remove custom lettering from door of pickup
 

I have tried a hair dryer and a razor blade. Works but seems very time consuming and scratches the paint quite a bit.

Maybe I'm not getting things hot enough, but I did lay into it.

I have also tried a wire wheel on my grinder, I figured if I was gonna scratch it anyway, I might as well do it quickly.

This resulted in mushy melted and smeared vinyl lettering everywhere.

No longer readable, but definately visible.

Anywho...I figured someone knew a reasonable way to remove the name of the previous owners business from my new to me pickup truck. A spray of some sort that will degrade or dissolve the adhesive, perhaps?

I am pretty sure it is just white vinyl lettering on blue paint.

Anyone have experience with decaling or pinstriping?

Any tips appreciated.

Gracias,

-bear

if you're not concerned about the finish,paint a sander will work ,of corse it will have to be primed and painted after. i would call a body shop or somewhere that applies the stickers or decals to see if they have any advise,on it .some paint thinner or gas or somesort of glue remover might help as well. good luck and let us know how it goes.

Try some WD-40 with the razor blade. I've had that work very well before. Spray some on, let it sit, then carefully scrape. When it gets tough to scrape, spray again and repeat. Good luck.

3M makes a buffing wheel that will remove pinstripes. Use that in a low-speed drill (no dremel or grinder) and it'll take off teh lettering and not the paint. Don't touch it with metal. You also can try a heat gun, as long as it's not painful to touch (might be uncomfortable,) you can save the paint.

I'm not all that concerned about the paint honestly...

But I definately should have known that 3M made something appropriate. Those Minnesota Miners and Manufacturers make everything...and everything they make is excellent.

I'll see what my supply house house has.

Thanks men.

-bear

Lacquer thinner does wonders on adhesives. And it will also tell you the exact location of any small cuts on your hands. :)

I used mineral spirits and a hair dryer.

Worked really well, keep a rag soaked in mineral spirits in one hand and slowly pull backard on the vinyl sticker with the other, as the sticker peels, rub the newly exposed area to soften the adhesive.

-SF

Turns out I just needed the weather to warm up, the patient touch of my long fingernailed wife, and a little elbow grease :)

Lettering gone. No chemicals, tools, or abrasives.

Thanks Again,

-bear

Here's one tip not listed -- use brake fluid. Works like a charm and won't hurt the paint.

Goof Off. buy it and you WILL be happy.

I manage a fleet of vans and have to do this every time I sell an old one.

Usually a heat gun and straight razor works. Not a blow drier but a real heat gun - they're cheap.

If no go with that route - older and drier, brittle stuff:
Use 3M "woodgrain and stripe remover"
http://products3.3m.com/catalog/us/e...er/output_html
Spray only on small area at a time, let it work and scrape off.

Then use the adhesive remover if you have sticky stuff left over:
http://products3.3m.com/catalog/us/e...eme_us_aad_3_0

Other products are here too:
http://products3.3m.com/catalog/us/e...er/output_html

I have found that most auto parts stores have one or two cans of each of these or can get them in a day or two.

Brake fluid will melt the fucking paint right off of his car, buddy.

OH YEAH.

Brake fluid is the world's best paint stripper.