Removing vinyl stripes, new car

[DaveT435]

So still waiting for my car to arrive. Long story but I have two cars coming from two different dealerships. One car has a stripe. Single stripe about 10-12 inches wide. I'm assuming being a brand new car it would be fairly easy easy to remove. Has anyone removed stripes from a new car?

 

[sweatthedetails]

3M decal removing wheel on a drill will knock it out. 30 bucks on Amazon

 

[Mike PhillipsMike Phillips is verified member.]

Single stripe about 10-12 inches wide.

I'm assuming being a brand new car it would be fairly easy easy to remove.

Has anyone removed stripes from a new car?

Not a new car but we removed the vinyl graphics on a car that sat out in Florida sun for over 5 years.

We used a heat gun but you can easily get away by using a good hair blow dryer.


FULL write-up here....

1999 Trans Am Extreme Makeover - Testing M101 Foam Cut Compound


For anyone that's never removed old, dried-out, cracked and baked-on vinyl graphics, I have enough pictures to make a pretty good how-to article. For now here's a few pictures to give you an idea. It took about 2 hours to remove all the vinyl graphics and then rub and scrub all the adhesive left behind off the paint AND do it in a way that did not harm the original paint.


Re-applying all of the new vinyl graphics took at around 3 hours...

We didn't just buff this car out, we first removed all the graphics, then buffing it out, polished it and sealed it with a synthetic paint sealant and then applied all of the new graphics... just another furn project on AutogeekOnline.net!


Here's one picture, hang tight for a few more...

Jay heating the vinyl graphics up using a simple Conair Hair Blow Dryer...

Here's Ken and I using a Heat Gun, when using a Heat Gun instead of a hair dryer you really need to be careful that you don't get the paint itself too hot...

New graphics going on... this was hours later after we meticulously buffed the hood to remove most of the Ghosting and all of the adhesive residue...

Here you can see that we removed the rear spoiler in order to apply the racing stripes to the deck lid...

After putting he racing stripes on the spoiler we're not re-attaching it...

One thing for sure, everyone has a lot of fun during these types of cool projects, makes new friends and gets the chance to use new tools, pads and yes... products like Meguiar's M101 Foam Cut Compound...

Carefull.... easy does it....

Jay installing all the lettering...

Windshield graphics going on....

:dblthumb2:

 

[GSKR]

3M decal removing wheel on a drill will knock it out. 30 bucks on Amazon

Don't even think about that tool,you will burn through that paint so quick faster than you can say your first name.

 

[GSKR]

We're not talking pinstripes here.get the car feel the edge pick at it gently and you will see if it's gonna be easy or a pita.If you can't live with stripe turn car on let it run so the heat will generate from underneath,with a heat gun slowly remove in one piece if your that lucky.If not it will be a time consuming project there is no other alternative good luck.

 

[sweatthedetails]

Don't even think about that tool,you will burn through that paint so quick faster than you can say your first name.

Have you used this tool before?

 

[Firehouse Mike]

Don't even think about that tool,you will burn through that paint so quick faster than you can say your first name.

I have been using this for years and never had an issue. Need to use common sense and keep it moving on the surface. Very safe method IMO

Mike

 

[GSKR]

Have you used this tool before?

Yes sir very risky,it's good for dried up pinstripe that's barely adhering to the paint.I know plenty of guys use that tool with no success on graphic stripes it will spin and bunch up the stripe itself and the glue making it more difficult.I had my fair share of removing graphics lettering and stripes and rv graphics.just do what mike p says .just be patient if you get aggravated just take a break.It should be easy to remove being that the stripe is not dry rotted and you will be lucky enough to pull off in one piece.Then deal with any remaining glue,i find that if you run the engine the whole stripe will be warm from the heat under the hood enabling the stripe to peel right off.

 

[GSKR]

I have been using this for years and never had an issue. Need to use common sense and keep it moving on the surface. Very safe method IMO

Mike

Not intended for large stripes,it's somewhat good for pinstripes.its a rubber wheel one little mishap and forget it .Why would you recommend a tool that he may never had experience with.even the body shop guys who I know that fixes trainwrecks burns through the paint.if it works for you that's good but every situation of levels of difficulty removing stripes vary.so play it safe and remove it the hard way.

 

[GSKR]

I got a very unorthodox way of removing those stripes and nobody knows.But I won't post it for him so he can crash and burn.

 

[Mike PhillipsMike Phillips is verified member.]

Forgot to add...

Before

After

:dblthumb2:

 

[sweatthedetails]

I got a very unorthodox way of removing those stripes and nobody knows.But I won't post it for him so he can crash and burn.

I'm sure we are all losing sleep over this.


www.JaxDetails.com
www.facebook.com/DentsAndDetails
I may be slow, but I do poor work.

 

[Boejoula]

3M decal removing wheel on a drill will knock it out. 30 bucks on Amazon

This has to be the worst suggestion.

If it's a brand new car just make sure its warm and they will peel off with ease. Pull straight up so the vinyl is at a 90 degree angle this way the glue doesn't stick to the paint as easy. Might need a little IPA wipe down and some good wax when your done.

 

[sweatthedetails]

This has to be the worst suggestion.

If it's a brand new car just make sure its warm and they will peel off with ease. Pull straight up so the vinyl is at a 90 degree angle this way the glue doesn't stick to the paint as easy. Might need a little IPA wipe down and some good wax when your done.

