How to get graphics/stickers off car?
Discussion
I've got a Fiat 500 with chequered graphics stickers on the roof. I thought I'd have a change and replace them with the Italian flag coloured stripe over the bonnet/roof, but I cant get the darned black squares off the roof. They're really welded on. The car is an 08 plate, so they've been there a while.
Any ideas about how they will come off as a DIY job, or how much it might cost a detailer (do they do this??) or similar to do it?
Ta
Any ideas about how they will come off as a DIY job, or how much it might cost a detailer (do they do this??) or similar to do it?
Ta
Errrrr, I wouldn't go near the paint with a heat gun (aka a paint stripper) - just use a hair dryer.
Also parking the car in the sun all day will have the same effect. You can try using a plastic razor blade or credit card to get the edges up, or your nails carefully. Also using petrol on a rag to get rid of adhesive isn't the best thing to do, use IPA (alcohol) with a microfibre.
It really depends how much you want to look after (not damage) the paint, ask on detailing world and they will give you lots of options, inc different citrus degreasers/cleaners etc to remove the glue. It's a job that takes time, if you don't want to spend a day or two on it then give it to a detailer.
Also parking the car in the sun all day will have the same effect. You can try using a plastic razor blade or credit card to get the edges up, or your nails carefully. Also using petrol on a rag to get rid of adhesive isn't the best thing to do, use IPA (alcohol) with a microfibre.
It really depends how much you want to look after (not damage) the paint, ask on detailing world and they will give you lots of options, inc different citrus degreasers/cleaners etc to remove the glue. It's a job that takes time, if you don't want to spend a day or two on it then give it to a detailer.
I've done this a few times with racing cars - use the kettle
Pour on almost boiling water this softens the glue / stickers then pour more on whilst gently removing the graphics you may need a scraper/razor blade to get the first lift if your finger nails won't do it. Once it starts coming off keep pouring the kettle onto the sticker about 1cm in front of where you are pulling.
Once they are off use far remover and a cotton cloth to remove the glue residue. The worst one I have done was an ex Russ Swift Evo that was fully covered in his graphics, the paintwork was excellent underneath once I had done the above.
Pour on almost boiling water this softens the glue / stickers then pour more on whilst gently removing the graphics you may need a scraper/razor blade to get the first lift if your finger nails won't do it. Once it starts coming off keep pouring the kettle onto the sticker about 1cm in front of where you are pulling.
Once they are off use far remover and a cotton cloth to remove the glue residue. The worst one I have done was an ex Russ Swift Evo that was fully covered in his graphics, the paintwork was excellent underneath once I had done the above.
Hair dryer to lift them off.
Heat a corner until the vinyl softens and you can lift it, then blast the edge with hairdryer as you slowly peel it off.
I found the hairdryer doesn't work as well on bits stuck on glass- presumably the metal heating up helps soften the glue/vinyl on bodywork.
I used a product called 'sticky stuff remover' to get any residual glue off.
Heat a corner until the vinyl softens and you can lift it, then blast the edge with hairdryer as you slowly peel it off.
I found the hairdryer doesn't work as well on bits stuck on glass- presumably the metal heating up helps soften the glue/vinyl on bodywork.
I used a product called 'sticky stuff remover' to get any residual glue off.
Mr GrimNasty said:
You won't damage car paint with a heat gun (unless you try to melt the car), they only strip paints like oil based gloss that soften with heat!
I have a paint stripper type heat gun, which can produce heat above 600 degrees C. Something like this: http://www.bosch-professional.com/gb/en/heat-guns-...Are you saying that if you point one of those for long enough at automotive paint that it won't damage it/burn the surface? I have pointed my heat gun at a lump of charcoal in a bbq and it caught fire just with the heat of the gun! Surely that can damage automotive lacquer? Whats the melting point of a normal automotive lacquer?
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