Best way to remove original labels

[Jeff-C175 7,202]

I ran a quick search and did not find an answer.

 

For those of you who have used Terry's labels in your restorations, how did you accomplish removal of the old labels?

 

I don't believe they will simply peel off.  If they can and do peel, I'm SURE they will leave residue.

 

Have any of you discovered which 'solvent' works best?  I have them all and would like to use the best one FIRST!

 

I typically hit them with a heat gun first ... anyone tried that also?

 

[pfrederi 17,741]

I use a heat gun (type for paint removal) and a plastic scrapper.  Xylene to remove residue

[Jeff-C175 7,202]

2 minutes ago, pfrederi said:

Xylene

 

Actually, that's the ONLY solvent I don't have handy at the moment!  I  JUST  ran out last weekend... need to restock.

 

I'll try Naphtha first.

 

Ciao!

 

[SylvanLakeWH 25,600]

Heat gun and a bit of gas on a rag for the remaining glue...

 

[roadapples 6,983]

11 minutes ago, SylvanLakeWH said:

Heat gun and a bit of gas on a rag for the remaining glue...

 

Not at the same time...

[pfrederi 17,741]

35 minutes ago, SylvanLakeWH said:

Heat gun and a bit of gas on a rag for the remaining glue...

 

 

 

Probably not OSHA approved but then again some of my NOS military vehicle parts were done in cosmoline.  Instructions said to wash it off in MOGAS (Motor Gasoline for you civies)

[pacer 3,173]

I use a cup twisted wire wheel on an angle grinder, still have to get the residue glue off and I use acetone there.

[squonk 41,155]

Pinstripe eraser wheel

 

[ranger 1,750]

You can buy a product especially for removing the residue. I have a bottle somewhere. I’ll have a look tomorrow and post a pic of it. It came from the local agricultural dealer. I use a heat gun to remove the decals and then the solvent. I suppose WD40 would work also. The worst part to remove seems to be where part of the decal has been missing for a while, the glue seems to harden, get dirt in it, and take forever to shift.

Doug.

Edited April 16, 2021 by ranger

[Jeff-C175 7,202]

Well, I can tell you that I'm not using Gasoline!  

 

I just tried on the belt routing label on the deck cover. 

 

Heated it up to about 130°  picked at the corner with my coke spoon... errrrrr, with my finger nail and got the corner lifted easily.  

 

S L O W L Y  peeled it off and 99% of the adhesive came off with the label.  The previously mentioned part that was hard and exposed from the label shrinking over the years came off quite easily with the Naphtha.  Wet a small cloth rag with it, rub the residue and let it sit for a couple minutes.  Rub with the rag.  Some comes off easily.  Let sit for another minute or two and rub again.  Voila!  clean as a whistle!  (are whistles really clean?  Think of that bacteria!  OMG, how did we survive our childhoods? )

 

By the way, I believe that Charcoal Lighter Fluid is Naphtha and should work also.

 

13 minutes ago, ranger said:

a product especially for removing the residue

 

Not "Goo Gone" ?  I never had much luck with that.  Usually leaves a slimy gooey residue that is HARDER to get off!

 

Another trick that I learnt somewhere along the line, but would not work for this... it's great for removing the residue left on your wife's 'chachki' glass ware when the price labels are peeled, is to take a piece of duct tape, Adhere to the residue, pull... repeat... the residue sticks to the duct tape and comes right off.

 

[Achto 27,605]

6 hours ago, squonk said:

Pinstripe eraser wheel

 

 

This is my favorite way to remove decals.

 

4 hours ago, Jeff-C175 said:

I believe that Charcoal Lighter Fluid is Naphtha and should work also.

 

Followed by cleaning the residual with simple charcoal lighter fluid. Lighter fluid will usually take decal residue off without damaging the paint.

[Jeff-C175 7,202]

1 hour ago, Achto said:

my favorite way to remove decals

 

I'll have to get one of those.  I'd like to re-do the pinstripes on my wife's car, that should get an easy "OK" to buy the tool!

 

I took the two CAUTION decals off the deck.  They were a little more difficult because they were pretty beat up.  Lots of scratches through them that made them come off in lots of pieces.  But it wasn't too difficult really.

 

Yes, I did a 'sniff test' between the charcoal lighter and the Naphtha and I do believe they are one and the same.  At least that's what my nose says.  The fine print on the lighter fluid bottle was too small to read.  Then I started getting hungry for burgers...

Funny how that works!  

 

[953 nut 55,321]

8 hours ago, Achto said:

cleaning the residual with simple charcoal lighter fluid. Lighter fluid will usually take decal residue off without damaging the paint.

I have always used rubbing alcohol to clean up any petroleum or other solvent residue before painting or placing a new decal.   

[Jeff-C175 7,202]

3 minutes ago, 953 nut said:

rubbing alcohol

 

Pick up some 'Denatured Alcohol" next time.  It's a stronger alcohol.

 

I use a two step... Naphta first, then alcohol.  Naphtha doesn't leave any residue, by itself it would be good enough by itself though.

[WheelhorseBob 1,549]

A little heat and the decals will peal off. Residue is another matter. I used acetone. Goo gone and or goof off we’re useless.

Edited April 18, 2021 by WheelhorseBob

[Jeff-C175 7,202]

48 minutes ago, WheelhorseBob said:

little heat

 

I've found that the key is a LITTLE heat.  Get it too hot and the adhesive separates from the label and stays on the part.  It seems as though 120 is about the best temp, the adhesive comes off with the vinyl.

[cschannuth 3,816]

On 4/16/2021 at 1:42 PM, Jeff-C175 said:

 

Actually, that's the ONLY solvent I don't have handy at the moment!  I  JUST  ran out last weekend... need to restock.

 

I'll try Naphtha first.

 

Ciao!

 

 

[cschannuth 3,816]

In a pinch my wife’s hair dryer works well for removing labels also. Don’t ask me, or her, how I know, please.

[Jeff-C175 7,202]

2 hours ago, cschannuth said:

In a pinch my wife’s hair dryer works well for removing labels also. Don’t ask me, or her, how I know, please.

I think a hair dryer might be better than a heat gun because it's not TOO hot.  I used my weakest heat gun and had to be careful to not overheat.

 

I won't tell!

[haydendavid380 759]

I'd add that the plastic razor blades they make now are mighty helpful as well.

[Pullstart 62,912]

I don’t know how I missed this thread so far, but I didn’t see this.  When heating, warm the back of the panel so it melts the sticky parts away from the surface.  It does wonders 

[Jeff-C175 7,202]

3 hours ago, pullstart said:

warm the back of the panel so it melts the sticky parts away from the surface.  It does wonders

 

I found that out myself.  If you heat from the front, the vinyl gets too soft and will stretch and tear.  Heating from the back, as you say, more or less eliminates this.  Plus, you can use your hand on the surface of the label to judge the temperature.  If you can't hold for 2-3 seconds, it's TOO HOT! (about 130° or so)