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Building Tips and technical articles. => Paint and finishing => Topic started by: Perry Rose on March 23, 2018, 01:40:32 PM

Title: How can I remove a decal from a painted surface.
Post by: Perry Rose on March 23, 2018, 01:40:32 PM

I have a Bearcat with stars and bars, from Major decals, on the fuselage sides and I want to remove them without damaging the paint. What do I do?

Title: Re: How can I remove a decal from a painted surface.
Post by: Avaiojet on March 23, 2018, 02:10:09 PM

Perry,

I thought they were vinyl so don't use heat.

Major decals makes a decent product.

I would call them, they will talk to you.

Just to be sure.

C

Title: Re: How can I remove a decal from a painted surface.
Post by: Mike Haverly on March 23, 2018, 02:15:00 PM

Water slide decals come off easily with 1000 grit paper.  Use wet and a lot of finesse. They will peel easily after softened.  Vinyl stickers, use a little heat.  I'm pretty sure Major has made them both styles from time to time.

Title: Re: How can I remove a decal from a painted surface.
Post by: bill bischoff on March 23, 2018, 02:24:56 PM

Sometimes you can remove water slide decals by rubbing tape over them and lifting briskly. Don't stick the tape to anything other than the decal itself! n1

Title: Re: How can I remove a decal from a painted surface.
Post by: Mike Haverly on March 23, 2018, 03:29:40 PM

Quote from: bill bischoff on March 23, 2018, 02:24:56 PM

Sometimes you can remove water slide decals by rubbing tape over them and lifting briskly. Don't stick the tape to anything other than the decal itself! n1

That's correct, just make sure they haven't been sealed with a clear coat.  You just might remove more than just the decal.  I have some that are buried under many coats of clear and need to be sanded first.  After sanding through the clear they will come off easily.

Title: Re: How can I remove a decal from a painted surface.
Post by: Avaiojet on March 23, 2018, 04:35:03 PM

Do I remember vinegar being used to remove decals?

Could try just a corner.

Title: Re: How can I remove a decal from a painted surface.
Post by: Mike Haverly on March 24, 2018, 12:30:15 AM

Vinegar kills lawn weeds.

Title: Re: How can I remove a decal from a painted surface.
Post by: Perry Rose on March 24, 2018, 06:33:51 AM

I got a good look at the pressure sensitive decals and they didn't have that clear border that Major Decals has. These could be from the Brodak kit. So using all the advise given here I peeled up a corner, warmed the decal a bit and gently pulled them off without damage or glue residue . Now I have to remove the trim kote numbers and markings. They leave glue if heated so this could take a while.

Title: Re: How can I remove a decal from a painted surface.
Post by: Will Hinton on March 24, 2018, 09:49:00 AM

Perry, if you leave a glue residue, use lighter fluid to remove it.  It won't do anything to your paint and will take that residue off quite nicely.  Be generous with the fluid and you might need to do a couple of applications, but patience will win.