There has got to be a better way to remove old vinyl
 

I've tried the heat and strip method and it works fine for some of the stuff but the bottom piece of the boot stripe just refuses to come off in anything bigger than 1/4" chunks. I'm sure it was cheap/thin vinyl, but there has to be something that will just melt the stuff and wash it off. I'm not going to remove 70 feet of stripe one 1/4" chunk at a time.

Help!

-Greg

Re: There has got to be a better way to remove old vinyl
 

rasor blade.
round the corners with a file so it wont dig in.

Re: There has got to be a better way to remove old vinyl
 

theres also a rubber wheel you can buy that will take it off.

http://www.offshoreonly.com/forums/s...ighlight=vinyl

Re: There has got to be a better way to remove old vinyl
 

Try This


I'm not sure if this is the exact product or not but have heard this type of product works great.
I would try your local Auto paint supply store.

Re: There has got to be a better way to remove old vinyl
 

eraser wheel , i can send you a pk if you can't find locally. e

Re: There has got to be a better way to remove old vinyl
 

Sand Blast? :D Router :D BUY A NEW BOAT :eek:

Re: There has got to be a better way to remove old vinyl
 

solvent won't work.
Vinyl and/or polyester are two components in gelcoat. A solvent that melts the decal will also melt the gel.

If your stickers have not been painted or cleared over then heat is your friend.

And a properly used razor blade is your tool. If you can't use it without gouging gel, then a honed edge like mentioned will help (but use a stone or a finished concrete floor to hone the edge, not a file).

The guys who have used the eraser wheel have reported good things. I've always used heat and blade.

Re: There has got to be a better way to remove old vinyl
 

I made some progress by turning the heat gun up to "paint removal" temp and scraping the vinyl off with a deburred putty knife. Got as far as I could reach from the lift/dock, will have to wait for a higher tide to get my work float in place to do more (extra low water today due to the north wind, the work float is aground on the shore line). Maybe I'll also get warmer than a 40 deg day, but I think I'm running out of chances for that.

Didn't see the small eraser wheel locally, found an ad for a professional system for only $400 ... not quite ready to resort to that yet unless I can find a place that rents them.

-Greg

Re: There has got to be a better way to remove old vinyl
 

I used a razor scraper to remove it off my old Formula. It comes off pretty good once you get it started, keep getting it! Then I took the old adhesive off with mineral spirits.

Re: There has got to be a better way to remove old vinyl
 

Try Easy Off Oven Cleaner, it takes off paint and stickers. Try it in a small area first.

Re: There has got to be a better way to remove old vinyl
 

I've used easy off before for painted registration numbers, it does (or did) discolor the fiberglass for a few weeks until it bleached (leached) back out. I got a couple of cans of the 3-M vinyl remover and tried on the one real problem child stripe. It worked ok, but not great. I'll probably use the heat and putty knife some more if I get another semi-warm day. I'll look for a stripe wheel too to give a try. I got about 1/2 of the stuff off today. The actual graphics are a much higher quality vinyl than the boot stripes and came off raily well with heat. Sure looks better in white.

-greg

Re: There has got to be a better way to remove old vinyl
 

The problem is that what works on some vinyl, dosnt always work on others, because of the age or time its been exposed to the sun. it breaks down to a point of brittleness more-less. you can try just straight lacquer thinner it will dissolve and melt most of the vinyl to a point that can be scraped off easily, but be care full not to get it on your skin for long , it will start to burn. try to avoid razor blades they will cut into the surface.

Re: There has got to be a better way to remove old vinyl
 

gotta address , i can send you a pk of erasers tommorow.should get it for next weekend.e

Re: There has got to be a better way to remove old vinyl
 

Open72 - Thanks but I got the rest of it off today (home with a sick kid, snuck down to the dock for a little bit). The one stripe fought me all the way to the last inch at the bow, but the rest of the stuff came off much easier. I think another 20 deg air temp may have helped too.

Rule #372 for used boat buying, have the seller remove the vinyl graphics. Besides it being a pain, you can see what is undeneath. In this case a 4 foot not well repaired gel gouge. Helps explain why the graphics was centered so far forward I guess.

-Greg