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Author Topic:   Removal of Decals

Buckda posted 08-20-2002 08:43 AM ET (US)
Okay...so I have a new boat from another state. Any advice on the best way to remove the old registration numbers and stickers without damaging the finish? Does the "hair dryer" trick work best? I worry about the heat deforming the hull and putting a permanent wave down the side. Thoughts?
JBCornwell posted 08-20-2002 08:50 AM ET (US)
Hi, Buckda.
The hair dryer works fine. I also use a product from WalMart called "Goof Off" to remove the traces of glue left over.
Good luck.
Red sky at night. . .
JB :)
Buckda posted 08-20-2002 08:53 AM ET (US)
Thanks JB...will give that a whirl. I just didn't want to damage the finish at all. I'm familiar with "Goof off" (partly because I did a lot of that in school) and have had great results with getting gum out of pants (those Chicago CTA bus seats can be nasty). Will try it on the Whaler.
Timo posted 08-20-2002 08:57 AM ET (US)
I used a plastic scraper followed by "Goo-Gone"...worked like a charm.
When you go to register your boat in your state, ask if you can have the same registration number as the old registration (of course you'll have to change the State prefix)...when you remove the old numbers you'll notice a color difference on the hull due to fading...using the same registration numbers will allow you to cover the faded space left over when you add new numbers.
Of course, if it's a relatively new boat, you wont have to change the registration numbers at all, only the state.
JFM posted 08-20-2002 09:18 AM ET (US)
Buckda,
I was able to peal mine off on my last boat and used acetone on the glue. I let it out in the sun to heat it up.
Regards, Jay
Conrad posted 08-20-2002 11:40 AM ET (US)
I was removing all of the decals off of the boat. Using Goo Gone and a scraper was taking forever.
So, I posted a similar question a few months ago. A few people recommended using the hair dryer method.
Once I started using the hair dryer the job was 10x easier. I strongly recommend using a hair dryer.
I would apply some Goo Gone, Heat for about a minute, then peel or scrap off.
Thanks,
Carl
jimh posted 08-20-2002 12:08 PM ET (US)
When changing the registration numbers on my boat (just the actual letters, the registration number was the same) I discovered the previous owner had used a rather large plastic/decal background on which the letters and numbers were then applied.
This left a huge field of goo and residue, even removing it with a hair dryer blower.
I think the solvent that worked best--and I tried many--was plain old WD-40.
Draftmanswife posted 08-20-2002 04:36 PM ET (US)
"Goo-gone" works much better if you heat it up. But trust me, I do this for a living, and there is no real pleasent way of doing this. I use a professional grade of "goo-gone", and it works the best. If you're still having trouble, I can maybe send you a baby-food jar of it. Take care, and good luck!
Janis
Draftmanswife posted 08-20-2002 04:44 PM ET (US)
"Goo-gone" works much better if you heat it up. But trust me, I do this for a living, and there is no real pleasent way of doing this. I use a professional grade of "goo-gone", and it works the best. If you're still having trouble, I can maybe send you a baby-food jar of it. Take care, and good luck!
Janis
DaveH posted 08-20-2002 05:23 PM ET (US)
3-in-One oil works very well to break down old glue. No heating involved.
DaveH posted 08-20-2002 05:35 PM ET (US)
I forgot to mention not to let the 3-in-one steak down the hull (no damage just permeation). Mask the area off with plastic if possible and apply in small quantities.
