Removing Decal adhesive: how?

[GlenPettit 1,717]

What is the best way to remove the decal adhesive?

The large 312 hood decals left a layer of adhesive; what is the best way to remove it?

I prefer to remove just the adhesive, not the paint.

Used a heat gun (from the back/inside of hood) to peal the decals off, but the adhesive is a real pain to remove from the hood. The smaller decals, removed by scraping and without heat left very little adhesive, I think using the heat made it much worse. All the chemicals I've tried/spot tested so far have made things much worse. Help, help, help!

- - -

Also, vinylguy has the hood decals, but does not have the dash decals, (Norms Toys, nor TORO has them either), anywhere I can get the dash & shift decals for a ('84) 312-8 speed?

Glen

[rmaynard 15,715]

I always use a heat gun (hair dryer) to soften the adhesive, then pull the decal slowly. Any residual adhesive can be removed with mineral spirits.

Bob

[Daveycrocket 1]

Try using an essential oil like lemon or orange sometimes the lite acticity combined with the inherent properties of oil will break down the bonding agents in the adhesive, and it wont harm the paint. Sometimes it works sometimes it doesn't, good luck!

[Ken B 3,164]

Try Naptha, or acetone. Goof off will work sometimes. No matter what you use it will take some work. I haven't come across anything instant yet.

[rmaynard 15,715]

Try Naptha, or acetone. Goof off will work sometimes. No matter what you use it will take some work. I haven't come across anything instant yet.

Just a little info learned from years of woodworking and finishing. I find that Acetone tends to cut into some paints. Naptha is just a fast drying mineral spirits. The longer that mineral spirits is allowed to soak, the better it will work.

Bob

[TT-(Moderator) 1,145]

3M Woodgrain adhesive remover

Astro eraser wheel

3M general purpose adhesive remover

[Ken B 3,164]

Try Naptha, or acetone. Goof off will work sometimes. No matter what you use it will take some work. I haven't come across anything instant yet.

Just a little info learned from years of woodworking and finishing. I find that Acetone tends to cut into some paints. Naptha is just a fast drying mineral spirits. The longer that mineral spirits is allowed to soak, the better it will work.

Bob

I didn't notice he was trying too save the paint. I generally don't have the patience too wait for Mineral spirits to work. I've done it a million ways, even rolled it off with my fingers and that takes even longer, not too mention sore fingers! :thumbs:

[rickv1957 72]

A little heat from a heatgun and scraping then cleanup with simple green works good!,Rick

[Raider12 13]

TT hit the nail on the head on this one. The eraser wheel works great. It is best used on a drill or a air tool but has to be controled. If you free wheel it it will fly apart. And the adhsesice remover by 3M works great to. It works best if you alow it to set a little, but is won't harm the finish. I have used both of the products in the body shop professional for years and I keep them both on the shelf. The heat gun works as well, but you will probnably still need to remove the sticky stuff.

[TT-(Moderator) 1,145]

I was first introduced to the 3M woodgrain adhesive remover 25 years ago while fixing crash damage on the front of a 1983 Jeep Grand Wagoneer. (great! -- now I feel old )

I figure any product that's been on the market that long has to be excellent, right?

I haven't tried the erasers yet, but a friend of mine has his own body shop and says they're absolutely amazing. :thumbs:

[Ken B 3,164]

I'll have to look for the woodgrain adhesive remover, I've never seen it. Body shop supply store?

[rwilson 128]

What about goo gone?

[Ken B 3,164]

I've used it. Works ok sometimes. I have a big fire proof cabinet at work with every kind of chemical known to man, except, 3m wood grain adhesive remover! :thumbs:

[TT-(Moderator) 1,145]

I'll have to look for the woodgrain adhesive remover, I've never seen it. Body shop supply store?

Most any "good" parts store that carries 3M products should have it - or be able to get it for you. I think I've seen it at Advance Auto and definitely at NAPA.

[GlenPettit 1,717]

You guys are great.

I tried about 8 different chemicals I had here with either no success or total stripping, now I have a bunch of more good ideas to try. The other thing is that some of the stuff I tried may be 15 years old and weakened somewhat. Good-off & Goo-gone were useless. Using that heat messed me up real god.

I'll keep listening and testing, quick trip to the hardware in the morning.

Glen

[brybrychrismer 17]

Ive had some luck with denatured alcohol in a spray bottle let it set for a few and reapply then lightly scrub with a micro fiber rag works pretty good.

[Save Old Iron 1,566]

I tried about 8 different chemicals I had here with either no success

I feel your pain.

Just finished doing a 520 hood. The heat gun softened the decals and they did peel off but I think the decal peeled away from the adhesive - not the adhesive layer from the hood.

I actually wanted to strip the hood completely so I ended up using AIRCRAFT PAINT STRIPPER - and that barely touched it !

I did an older c160 hood and those decals stripped off the paint completely leaving no residue what so ever.

age / paint/ decal quality ?? who knows.

[chris11 184]

I think Dukes snow blower would take it off. :thumbs:

[popwheelie 0]

Here's a crazy idea, try some peanut butter, I was told once to use it to remove decal residue and it worked beautifully, the trick after it works is to remove the peanut butter smell, and you may just have some on hand! Don't knock it till you try it. I have not tried it on the Wheel Horse decals though.

Good Luck! :thumbs:

[Redbird 1]

Peanut Butter?

If it works, why get rid of the smell? If it makes people hungry.....tow a cart behind it and sell bags of peanuts at the tractor shows!

Sorry.......couldn't resist that one :banghead:

[W9JAB 156]

What about goo gone?

I love this stuff, but I think it's been taken

off the market. :thumbs:

[Redbird 1]

Goo-Gone IS still available---I just got some at Home Depot recently.....find it in the paint section.

I haven't used it on the horses yet, but, it has worked well for me on other projects without damaging the paint.

[Duff 206]

Also, vinylguy has the hood decals, but does not have the dash decals, (Norms Toys, nor TORO has them either), anywhere I can get the dash & shift decals for a ('84) 312-8 speed?

Glen, you're sure Terry doesn't have these? I just got a complete 18-piece set of 312-8 decals for Christmas that my wife got from Terry and it had everything. These were for an '87, mind you, but are the decals between '84 and '87 much different?

http://www.redoyourhorse.com/servlet/the-5...EIGHTEEN/Detail

Duff :thumbs:

[chris11 184]

bug and tar remover. wont hurt paint.

[linen beige 14]

Here's a crazy idea, try some peanut butter,

Smooth or crunchy?

Spread it on, park outside, let the neighborhood cats lick the residue off.

Result......Spit-shined tractor. :thumbs: