Removing Vinyl Stripes

[DirtyDan]

I've got some aftermarket black vinyl stripes on my (as seen in my avatar) that I'm planning to remove sometime this week.

I get my new GT500 spoiler in either Friday or Monday, and I'd like to remove my stripes before it gets here. I've been planning to remove the stripes which is why I don't just stripe the spoiler so I figure now is the time so I can put my spoiler on without it looking goofy.

I figured it would be like pulling off a sticker, but I've been told it's much harder than it seems, so I figured I'd post up and see if you guys have any tips/suggestions for doing this... maybe something to remove the sticky residue without damaging my paint as well?

Any info would be greatly appreciated, thanks!

 

[Chrome61]

This is how I've done it, First of all take your time, heat the strip up with a heat gun or hair dryer, and gently start removing by pulling at about 45 degrees of the direction of the strip and then clean the residue off with a cleaner of your choice, I used acitone.

 

[DirtyDan]

Thanks, I'll try a blow dryer and if that isn't hot enough I'll borrow a heat gun... I'm kind of concerned about using acetone though, it can very easily damage the paint.

I forgot to mention I have a Porter Cable buffer... so maybe instead of hand removal I should try rubbing compound to buff the residue away?

 

[Marc s]

My car had stripes on it from the factory and decided to remove them. I parked the car in the sun for about an hour and they peeled off very easily. It took about 15 minutes, I had no residue to remove.

 

[anticubicle]

Get some of this...

http://www.drillspot.com/products/322546/3M_6041_Adhesive_Remover

 

[Natural1]

I use Acrysol:

http://www.kenteurope.com/uk/shop/viewfamily.php?viewfamily=5168&sectionid=&type=Auto

Not exactly that brand, but you get the idea. It is also an excellent surface prep for paint as well, since it doesn't leave behind a residue of any kind.

 

[JoshC]

I just peeled a vinyl off the used hood I just got and it was a pain. I agree that parking in the sun would make it easy.

 

[JoshC]

I use Acrysol:

http://www.kenteurope.com/uk/shop/viewfamily.php?viewfamily=5168&sectionid=&type=Auto

Not exactly that brand, but you get the idea. It is also an excellent surface prep for paint as well, since it doesn't leave behind a residue of any kind.

LMAO at the avatar. "Smell this kitty, he smells like cigritts, kitties aren't supposed to smell like cigritts. They're supposed to smell like kitties!"

 

[Natural1]

LMAO at the avatar. "Smell this kitty, he smells like cigritts, kitties aren't supposed to smell like cigritts. They're supposed to smell like kitties!"

LMAO, It was the most-stupid thing I could come up with. I think it makes me seem like a more reputable site member. (well, not really)

 

[GRAYPNY]

I just pulled the side stripes off my car that have been on there for 4 years. I used a hair dryer gently pulling the stripe off as I went. I then used 3M spray adhesive remover. It was alot of work especially since the stripes were on the very bottom part of the side of the car. My back still hurts.

 

[Hatchman]

I just pulled of some MUSTANG GT letters off the side of mine as well, been on their for 4 years. Just let the car set in the sun for an hour, and cleaned it up with a little spray cleaner/polish, and all is well.

 

[DirtyDan]

This is such a pain in the ass... I've got two large center stripes and two pin stripes on either side... I'm using a hair dryer right now... I think the residue will be easy, it's just actually peeling the stripes off that's so agitating... I think I'm going to run to home depot and pick up a plastic scraper...

I've got Goo Gone (Automotive) for getting the residue off too, but i wonder if there is something I can spray on the vinyl to break it down and make it peel off easier.

 

[anticubicle]

This is such a pain in the ass... I've got two large center stripes and two pin stripes on either side... I'm using a hair dryer right now... I think the residue will be easy, it's just actually peeling the stripes off that's so agitating... I think I'm going to run to home depot and pick up a plastic scraper...

I've got Goo Gone (Automotive) for getting the residue off too, but i wonder if there is something I can spray on the vinyl to break it down and make it peel off easier.

Use something to lubricate the plastic scraper. Detail spray will work fine. The last thing you want is to get micro scratches on your paint.

 

[DirtyDan]

Gonna buy a heat gun today after work and see if that helps.

 

[Chrome61]

Good idea, sometimes you can get by with a hairdryer but most don't get hot enough, Heat guns work great on heat shrink tubing as well in a lot of other uses like drying your hair when your late for work.

 

[irishpwr46]

if you have nnever used a heat gun before, be very careful. it wont take much to get the paint to bubble up

 

[HOLYWD]

hey dan while we are having a stripe removal party maybe ill bring mine over = p

 

[FidyStang]

I just peeled my side stripe off last night. I used a blow dryer to warm the edge of the stripe before I gently pulled off the stripe. I didn't have any real residue, at least nothing I could not get off with water and soap. Just my

 

[kenneth]

Good info, mt stripes are coming off this weekend.

 

[DirtyDan]

Believe It or not I'm still not done. Thanks to weather and work I haven't had time to finish it yet, but as of a few minutes ago I have all the vinyl off. Issue now is sticky residue. Using 3m adhesive remover, but it's only taking off some of the residue, not all of it. Soap and water didn't cut it at the car wash either.

My car has residue stripes now.

Any tips or suggestions would be greatly appreciated.