Kolbert posted 08-26-2002 09:15 AM ET (US)
Easy steps from a former vehicle graphics salesperson who also oversaw graphic installations and removals;
- Heat with hairdryer (the pros use judicious heat application with a propane torch, but leave this technique to them)
- Pick up peeling edges and remove as much as possible by hand, get excess with a dull and flexible putty knife
- Hair dry heat the excess adhesive and spray on WD-40, wipe off (as Janis said, there is a professional grade remover but the EPA doesn't want a weekend warrior having easy access to it)
- Buff out the former decal area with a polishing compound, this will reduce/remove the remaining graphics shadow (may have to use a heavy duty compound depending on how long the graphics were on)
- Re-install decals
Abalonehunter posted 11-20-2003 03:09 PM ET (US)
What about removing some hideous decals which were applied on top of an awlgripped hull? Should I just try the hair dryer and/or a quick acetone wipe?
quickfarms posted 11-20-2003 03:33 PM ET (US)
The fast and easy method is to use a sharp (new) single edge razor blade and then finnish up with acetone or interlux prep/cleaner. this is how I have taken regeistration numbers off of the boats for over 20 years. I have never hurt the gelcoat using this method if you are carefull. You want to keep the blade angle as low as possible so that is almost parrallel with the hull. this way you actually shear the glue. I removed all the letters and decalls (including the waler ones) from my boat in less that an hour, including removing any glue residue.
Knot at Work posted 11-20-2003 04:05 PM ET (US)
Just dont try to get your sticker off if you registered it Down Under!!
They don't make enough goo off!
doobee posted 11-20-2003 06:40 PM ET (US)
I just removed my decals and registration stickers on a very cold day with a hair dryer set on low heat. It took minimal heat to lift the decals off while working very carefully with a razor window scraper (Quite appealing really).
3M adhesive remover, which smells very much like acetone, works well on the residue after you get the stickers off. If the adhesive doesn't respond well to acetone, try turpentine or paint thinner.
I would recommend that you get all the decals off and put your hair dryer away, BEFORE you start working with solvents.
Now if I could just get these decals off my fingers . . .
mnorman21 posted 11-22-2003 01:01 AM ET (US)
Medo 100% natural citrus air freshner from Wal-Mart. It comes in a little white bottle and the brand is medo. You can find it in the auto section. I know it sounds crazy but it works. Just spray it on and let sit for about 1 minute and wipe off with a rag. After watching me struggle for hours with different products, my girlfriend tells me she can take my decals and residue off in minutes with no scrapping. I laughed when she started spraying this stuff on there, but to my surprise it worked.

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Author	Topic: Removal of Decals
Buckda	posted 08-20-2002 08:43 AM ET (US) Okay...so I have a new boat from another state. Any advice on the best way to remove the old registration numbers and stickers without damaging the finish? Does the "hair dryer" trick work best? I worry about the heat deforming the hull and putting a permanent wave down the side. Thoughts?
JBCornwell	posted 08-20-2002 08:50 AM ET (US) Hi, Buckda. The hair dryer works fine. I also use a product from WalMart called "Goof Off" to remove the traces of glue left over. Good luck. Red sky at night. . . JB :)
Buckda	posted 08-20-2002 08:53 AM ET (US) Thanks JB...will give that a whirl. I just didn't want to damage the finish at all. I'm familiar with "Goof off" (partly because I did a lot of that in school) and have had great results with getting gum out of pants (those Chicago CTA bus seats can be nasty). Will try it on the Whaler.
Timo	posted 08-20-2002 08:57 AM ET (US) I used a plastic scraper followed by "Goo-Gone"...worked like a charm. When you go to register your boat in your state, ask if you can have the same registration number as the old registration (of course you'll have to change the State prefix)...when you remove the old numbers you'll notice a color difference on the hull due to fading...using the same registration numbers will allow you to cover the faded space left over when you add new numbers. Of course, if it's a relatively new boat, you wont have to change the registration numbers at all, only the state.
JFM	posted 08-20-2002 09:18 AM ET (US) Buckda, I was able to peal mine off on my last boat and used acetone on the glue. I let it out in the sun to heat it up. Regards, Jay
Conrad	posted 08-20-2002 11:40 AM ET (US) I was removing all of the decals off of the boat. Using Goo Gone and a scraper was taking forever. So, I posted a similar question a few months ago. A few people recommended using the hair dryer method. Once I started using the hair dryer the job was 10x easier. I strongly recommend using a hair dryer. I would apply some Goo Gone, Heat for about a minute, then peel or scrap off. Thanks, Carl
jimh	posted 08-20-2002 12:08 PM ET (US) When changing the registration numbers on my boat (just the actual letters, the registration number was the same) I discovered the previous owner had used a rather large plastic/decal background on which the letters and numbers were then applied. This left a huge field of goo and residue, even removing it with a hair dryer blower. I think the solvent that worked best--and I tried many--was plain old WD-40.
