Reflective vinyl removal

[Jill Marie Welsh]

Simon I have heard that steamers do not work so well on reflective vinyl, although they are supposedly great for removing the regular stuff.

For reflective I peel off the top layer using a Lil Chizler and a hair dryer (I am too dangerous with a heat gun) Then I line the floor underneath the vehicle with a layer of paper towelling. Then on the inner layer of greyish white gunk, I spray Rapid Remover. (not cheap but worth the price) It only takes a short while for the RR to turn that layer into snotty stuff which I carefully scrape away with the Lil Chizler right onto the paper towels on the floor.

Then I re-spray with RR and clean with paper towels, then I clean with Rapid Tac. But you could probably use any PrepSol type cleaner. Then clean again, I use Rapid Tac but you could use whatever you like. Then pick up the paper towels from the floor and everything is neat and tidy.

Another method is to remove the first layer, then take duct tape and apply it over the grey layer. Burnish the duct tape with a squeegee then peel it off (like waxing your eyebrows) It’s supposed to get the grey stuff off easily. I have heard you can also use regular masking tape (not vinyl mask)

I love it when there has been a layer of regular vinyl put under the reflective, makes the job a lot easier.
Love….Jill
http://www.lilchizler.com/
http://www.rapidtac.com/products/remover.html

[Jan Storgaard]

quote Simon Polakof:

Hi!
Were about to do some letter removal on some 150 vehicles and the vinyl that sits n today is a reflective one.
From what I’ve read in the forum a steam gun seems to be the best bet, but I was wondering if someone else out there has a better solutions. Isn’t there a spray chemical from 3m or some other supplier that can be sprayed on the top side of the reflective vinyl so that one can let it to be for 5 min and then return to remove it easily and quickly.
Would appreciate all the insight I can get 🙂

My experience is to use either rubber wheel or steam. We had good results with steam on reflective recently. Any fluid to remove reflective media can be very expensive…
My 2p
Good luck – and lets hear how you did at what was good/bad ;o)

Jan

[Doug Pulver]

Simon,
I’ve had really good luck with a single edge razor blade in a holder or handle. I know that you’ll think it will gouge the paint, but it won’t if you use care.

First what I do is to take a new blade and knock the edge down by running it backwards over a clean cloth a couple of times.

Once that is done I just start pushing it through the vinyl as parallel to the surface as you can. I even put a piece of felt on the back side of my blade holder to keep from scratching the paint. The whole time use the same side of the blade

Keep scraping and don’t turn the blade over. If you do it will gouge the paint.

Once the vinyl is removed you will have to remove the glue. I use a product called Clean-Solve. It’s a product by Wurth. You could also use mineral spirits Tape a clean rag or paper towel to the vehicle. I use this to wipe the razor blade clean. Wipe on the Clean-Solve and push the razor blade through the glue. It’s important to wipe the glue off the blade with every pass. Do not go through the glue twice without wiping off the blade, it will just put the glue on the blade back on the surface you are removing it from. Remember to keep the rag wet with solvent and the keep wiping the surface.

I’ve used this method on car and truck doors and old aluminum trailers with chalky paint. It can get tricky on surfaces with curves or grooves but with practice you shouldn’t have any problems.

I’ve also used the rubber wheel to try to remove reflective vinyl from aluminum trailers but it gets hot and warps the aluminum.

Good luck

[Jan Storgaard]

quote Doug Pulver:

Simon,

I’ve also used the rubber wheel to try to remove reflective vinyl from aluminum trailers but it gets hot and warps the aluminum.

Well, i don’t know about aluminum but on vehicles the rubber wheel must not exceed 4000 rpm. ("they" say between 2-4000rpm).

The rubber wheel i use is from Würth
Regards