Vinyl & glue removal

[Gavin MacMillan]

The MBX is a useful tool but not always the answer. Unless it’s class1 reflective you’ll be able to get buy with a scraper and some good finger nails. For bigger areas you can use a hair dryer (I prefer this to a heat gun) or a wall paper steamer, this is a great tool and if you alter the time its left on the surface and angle you pull the vinyl away you can usually get it to take the gum as well. Watch the heat on thin foam though as it may not go back to the right shape if you put too much heat on it!

For removing gum we use the ‘rapid’ remover from APS, but there are alternatives from doro tape and grafityp as well. All get recommended on here

Hope this helps

Gavin

[James Martin]

The last time I removed vinyl it was from a van.

I used a paint stripping heat gun (carefully) and softened a corner of a letter then I found it would peel off no bother.

Time before that it was a shop sign and the customer wanted a previous sign recovered.
Again with the heat gun but this time I needed a metal scrapper so I guess it was just like taking off wallpaper.

As for removing the glue on the shop sign I used white spirit, a rag, and elbow grease.

Ive never used a rotary type machine but from what I have picked up form reading other posts about vinyl removal using the search site box unless its special vinyl or really small lettering most people dont bother with special rotary machines.

I think you can get a polypropylene chisel as well that isnt as hard on the substrate but I haven’t found one yet.

Hope this helps

Jimmy

[Derek Heron]

just to add to the above little pink chiselers i think they are called and they are pink .from print one uk are great for lifting the edges of warmed vinyl save your nails and don’t damage the paint also auto glym tar remover is good for small areas.
i use my chiseler with the steamer for large areas and the hot gun for small text etc

Derek

[Adam Triggs]

Cheers Guys,

Not a large amount of text but it is on a VW dealership sign and I cannot replace the main unit if i melt it or something.

Appreciate your help and the wallpaper steam gun sound like a great idea. so I get in my shed and fish it out.

Cheers
Adam

[Dave Harrison]

when using heat guns heat the area around the vinyl and not the vinyl directly this method tends to leave less glue behind. As for glue removal I use a 3M product thats basically called vinyl glue removal system or something like that, comes in a green box about £15 available from car body shop suppliers

[gordon bradshaw]

i find that meths is the best and cheapest solvent remover along with a battered old hairdryer . best advice i could give is patience if you take your time youre more likely to get it off in large pieces

[Chris Wool]

quote :

Appreciate your help and the wallpaper steam gun sound like a great idea. so I get in my shed and fish it out.

when the water in the container runs out it glows a nice shade of pink then goes pop i bust 2 in the last year throu not thinking. but work very well.

chris

[Jayne Marsh]

I use fingernails and a wallpaper scraper ( very very carefully so as not to scratch the surface ) then remove glue using Rapid prep from APS and sometimes Jizer . :lol1:

[Adam Triggs]

Cheers All,

Great advice, Saving me loads of time on trial and error

I’ll be buying a big round at sign UK 😛
Cheers
Adam

[Jill Marie Welsh]

I heat with a hair dryer (a heat gun can be too hot) and use a L’il Chizler (50¢ from a sign supply or free at a trade show)
Spray with Rapid Remover, let the glue turn into goo and scrape off carefully with the chizler.
You may have to repeat this step.
Then clean with Rapid Prep.
You’ll go thru lots of paper towels!
I used mineral spirits once (my own truck) a year later when I removed the lettering it took off the clear coat.
I wanted to get a wallpaper steamer but I heard it won’t work on reflective vinyl.
Love….Jill

[Martin Pearson]

Adam, some good tips above, it is really like most things, try different methods and see what works best for yourself. I personally don’t like heat guns because it is far to easy to apply to much heat. Even when I am fitting I use a hair dryer and only get the heat gun out once the job is completed as a hair dryer doesn’t produce enough heat to ensure the vinyl is fitted properly.
For removing small amounts I normally use the hairdryer and one of the little chizlers from Jag and for large areas the wall paper stripper. For glue removal and general cleaning before applying Vinyl I use IPA (Isopropyl Alcohol) which I believe does a better job than just about anything else but some people don’t like because it evaporates very quickly.

[Adam Triggs]

Hi Martin and All

The Isopropyl Alcohol worked a treat with the little chisler, The Direction sign had been there for years and we’ve now updated it and made it look new.

Cheers All.

Kind regards
Adam

[Martin Pearson]

Adam, glad to hear that everything went so well, the little chizlers are quite a handy tool especially as I don’t really have any finger nails. I just wish they did them in some other colours.