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Author Topic:   Removing factory decals

Schroeder posted 03-18-2003 07:29 PM ET (US)
Whats the best way to remove factory decals (ala whaler harpoon) from the side of the hull?
Buckda posted 03-18-2003 07:38 PM ET (US)
Schroeder -
I'm confused as to "why" you want to remove the decal, but nonetheless, the easiest way (without having to purchase a new product to take up valuable workbench space) is to use good old WD-40 and a plastic putty knife, or hard plastic squeegee (often also used to APPLY decals). Apply the WD-40, wait a few minutes and have at it.
If you have tar-remover that you use on your car that works well too. Be sure to clean the area thoroughly immediately after you've removed the decal.
Out of curiousity - why are you removing your harpoon decal?
Best of luck -
Dave
aubv posted 03-18-2003 08:16 PM ET (US)
I've removed a number of stickers from metal boxes with the aid of a hair drier. Used judiciously it might help the process.
spotsnspecks posted 03-18-2003 08:28 PM ET (US)
A hair dryer will work but a heat gun will work better if you have access to one. With the aid of a PLASTIC putty knife "shoot" an area with the gun or dryer and scrape away with the putty knife.
Schroeder posted 03-18-2003 09:23 PM ET (US)
We're talking fully hardened factory stickers from 1982, not call letters. Will the techniques you guys posted work on very stubborn old dacals? I don't want to screw up the gelcoat.
As to why I want to remove them. The truth is I no longer own a Whaler, its a 82' Grady and the factory detail along the waterline is all beat up and tattered, it'll look better with them off. I figured the Harpoon on the Whaler was the best comparision. Have no fear though, I'm thinking about a 22' Outrage Cuddy for my next boat.
John Schroeder
njwhalerman posted 03-19-2003 05:14 AM ET (US)
Just finished restoring and replacing the decals on my 22 revenge. Took 5 minutes with oven cleaner, spray on wait 5 minutes the decal practically falls off with a scrape of a razor. Wiped surface down with laquer thinner than alcohol and re applied new decals. Total time 30 minutes
Dan
BugsyG posted 03-19-2003 06:08 AM ET (US)
I agree with Spotnspecs. A hair dryer is the trick. All decals are is a sticker.
In my case, I am not only going to take them off but I am going to put my chrome ones on. I have to put a anchor in the side and then screw them in with Marine Sealent 5200. Then I shall be good!
JAZZ
T Party posted 03-19-2003 10:08 AM ET (US)
Take a hair dryer (a heat gun is really risky - if you ues a heat gun, be *really* careful not to hold it too close to the gelcoat) and heat up the area, then scrape with a plastic scraper (if too stubborn, carefully scrape with a clean, new straight razor).
WD-40, automobile tar remover, oven cleaner, Goof-Off, D-Solv-It (I think that's what it's called - it smells like oranges) and my favorite, acetone, will work to dissolve the glue. Acetone leaves no residue, so wipe it down thoroughly and apply new stickers. Here's a tip I hadn't seen before - when applying new stickers to gelcoat, mist the area with water from a spray bottle first - it keeps the sitckers from sticking so tenaciously at first, so air bubbles can more easily be removed, and the sticker can be repositioned more easily if necessary. Once the water is squeeged out and dries, the decal is stuck just as well as if it had been put on dry.
Schroeder posted 03-19-2003 10:34 AM ET (US)
Thanks everyone for the suggestions. I'll give them a shot.
Just a couple more weeks and I'll be back in the water. Anyone else starting to get that good feeling?
John Schroeder
Bigshot posted 03-19-2003 11:25 AM ET (US)
I live in Florida....I have that feeling 12 months a year, when not raining.
spotsnspecks posted 03-20-2003 01:31 AM ET (US)
I used this technique to remove (3 layers) of decals from a nearly 30 year old hull. If you use a heat gun be careful not to leave it in one place too long. It will burn the gel coat. I succesfully removed all decals, registration letters and numbers using this method. The boat looks naked now. I am amazed that the gelcoat underneath the decals looks as good as it does. I am now doing the wetsand technique described by many on this site to bring the gelcoat on the 21 Revenge back to new.

