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  • fastets way of removing vinyl graphics from glass Windows

    Posted by Heng on 7 November 2007 at 07:22

    Hi
    Just wondering what is the best and fastest way to remove vinyl window graphics and tinted window films off glass windows?
    Any suggestions will help greatly 😀

    Cheers
    Heng

    Cheryl Smith replied 18 years ago 13 Members · 16 Replies
  • 16 Replies
  • Jason Xuereb

    Member
    7 November 2007 at 07:47

    vinyl graphics abit of heat and pull. If its a hot day like 30 degrees leave it outside and you won’t need a heat gun etc. You want to heat it to a point so when you take the vinyl off you take the adhesive with it. If your only taking the vinyl its either too cold or way to hot.

  • Bill McMurtry

    Member
    7 November 2007 at 08:35

    Years ago I had a bad experience with a heat gun and a glass window, won’t go there again 😳

    I use a sharp blade scraper to lift the corners so it can be peeled off, unless with very old vinyl in which case it’s a full scraper job. Follow up with a metho soaked rag and a bit of elbow grease 😀

  • Andy Gorman

    Member
    7 November 2007 at 08:46

    I use a Harris window scraper. They are like 5 inches wide with a long handle which means you can apply a bit of pressure. Good for removing large areas too.

  • David Glen

    Member
    7 November 2007 at 08:56

    Large graphics warm and pull at 90 degrees to avoid leaving glue.
    The area being pulled just needs to be warm to the touch.
    Too cold it will snap, too hot it will stretch.

    Small graphics, spray liberally with window cleaner and scrape.
    The cleaner stops the glue sticking back to the glass and the bits clinging to your blade.

  • Mark Nihotte

    Member
    7 November 2007 at 09:26

    Just a scraper and water – the water stops the glue ‘melting’ – DO NOT USE SOLVENTS or the job will take ten times as long

  • Chris Gusman

    Member
    7 November 2007 at 09:47

    Hi Heng, i have always used Johnson’s Baby Shampoo in a skoosher with water and a good sharp Stanley blade in a handle. Just be careful that the Stanley blade isn’t scratching the glass, if it is use a softer blade or change the angle of the blade. The baby shampoo will lubricate the glass surface and let the blade slide over the glass with ease. You need to experiment with the angle that you scrape but you should find one way that works best. Any glue that gets left behind just give it a good soak with the skoosher, leave for a couple of minutes then soak again and use the blade the same again. If its a large area cut it into long 5"-6" sections so its easier to handle.

    All the best!

  • David Rogers

    Member
    7 November 2007 at 09:56

    Like Andy – scraper & meths to remove the residue (minimal).

    I work in about 1" wide strips, blade angled forward to literally shave it off a strip at a time – not jabbing straight on to the edge.

    I learnt a long time ago that warming it up & picking a letter at a time (except for sheets) is a slow & laborious process with no real advantages.

    Dave

  • Peter Normington

    Member
    7 November 2007 at 10:09

    Sometimes you can get flood coated vinyl that is difficult to remove, even with a scraper, then its time to get the nitromors out, ( only on glass though!)

    peter

  • Robert Lambie

    Member
    7 November 2007 at 10:30
    quote Andy Gorman:

    I use a Harris window scraper. They are like 5 inches wide with a long handle which means you can apply a bit of pressure. Good for removing large areas too.

    I am the same as Andy. i use one of these for large graphic removal or a small hand held blade scraper for smaller stuff.

    that said, ill do some tests first to see if the letters will come away easy by just dog earring the graphics and stripping by hand. if it will not come off without leaving glue ill just get stuck in with the blade scraper.

    a note, in this weather in particular. if you over heat a small area of glass you may crack it with a heat gun. be careful! 😀

  • Heng

    Member
    7 November 2007 at 11:05

    Thank you for your input guys.
    I know what to bring along with me for the job.

    You are a helpful lot.

    Cheers
    Heng

  • Steve Underhill

    Member
    7 November 2007 at 15:43

    Adjustable temp heat gun, & a wide plastic scraper from jag, they look like a big green razor blade.
    Always works fine for me, then I use a either the wide scraper mentioned above or a small scraper with a Stanley blade in, followed by either app fluid or alcohol based cleaner to avoid streaking.

  • Cheryl Smith

    Member
    7 November 2007 at 16:36

    years ago…one of the best tips I was EVER taught was from a window cleaner on how to get snotty old glue off of windows. Spray just water over the offending area then using a safety razor in a safety razor holder, just scrape it off. no sticky snotty glue to give you grief……………that window cleaner made THE most unpleasant job ever, easy and manageable and I could still hug him.

  • Jill Marie Welsh

    Member
    7 November 2007 at 16:43

    I just use a single edged razor blade in a holder, and Rapid Remover/L’il Chizler to get rid of the adhesive boogers.

    Then again, if you insist on using a heat gun and the window cracks, you can always slice your wrists with the razor blade.
    Just Kidding!!!!
    Love…..Jill

  • Steve Underhill

    Member
    7 November 2007 at 16:55

    Thats why my heat gun is adjustable.
    I never let it get hot enough to crack a window.
    Classic way to get featured on rogue traders.

  • Heng

    Member
    9 November 2007 at 07:20

    Thanks everyone 😀

    But I have one window that has a tint on it. IF I don’t remove the tint, I would have to put the sign on the outside and the owner wants it on the inside. Hmmm…any good ideas how to get tint off? Or is it the same way to get it off as the vinyl (?)

    cheers
    Heng

  • Cheryl Smith

    Member
    9 November 2007 at 09:34

    same way Heng, but you shouldnt need any heat

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