I see your just getting your detailing business started. Good luck and welcome to the friendly AGO community.

Yes now that I've re-read the OP's question and see the stripe is 10" wide I see the error of my suggestion. I was thinking pinstripes for some reason.


www.JaxDetails.com
www.facebook.com/DentsAndDetails
I may be slow, but I do poor work.

 

[Bus_Driver]

Not sure what your weather is like currently, but if you just park it in the sun to allow your panels to heat up a bit, that should be enough to remove them. Last spring, I removed my original stripes from my 2006 MINI cooper. Took less than 10 minutes and only a spec of residue needed to be cleaned up after. My MINI gets parked in the garage.
Just wait till you bring it home and then access. I don't think it will be a problem.

 

[Boejoula]

I see your just getting your detailing business started. Good luck and welcome to the friendly AGO community.

Yes now that I've re-read the OP's question and see the stripe is 10" wide I see the error of my suggestion. I was thinking pinstripes for some reason.


Jacksonville Auto Detailing - Home
www.facebook.com/DentsAndDetails
I may be slow, but I do poor work.

I just really, really do not like those "eraser" wheels. The only time I use it is on really old and damaged. A heat gun and some patience is always better for me.

 

[DaveT435]

Not a new car but we removed the vinyl graphics on a car that sat out in Florida sun for over 5 years.

We used a heat gun but you can easily get away by using a good hair blow dryer.


FULL write-up here....

1999 Trans Am Extreme Makeover - Testing M101 Foam Cut Compound


For anyone that's never removed old, dried-out, cracked and baked-on vinyl graphics, I have enough pictures to make a pretty good how-to article. For now here's a few pictures to give you an idea. It took about 2 hours to remove all the vinyl graphics and then rub and scrub all the adhesive left behind off the paint AND do it in a way that did not harm the original paint.


Re-applying all of the new vinyl graphics took at around 3 hours...

We didn't just buff this car out, we first removed all the graphics, then buffing it out, polished it and sealed it with a synthetic paint sealant and then applied all of the new graphics... just another furn project on AutogeekOnline.net!


Here's one picture, hang tight for a few more...

Jay heating the vinyl graphics up using a simple Conair Hair Blow Dryer...

Here's Ken and I using a Heat Gun, when using a Heat Gun instead of a hair dryer you really need to be careful that you don't get the paint itself too hot...

New graphics going on... this was hours later after we meticulously buffed the hood to remove most of the Ghosting and all of the adhesive residue...

Here you can see that we removed the rear spoiler in order to apply the racing stripes to the deck lid...

After putting he racing stripes on the spoiler we're not re-attaching it...

One thing for sure, everyone has a lot of fun during these types of cool projects, makes new friends and gets the chance to use new tools, pads and yes... products like Meguiar's M101 Foam Cut Compound...

Carefull.... easy does it....

Jay installing all the lettering...

Windshield graphics going on....

:dblthumb2:

Thanks everyone for your input. My plan was to try a blow dryer. I'll definitely run the motor to help heat up the stripe on the hood. If we get a warm sunny day that will help the with the rest.
I saw the 3m wheel the other day. If I remove any more pinstripes I'll pick up one of those.
Mike, I'm assuming a blow dryer should work as good or better than the heat gun on the old stripes. Even if it takes me two or three hours what I'm saving on the car makes it worth it.
Thanks again everyone. I'll let you know how things turn out. Still a couple weeks away. Just getting all my ducks in a row.

 

[Mike PhillipsMike Phillips is verified member.]

Mike, I'm assuming a blow dryer should work as good or better than the heat gun on the old stripes.

I'm confident it will. Just take your time and you'll get into a rhythm of heating and pulling so that you're able to peel off the graphics without tearing the graphics at the same time for a clean peel away.

Make sure to take before and after pictures.

Also, if you're doing this because you don't like the looks of the graphics then doing it ASAP is a good move as leaving the graphics on and then doing it later can lead to

Ghosting

Ghosting is a term for a number of things but one of them is the IMPRINT left in the paint that mimics the placement of the graphics.

In most cases with car paint you cannot 100 percent remove ghosting.

 

[DaveT435]

I'm confident it will. Just take your time and you'll get into a rhythm of heating and pulling so that you're able to peel off the graphics without tearing the graphics at the same time for a clean peel away.

Make sure to take before and after pictures.

Also, if you're doing this because you don't like the looks of the graphics then doing it ASAP is a good move as leaving the graphics on and then doing it later can lead to

Ghosting

Ghosting is a term for a number of things but one of them is the IMPRINT left in the paint that mimics the placement of the graphics.

In most cases with car paint you cannot 100 percent remove ghosting.

I removed some pin stripes off my daughter's boyfriends car. It was a five year old car. It left some ghosting along with being a real pain to remove.

I'm planning on using 3M adhesive remover to remove any adhesive left behind, unless you have something else you would recommend?

 

[cardaddy]

Dave you're welcome to my heat gun. That and I've got one of those wheels as well, about 80% of it is left if you want to try it.

Personally... I'd not come NEAR that wide stripe with the wheel.

I've used it on pinstripes, no problem. But a wide stripe is just going to make a HUGE MASSIVE MESS.

Being new, with a little heat... most of the glue will probably come off. But you'll still need a can of 3M adhesive remover as well. :xyxthumbs:

Slow-n-easy is the ticket.