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Author	Topic: Removing factory decals
Schroeder	posted 03-18-2003 07:29 PM ET (US) Whats the best way to remove factory decals (ala whaler harpoon) from the side of the hull?
Buckda	posted 03-18-2003 07:38 PM ET (US) Schroeder - I'm confused as to "why" you want to remove the decal, but nonetheless, the easiest way (without having to purchase a new product to take up valuable workbench space) is to use good old WD-40 and a plastic putty knife, or hard plastic squeegee (often also used to APPLY decals). Apply the WD-40, wait a few minutes and have at it. If you have tar-remover that you use on your car that works well too. Be sure to clean the area thoroughly immediately after you've removed the decal. Out of curiousity - why are you removing your harpoon decal? Best of luck - Dave
aubv	posted 03-18-2003 08:16 PM ET (US) I've removed a number of stickers from metal boxes with the aid of a hair drier. Used judiciously it might help the process.
spotsnspecks	posted 03-18-2003 08:28 PM ET (US) A hair dryer will work but a heat gun will work better if you have access to one. With the aid of a PLASTIC putty knife "shoot" an area with the gun or dryer and scrape away with the putty knife.
Schroeder	posted 03-18-2003 09:23 PM ET (US) We're talking fully hardened factory stickers from 1982, not call letters. Will the techniques you guys posted work on very stubborn old dacals? I don't want to screw up the gelcoat. As to why I want to remove them. The truth is I no longer own a Whaler, its a 82' Grady and the factory detail along the waterline is all beat up and tattered, it'll look better with them off. I figured the Harpoon on the Whaler was the best comparision. Have no fear though, I'm thinking about a 22' Outrage Cuddy for my next boat. John Schroeder
njwhalerman	posted 03-19-2003 05:14 AM ET (US) Just finished restoring and replacing the decals on my 22 revenge. Took 5 minutes with oven cleaner, spray on wait 5 minutes the decal practically falls off with a scrape of a razor. Wiped surface down with laquer thinner than alcohol and re applied new decals. Total time 30 minutes Dan
BugsyG	posted 03-19-2003 06:08 AM ET (US) I agree with Spotnspecs. A hair dryer is the trick. All decals are is a sticker. In my case, I am not only going to take them off but I am going to put my chrome ones on. I have to put a anchor in the side and then screw them in with Marine Sealent 5200. Then I shall be good! JAZZ
T Party	posted 03-19-2003 10:08 AM ET (US) Take a hair dryer (a heat gun is really risky - if you ues a heat gun, be really careful not to hold it too close to the gelcoat) and heat up the area, then scrape with a plastic scraper (if too stubborn, carefully scrape with a clean, new straight razor). WD-40, automobile tar remover, oven cleaner, Goof-Off, D-Solv-It (I think that's what it's called - it smells like oranges) and my favorite, acetone, will work to dissolve the glue. Acetone leaves no residue, so wipe it down thoroughly and apply new stickers. Here's a tip I hadn't seen before - when applying new stickers to gelcoat, mist the area with water from a spray bottle first - it keeps the sitckers from sticking so tenaciously at first, so air bubbles can more easily be removed, and the sticker can be repositioned more easily if necessary. Once the water is squeeged out and dries, the decal is stuck just as well as if it had been put on dry.
Schroeder	posted 03-19-2003 10:34 AM ET (US) Thanks everyone for the suggestions. I'll give them a shot. Just a couple more weeks and I'll be back in the water. Anyone else starting to get that good feeling? John Schroeder
Bigshot	posted 03-19-2003 11:25 AM ET (US) I live in Florida....I have that feeling 12 months a year, when not raining.
spotsnspecks	posted 03-20-2003 01:31 AM ET (US) I used this technique to remove (3 layers) of decals from a nearly 30 year old hull. If you use a heat gun be careful not to leave it in one place too long. It will burn the gel coat. I succesfully removed all decals, registration letters and numbers using this method. The boat looks naked now. I am amazed that the gelcoat underneath the decals looks as good as it does. I am now doing the wetsand technique described by many on this site to bring the gelcoat on the 21 Revenge back to new.