RV vinyl decals

[Roryq]

Hi all
I am an old school hand polisher but after looking into autogeeks online I now am into the power tools. I have a 2007 Mirada 33 ft RV. I am in the process of removing all the vinyl decals because of being old and peeling. After a lot of work they are off. I purchased a Flex PE14-2-150 polisher and used Mequiars Marine Oxidation remover #49 to eliminate the oxidation. I just purchased the Flex XC3401 and Britemax Perfect Prep Fine Polish to remove the swirls. My next step is to use the Meguiars High Gloss Polish # 45. The guy who is designing the new decals said I have to wait because it cannot have any wax on it so the decals stick. My question is: can I polish over the new decals without harming them?
Thank you,
Rory

 

[Mike PhillipsMike Phillips is verified member.]

Hi all

I am an old school hand polisher but after looking into autogeeks online I now am into the power tools.

Hi Rory,

Welcome to AutogeekOnline! :welcome:

I have a 2007 Mirada 33 ft RV. I am in the process of removing all the vinyl decals because of being old and peeling. After a lot of work they are off.

I purchased a Flex PE14-2-150 polisher and used Mequiars Marine Oxidation remover #49 to eliminate the oxidation.

That's a great rotary polisher, lightweight, quiet, compact in size.

Does your RV look like this?

I just purchased the Flex XC3401 and Britemax Perfect Prep Fine Polish to remove the swirls.

Do a test spot with this tool, the pad and the product and make sure you're getting the results you're hoping for and looking for before buffing out the entire RV. The below article explains how to do a Test Spot

How To Do a Test Spot


And this video walks you through it on a 1970 Chevelle although the principals apply for anything a person is going to buff out.

My next step is to use the Meguiars High Gloss Polish # 45. The guy who is designing the new decals said I have to wait because it cannot have any wax on it so the decals stick.

Meguiar's M45 is a non-abrasive polish and also body shop safe. The part about being body shop safe means it contains no silicone or any other ingredients that could contaminate a body shop. It also means this product is WATER SOLUBLE. It provides no protection like a wax. It is what Meguiar's calls a

Pure Polish


At least last time I checked and according to this thread on Meguiar's, it's listed as Body Shop Safe

Body Shop Safe or Not?


My point is, nothing you've listed that you're using so far is a WAX or SEALANT.

The Meguiar's compound is water soluble.
The Britemax polish is likely water soluble.
The Meguiar's M45 is water soluble.

The guy who is designing the new decals said I have to wait because it cannot have any wax on it so the decals stick.

So far you have not listed a wax in your process for your graphics guy to be concerned about.

That said, you NEED to wax or seal the surface to slow down and prevent future oxidation. The M45 is for creating gloss, not long term protection.

Make sense?

My question is: can I polish over the new decals without harming them?
Thank you,
Rory

There's no definitive definition for the word POLISH in our industry.

Some companies call their synthetic sealants a polish.
Some companies call their abrasive polishes a polish.
Some companies call their non-abrasive polish a polish.

I wouldn't use an abrasive polish over brand new or even old graphics.

I have used and would use a super high quality ULTRA FINE polish over graphics IF they need cleaning. Here's an example,

I've machine polished graphics using ULTRA fine cut polishes and super soft foam pads.

Here's an example...


COPO Camaro - Flex vs Rupes - Carbon Fiber Hood Extreme Makeover


Here's before

There are a number of companies that offer really high quality ultra fine polishes that I would deem safe for machine buffing lightly over glossy graphics and the RUPES Diamond Ultra Fine Polish is one of them.

My question is: can I polish over the new decals without harming them?

In the above quote, when you say polish do you mean to use a wax or sealant over the graphics and the rest of the RV?

 

[BillE]

Ask the man doing the 'decals'.

There are some 'decals' that will tolerate polishing and some that won't. I know this isn't much of an answer, but it really depends on who the manufacturer is.

Sorry for blah answer...

Bill

 

[Joe@NextLevelDetail]

No need to polish your decals, Just make sure they are protected so they wont start to fade and peel for the future.

Check out Vinyl Graphic Restorer from McKee's RV, It is not only to restore old faded decals. It will also prevent them from cracking and fading keeping the vinyls hydrated with uv protection when your out on the road.

McKees RV Vinyl Decal and Graphic Restorer

 

[Roryq]

Thanks for the info Mike. After I use the britemax and the Meguiars High Gloss Polish # 45 am following up with Meguiars Pure Wax # 56. This is what I intend to go over the decals with. Yes that is what my RV used to look like but now
View attachment 56018

 

[Roryq]

they are 3m decals

 

[Roryq]

The McKees stuff looks good I think I'll put it on the new decals

 

[Mike PhillipsMike Phillips is verified member.]

Thanks for the info Mike.

After I use the britemax and the Meguiars High Gloss Polish # 45 am following up with Meguiars Pure Wax # 56.

This is what I intend to go over the decals with.

Then you're good to go.

Yes that is what my RV used to look like but now

Looks like you're off to a good start!

After you get her all done, one thing you might consider is to find a really good light cutting one-step cleaner/wax to maintain all that hard work.

These are good,


McKee's 37 360
McKee's 37 360 Corrects, Cleans, Seals 360 corrects, cleans, and seals auto paint! 360 is more than a cleaner wax, its a swirl remover, polish, and


SONAX Paint Cleaner <-- this is technically a cleaner/wax although they use the words "paint cleaner" on the label
SONAX Paint Cleaner, sonax prewax cleaner, sonax car polish, sonax cleaner polish


3D HD Speed <-- a little more aggressive than a light cutting cleaner/wax but if you let the finish go and start to see oxidation this would take care of it just as long as you don't let the maintenance go too long...
3D HD Speed 32 oz.




For LARGE items, it's a good idea to have a great one-step cleaner/wax to cut the time and steps down.

I use cleaner/waxes on my own daily driver truck.

 

[Roryq]

Hi Mike,

I have a problem with the Britemax Perfect Prep Fine Polish. I am using it with a white hybrid foam pad, when I put it on and machine it making several passes I have a hard time wiping it off. I use a microfiber cloth but it is so hard to wipe it seems like it is sticky and never comes off. I clean the pad often but this happened right from the start. What am I doing wrong? Should I be using something different, pads, compound, polish? I attached a picture to show the swirls I'm trying to get rid of.