How to Clean Vinyl/Bring Back a Vans Colour?

[Robert Lambie]

quote Darryl Johnston:

I usually use AutoGlyn Tar Remover for really stubborn glue. After I plan to T-Cut, Shampoo/Polish & then Wax

other than the addition of a good heat gun, (not hair dryer) to heat the panels (not the vinyl) pryor/during stripping… what you plan is already should pretty much do it.

[Jill Marie Welsh]

Maybe after you remove the old vinyl (I use Rapid Remover for the glue) you could take it to a local auto detailer and see if they will buff out the van in return for you making them some signs, window lettering, etc.
I think buffing would bring the color back up and hide the ghosting.
Love….Jill

[Chris Windebank]

Also use compound before T cutting, you can get this from most garage parts suppliers. It will be quicker in the long run

[Phil Craddock]

I know an extra expense but a Machine Polish would be the only way to clear any ghosting.

[Chris Windebank]

Sorry Phil, hand compound, T cut then wax will be fine if you want to save money, it is the same finish just slower

[Phil Craddock]

agree – just machine polish would give a better finish thus enabling a better price if sold on ????

either way its a long job to do right.

I had a customers car in a few weeks back for a full make-over and they had tried to remove some bonnet stripes themselves and made a complete c**k-up of it leaving me with a mountain to climb before I could start the new work !!

[Darryl Johnston]

Thanks for all the advice, I think this would be helpful for most signmakers who apply/remove vinyls on vehicles. I had an idea of the process so its just time to get that jar of elbow grease out and get out of the cold.

No signs going up today as its foot deep in snow here in Merseyside- me thinks it could be time to fashion a sledge out of some diabond with some great "go faster stripes" on it.

Any pictures of signmakers sledges would be great.

Regards

Darryl

[Phil Craddock]

feeling the chill too as our heating has packed up so no production today !!!

gives me a chance to get some design work sorted !!

[John Singh]

Bit of rubbing down compound and a rag soaked in turps

the turps works on the glue: the compound on the paintwork
The two together mean less elbow grease

[Martin Pearson]

Depends to a large extent just how long the graphics have been on but with a red van the colours fade faster so it is more difficult to get a good finish even with machine polishing. Even with a good polish I doubt if it will increase the resale value that much but you could phone around to check.
Have to be honest, it’s not the sort of job I like to do, striping and polishing a van always seems like a chore even though I do have a machine polisher.