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Removing 5 year old film from a van
Hi All, sorry this is an elementary question but I’m not a pro just a hammer chewer.
I pick up my new wheels tonight and it’s sign written mostly cut vinyl and small parts of printed vinyl.
It’s 5 years old so I think care is needed removing this stuff.
Hair dryer and blade to lift the corners is my guess with some meths to clean off at the end followed by some liberal T-cutting before I work on my own vinyl design/application then re-wax her up?
I tried using the search function but it left me still searching loads of threads. I found stuff on T cutting in relation to new vinyl just want the best method for removing the old stuff.
Thanks in advance,
Amateur CM300 owner not worthy of this forum… 😀
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11 Replies
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Hi Michael
As you say heat is one of best things to remove the vinyl itself, there are proprietory vinyl removers but I’ve never needed to try these so can’t comment.
Removing the residue, depends on how ande when vinyl was put on in first place and what kind of vinyl… worst scenario that it was applied just after a respray in which case it could have sunk into paintwork but that is unlikely…
If it was applied to a factory painted job and not a respray in a potting shed then be brave and use a plastic scraper with cellulose thinners and clean off last bit with meths on a cloth, that’s quickest way I have found + it removes grime from the whole surface nicely…A careful approach is with meths, white spirit annd soapy water one to soften it, one to roll it into balls and one to make it want to leave the surface.
Another product which seems to do everytning inc. cleaning engines is sillit bang oven cleaner…
good luck
Ian :lol1:
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sometimes the kettle water works and some scraping
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On large flat panels (transit) you can use a wall paper stripper, works great and usually not much glue left.
Alternatively I just peel off the vinyl at 90degrees to the panel slowly and this brings most if not all of the glue with it, on a warm day you need it out of the sun so days like were having now the temp is just about right out of the sun.
If you need to add heat then as Dave said warm water from the kettle works well.Steve
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Be very, very, VERY careful if you are using a blade to lift the corners. I’ve seen many a trashed paint job when ‘home strip’ techniques go wrong. :O
Fingernails or a PLASTIC ‘chisel’ to just lift it up and no more then peel.
DAve
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these plastic blades from grafityp are the biz, couldn’t do without them now
well worth the few quid thay cost
http://www.grafityp.co.uk/Sundry/Tools/ … in.htm#t12
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Thinners is not needed, after removing the vinyl use tar and glue remover, this does a better job and wont cause any problems with local repairs to paint work, which I would guess a 5year old van would have !
Ric -
Hi,
We have found the best thing is a wall paper steamer, very effective and quickCheers
Ian -
Thanks guys. Luckily the van is as original no repairs/resprays.
It’s going to be my pride and joy so extra car is the order of the day. I was more bothered with the film possibly becoming brittle after 5 years of UK sunsheiiiine!
Finger nails and hairdryer/hot water seems the best. Will let you know how I get on.
Mike.
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Wall paper steamer, that’s what I meant to say 🙄
They work really well on flat panels and sign blanks, you don’t even leave much glue behind either.
I’ll add to the general consensus, don’t use a metal scraper. Fine on a small area but you always slip up at some time and it really shows on anything other than a white van.
Steve
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Wow, how sore are my fingers!!!?
Started with the hair dryer but in the end it all came of relatively easy. Used my nails to lift the corners and once started came off mostly in one go.
How much do I hate O’s and 8’s!?
There was a lot of individual lettering so hence the time it took but it’s done now, phew.
I don’t envy you guys havin to do it for a living. Hat’s off to you all and thanks for the advice.
Mike.
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most of us do it only under duress Mike 😀 we all prefer to put it on.
Lynn
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