Draftmanswife	posted 08-20-2002 04:36 PM ET (US) "Goo-gone" works much better if you heat it up. But trust me, I do this for a living, and there is no real pleasent way of doing this. I use a professional grade of "goo-gone", and it works the best. If you're still having trouble, I can maybe send you a baby-food jar of it. Take care, and good luck! Janis
Draftmanswife	posted 08-20-2002 04:44 PM ET (US) "Goo-gone" works much better if you heat it up. But trust me, I do this for a living, and there is no real pleasent way of doing this. I use a professional grade of "goo-gone", and it works the best. If you're still having trouble, I can maybe send you a baby-food jar of it. Take care, and good luck! Janis
DaveH	posted 08-20-2002 05:23 PM ET (US) 3-in-One oil works very well to break down old glue. No heating involved.
DaveH	posted 08-20-2002 05:35 PM ET (US) I forgot to mention not to let the 3-in-one steak down the hull (no damage just permeation). Mask the area off with plastic if possible and apply in small quantities.
Kolbert	posted 08-26-2002 09:15 AM ET (US) Easy steps from a former vehicle graphics salesperson who also oversaw graphic installations and removals; - Heat with hairdryer (the pros use judicious heat application with a propane torch, but leave this technique to them) - Pick up peeling edges and remove as much as possible by hand, get excess with a dull and flexible putty knife - Hair dry heat the excess adhesive and spray on WD-40, wipe off (as Janis said, there is a professional grade remover but the EPA doesn't want a weekend warrior having easy access to it) - Buff out the former decal area with a polishing compound, this will reduce/remove the remaining graphics shadow (may have to use a heavy duty compound depending on how long the graphics were on) - Re-install decals
Abalonehunter	posted 11-20-2003 03:09 PM ET (US) What about removing some hideous decals which were applied on top of an awlgripped hull? Should I just try the hair dryer and/or a quick acetone wipe?
quickfarms	posted 11-20-2003 03:33 PM ET (US) The fast and easy method is to use a sharp (new) single edge razor blade and then finnish up with acetone or interlux prep/cleaner. this is how I have taken regeistration numbers off of the boats for over 20 years. I have never hurt the gelcoat using this method if you are carefull. You want to keep the blade angle as low as possible so that is almost parrallel with the hull. this way you actually shear the glue. I removed all the letters and decalls (including the waler ones) from my boat in less that an hour, including removing any glue residue.
Knot at Work	posted 11-20-2003 04:05 PM ET (US) Just dont try to get your sticker off if you registered it Down Under!! They don't make enough goo off!
doobee	posted 11-20-2003 06:40 PM ET (US) I just removed my decals and registration stickers on a very cold day with a hair dryer set on low heat. It took minimal heat to lift the decals off while working very carefully with a razor window scraper (Quite appealing really). 3M adhesive remover, which smells very much like acetone, works well on the residue after you get the stickers off. If the adhesive doesn't respond well to acetone, try turpentine or paint thinner. I would recommend that you get all the decals off and put your hair dryer away, BEFORE you start working with solvents. Now if I could just get these decals off my fingers . . .
mnorman21	posted 11-22-2003 01:01 AM ET (US) Medo 100% natural citrus air freshner from Wal-Mart. It comes in a little white bottle and the brand is medo. You can find it in the auto section. I know it sounds crazy but it works. Just spray it on and let sit for about 1 minute and wipe off with a rag. After watching me struggle for hours with different products, my girlfriend tells me she can take my decals and residue off in minutes with no scrapping. I laughed when she started spraying this stuff on there, but to my surprise it worked.