removing stripes (stickers)

[chrisanita]

A couple of questions:
1. I have a fiberglass hull and would like to remove some stripes from the boat. They are sticker stripes. They're pretty old (mid-80's) Any suggestions

2. I also want to apply some much needed polish and wax. Can anyone reccomend something to take of the rubber marks from my trailer rollers and other mild scratches

Thanks

 

[rtpassini]

Re: removing stripes (stickers)

heat and lots of time. haha.

just heat them up (make sure you dont do any damage to your hull)

clean the goo up with oops.

----------------
to clean up rubber marks on the undertail of my motorcycle, i use wd40. let i soak in for a bit, then rub with a towel, and just keep doing that.

not sure if it will work for yours, but worth a shot.

polish and wax from meguirs. thats what i would use.

 

[dade61782]

Re: removing stripes (stickers)

use a heatshrink propane torch or heat gun heat a little and peel heat a little and peel. as for the black smudges try a mr. clean magic eraser?

 

[ondarvr]

Re: removing stripes (stickers)

When you remove the stickers you will still have stripes.

The gel coat under the tape will not have faded like the exposed portions have, so you'll have nice, bright, glossy stripes still in place.

You need to sand and buff the rest of the hull and hope you can get the color back so they will blend in.

 

[DJ]

Re: removing stripes (stickers)

When you remove the stickers you will still have stripes.

The gel coat under the tape will not have faded like the exposed portions have, so you'll have nice, bright, glossy stripes still in place.

You need to sand and buff the rest of the hull and hope you can get the color back so they will blend in.

Yup. Or, have new stripes made to cover up the old shiny parts.

 

[eaglejim]

Re: removing stripes (stickers)

I did mine last year and used a hair blow dryer and a plastic scraper,then had our local sign shop make new stickers

 

[Bob_VT]

Re: removing stripes (stickers)

NAPA sells a stripe eraser that mounts on a drill that works great on pinstriping.......

How big or how much vinyl is there to remove?

 

[jennis9]

Re: removing stripes (stickers)

TD posted within the month that iboats now carries a product for this...

There's a product called grog - youtube has a video of how it works. Its powerful stuff amde for vinyl/sticker removal.

 

[erikgreen]

Re: removing stripes (stickers)

I use the 3m "pinstripe remover wheel". Looks like a big gum eraser on an arbor, sized for use in a drill. I think this is the thing available at NAPA that Bob_VT is talking about.

Costs about $40, but works wonders. Removes the stripes and the glue under them, leaving clean looking gelcoat (which can be acetoned for "real" clean).

I found that using a heat gun and plastic scraper would work in a lot of cases too, but it left more glue behind.

Don't use a razor blade at all, it's way too easy to gouge the gelcoat.

For the rub marks/tire marks, I use goof-off to clean, followed by acetone to remove the goof-off residue, followed by a re-wax.


Erik

 

[thatguy]

Re: removing stripes (stickers)

i was wondering about the eraser wheel. I have one, I used it at the detail shop I worked at. Its an awesome tool. Is it safe on gellcoat? I have seen it tear up lacquer surfaces.

Tom

 

[erikgreen]

Re: removing stripes (stickers)

If it's the same one I have(looks like beige rubber), it's very safe on gelcoat. It even cleans where the sticker was.

I'd expect if you use it on something very sensitive to heat (from friction) or not bonded well to the substrate, then it would take that off.

 

[sschefer]

Re: removing stripes (stickers)

3M Makes a spray remover that works O.K. but requires several applications. It just softens the glue and the rubbing with a rag sort of rolls it up into balls. It works and doesn't seem to damage epoxy paint. You do have to remove the decal's or pinstriping first. I used a heat gun and a metal scraper but I'm repainting so I really didn't care if I scratched the paint or not. The plastic scraper is probably the better tool.

I didn't get it all off before I sent my boat to the shop for welding but I get it back next week and plan to try one of the rubber eraser type tools and see if that is easier.

I'm almost positive that MEK would remove it quickly but I'm also pretty sure that it will damage the gelcoat and ruin paint.

 

[SouthernAppal]

Re: removing stripes (stickers)

Don't use any type scraper. Use the hair dryer or heat gun at one edge, then slip a loop of dental floss under it as it loosens. The sticker or stripe comes off as you continue to heat and keep pulling the dental floss. Just clean up the adhesive afterwards.

 

[sschefer]

Re: removing stripes (stickers)

Don't use any type scraper. Use the hair dryer or heat gun at one edge, then slip a loop of dental floss under it as it loosens. The sticker or stripe comes off as you continue to heat and keep pulling the dental floss. Just clean up the adhesive afterwards.

Sound's like it would work, I'll have to try it.