need help removing baked on letters from aluminum hull

[Skytex83]

Ok, ive got an 84 bass tracker 3 with some letters that are older than dirt. Ive scoured the net and these forums with no luck. Ive tried the methods suggested to no avail. Ive tried a heatgun and a plastic scraper. No effect. Tried goo gone, rubbing alcohol, paint thinner, paint stripper, gasoline, and brake parts cleaner. None of it worked. The paint stripper melted the letter parts but the formally white backgrounds are unaffected. A metal razor blade has a hard time scratching them without biting into the aluminum underneath. Im at my wits end here. Someone please give me a magic bullet here. Ive considered a stronger acid but dont think it would be good for the hull.

 

[Grub54891]

Re: need help removing baked on letters from aluminum hull

Try this,they work pretty well.this is just one example,there are others out there
Amazon.com: AES Industries 4" Smart Eraser Pad with Drill Adaptor Arbor [Made In USA]: Automotive
Grub

 

[blackhawk180]

Re: need help removing baked on letters from aluminum hull

Fortunately, you have an aluminum hull so it's hard to imagine serious damage but I'd vote with grub and go with that power eraser. At least give it a try. I had a helluva time getting mine off my (painted) aluminum boat and remember thinking it took 10x longer than applying the new ones! Good luck to you sir!

 

[smokeonthewater]

Re: need help removing baked on letters from aluminum hull

same product different brand 3M magic eraser..... goes through decals like a hot knife through butter without harming the hull

 

[southkogs]

Re: need help removing baked on letters from aluminum hull

A little alcohol or gasoline might help it along too.

 

[tinkerguy70]

Re: need help removing baked on letters from aluminum hull

Try this,they work pretty well.this is just one example,there are others out there
Amazon.com: AES Industries 4" Smart Eraser Pad with Drill Adaptor Arbor [Made In USA]: Automotive
Grub

same product different brand 3M magic eraser..... goes through decals like a hot knife through butter without harming the hull

I'm going to x3 on these tools, get one, you won't be sorry. I have the first one, I can't imagine much difference between brands, I'd go with whatever is available.

I fought with vinyl decals on our Motorhome, scraping, chemicals, everything I could think of. I got one of the Erasers and got more done in 10 minutes than I did in days of scraping with a razor scraper.
Best of all, they won't damage the surface underneath like gouging with scrapers will.

Don't even think twice about it, just get one and do it. You'll throw rocks at all of the other things you've tried.

 

[SigSaurP229]

Re: need help removing baked on letters from aluminum hull

I am in the middle of my Starcraft restoration right now. Removing the decals has been an ABSOLUTE night mare but this is how I did it.

I got my propane torch and heated them up until they started bubbling. After they are bubbling take the scraper to them and remove the numbers.

That was the easy part.

Now what you do is get some 150 grit sandpaper and put it on your 1/4 sheet sander and they will be gone after about 45 minutes of sanding. The decals come of easy its the glue underneath them that is so difficult

 

[smokeonthewater]

Re: need help removing baked on letters from aluminum hull

magic eraser tokes off the glue too

 

[5150abf]

Re: need help removing baked on letters from aluminum hull

Lacquer thinner and a fine Scotch Brite.

 

[smokeonthewater]

Re: need help removing baked on letters from aluminum hull

Well apparently either 3m changed the name or I was just calling it by the wrong name
It's the "3m stripe off wheel"... works wonders and much easier to find with the correct name DOH

 

[BobGinCO]

Re: need help removing baked on letters from aluminum hull

magic eraser tokes off the glue too

That's a typo, right?

 

[Yacht Dr.]

Re: need help removing baked on letters from aluminum hull

3m adhesive remover is the best bet after you removed the decals with a delicate touch of a razor blade ..

Buff the remaining glue off if you need to. .. but be aware that you cant buff out "ghost" images of the current tags. Your going to have some kind of "affect" most likely ..

YD.

 

[smokeonthewater]

Re: need help removing baked on letters from aluminum hull

That's a typo, right?

MAAAAAYBE... LOL yes typo ....... spell check only works when you don't accidentally spell a real word

 

[kjdunne]

Re: need help removing baked on letters from aluminum hull

Toluene on a rag removes the glue. If you can't find it at the hardware or paint store, use laquer thinner, it has toluene in it. Use it in a well ventilated area, preferably outdoors.

 

[jwalterus]

Re: need help removing baked on letters from aluminum hull

it's aluminum, have you tried aircraft stripper?

 

[mainiac22]

Re: need help removing baked on letters from aluminum hull

I had success removing registration stickers from my aluminum boat using a thin metal putty knife with the sharp edge of the blade lightly heated with a propane torch turned very low. Gently slide the blade under the decal and it goes thru the adhesive like a hot knife through butter. Reheat the blade each time the adhesive gets difficult to slice through. Careful to not heat the blade too hot.
Remaining sticky residue can be removed using Goo Gone.