Vinyl Graphics

oldIron · 02-24-07, 05:56 PM

OK, not sure where this should be so it goes in chat. Just bought an enclosed lettered utility trailer. What is the best way to get off the vinyl lettering and graphics without killing the finish on the traailer, which is currently painted black.

Thanks!

semlin · 02-24-07, 06:18 PM

hair dryer

TheGr8Doughboy · 02-24-07, 08:28 PM

And rubbing alcohol right?

dblugly · 02-24-07, 08:56 PM

WD40 for the sticky stuff left behind

Franky40 · 02-25-07, 09:41 PM

Have you gone to an automotive paint store? I went looking for chemical strippers, and they recommended a rubber eraser that goes on a drill. worked great.

hodag · 02-26-07, 10:37 AM

I have helped strip graphics for a buddy's sign shop. Try using a heat gun on the low setting and a plastic putty knife to start peeling up the edges. Once you get the edge up, you can usually pull them off with your fingers. Dont get the vinyl too warm or it will break.

The residue is easilly removed with GooGone or GoofOff.

Check your local sign shop, they may have some tricks to use.

Hodag

wob · 02-26-07, 10:47 AM

The paint won't be faded underneath it, and you will be probably be able to read the old lettering, unless the paint is new. In which case, the lettering will probably come off pretty easily.

srplus · 02-26-07, 10:53 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by oldIron

OK, not sure where this should be so it goes in chat. Just bought an enclosed lettered utility trailer. What is the best way to get off the vinyl lettering and graphics without killing the finish on the traailer, which is currently painted black.

Thanks!

No matter what you do, you will effect the paint some since the paint behind the letters will not have scratches or show effects of exposure to UV. You must be very careful with heat guns and hair dryers. On a black truck, what I would do (I own a sign shop), is to park it so that one side of the trailer faces the sun... the black should heat up sufficiently to use a hard plastic squegee (designed to remove vinyl and prolly available from a local sign shop that does a lot of vinyl) to get under the corner of one of the letters at a time. The less you have to 'scrape' and the more you can peel the vinyl off at one time the less time you will have removing glue from the finish later... try to stretch the vinyl a little while you are peeling it back slowly so that the glue sticks to the letter as it is peeled. You can also use heat gun as needed.

Another thing is a 'vinyl eraser' that is hard rubber and will fit into a power drill or a grinder. These are available at Paint supply stores and some auto parts houses. They are used by Paint and Body shops to 'erase' the vinyl off of the background... You have to be careful using these but they will work.

Not effecting the paint has a lot to do in how well it was applied in the first place. I would use the hard plastic squeegee first and just work slow. Removal of the left over glue from the back of the vinyl (IMHO) is most easily done with vmp Naptha and a lot of paper towels (lighter fluid is Naptha). Naptha should not effect the paint but I always test all thinners somewhere where if they do mess up the paint it will not show. Gas or mineral spirits also work to get the glue off but Naptha is (again IMHO) less harsh on your body. Wear rubber gloves whenever dealing with thinners. Most can be absorbed directly through the skin and cuts.

Use some rubbing compound and a buffer to blend out the effect of the perfect paint behind the letters.

srplus · 02-26-07, 10:56 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dblugly

WD40 for the sticky stuff left behind

Do not use silicone based products for removal of glues unless you are sure you will never paint or put vinyl back on the area or you will be in for a lot of harsh scrubbing and or problems in the future. It works great but it is heck to get out of the paint if you will have to recoat. WORD.

semlin · 02-26-07, 11:40 AM

wd40 is silicone based?

Trunk Monkey · 02-26-07, 11:44 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Franky40

they recommended a rubber eraser that goes on a drill. worked great.

x2, took the SR5 graphics off my 4runner lickety split, didn't touch the paint.

srplus · 02-26-07, 11:55 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by semlin

wd40 is silicone based?

Friend owns a Paint and Body shop and they will not let that stuff in the building or even to be used in the parking lot... it causes fish eyes in finished paint jobs... what the exact formulation is I have no idea but they will not allow WD-40 or any silicone based 'lube' anywhere near the building. Best way to start a rant and a repaint down there is to do it.

Eraser is great, it just can cause paint to burn if not careful using it. I never let minimum wage guys use it on trucks since the repaint was a lot more expensive than the extra labor to hand remove the vinyl.

oldIron · 02-26-07, 04:22 PM

Thanks guys for all the input. This is both sides of an enclosed trailer, basically a 8' x 12' moving billboard x 2 sides. It has a lot of graphics. Could not pass up the deal on the trailer and I will be ordering the axle tomorrow.

Pete

AATLAS1X · 02-26-07, 05:00 PM

I skipped the read but the cheap way is a heat gun and SAR Silicone Adheasive Remover

Or an eraser you can buy at any body shop that bolts into a DA or simular and it just easts it up.

Shane