I don't know why I never thought of using heat, as I have a commercial heat gun, but it made the job go so much quicker. Didn't even need the fishing line, just a plastic squeegee and some heat. A wipe with mineral spirits to remove any residue and a little Blackfire TPS to make the outlines disappear was all it took.
Thanks again!

Bill
 
If you don't have any fishing line, you can use dental floss also.

Some dental floss, apparently all the ones I have on my house, have very poor tensile strength and was quite the pain to use.

If you plan on doing this, I'd get some fishing line, resort to dental floss as a last resort.
 
I've used two paint brush handles to tie the fishing line to so the line doesn't slice into your fingers when doing the "sawing" action. Just tie the line to the holes on the ends of the two paint brush handles and now you have a more comfortable grip for the fishing line.

1411873788.jpg



Anything with a handle and a hole will work I suppose. I just have small paint brushes handy. :xyxthumbs:

Randy

Great tip Randy. :dblthumb2:

Thanks for the tutorial, Nick.
Yesterday, I denuded my DD of the trunk lettering.
IMG_2062.jpg

I've done plenty of trim removal over the years using fishing line, but it was never this easy before. I don't know why I never thought of using heat, as I have a commercial heat gun, but it made the job go so much quicker. Didn't even need the fishing line, just a plastic squeegee and some heat. A wipe with mineral spirits to remove any residue and a little Blackfire TPS to make the outlines disappear was all it took.
Thanks again!

Bill


Lookin' good Bill! Im the MAN
 
If you spray some adhesive dissolver on before you begin sawing (so that you're sawing with adhesive remover mixed in there as well) the sawing can be easier.

And as a footnote for future reference on a different application of the same concept, this same process can be used to remove a big bathroom mirror from the wall without breaking it. The mirror is usually attached with a blob of adhesive in each corner. Take your fishing line, tie a steel washer on the end, drop the washer behind the mirror from the top, then use a magnet to pull the washer (and the fishing line) out the side of the mirror so you can "saw" away the blob of adhesive. Pour some sort of adhesive dissolver behind the mirror, from the top, to aid in the sawing. I think I actually found that a twisted-strand steel wire (the kind used for hanging pictures) worked best since it has some "teeth" to it.
 
That's how I debadged my Jeep SRT8, it was very quick and easy. Now people ask me if it's an SRT all the time LOL.
 
Depending on the age of the letters/badging you may not even need a heat gun to pull off the lettering.

The last time I had a plastic dealership badge to remove, it was on a brand new dark grey car. After setting in the hot summer sun for a few hours, I sliced them right off with fishing line. No blow dryer required. I'm sure this may work on any dark colored car.

On a side note, the dealer applied pin striping also came off very easily at the same time. The adhesive gets so soft in the heat, those things peeled right off.
 
Debadging is the way to go. I have had my Grand Prix debadged for years. It's one of the best things I did.

With my Camaro SS I left the badges intact.

So what happens if you want to put the badging back on - suggestions?

If you wish to put them back on then clean up any remaining residue from the letters or badges. Pick up some 3M tape locally and cut the tape to fit the outline of the badge or lettering. Hopefully you have access to the dimensions of where they sit so you can put them back in the right spot.
 
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