removing decal adhesive?

[krazybob]

I recently bought an older Beachcraft which had the decal strips starting to peel, so I removed them with a razor blade tool. I'm trying to figure out the best product to remove the adhesive that is left. I used Goof Off but that didn't work very well. Someone told me to use a product made by 3M but couldn't recall what the name of it was. Open for suggestions to try.
Krazy~

 

[ajgraz]

Re: removing decal adhesive?

First try rubbing alcohol, but let it "sit" on the adhesive awhile to soften it.

If that doesn't work, maybe try lacquer thinner, carb cleaner, or straight acetone.

 

[krazybob]

Re: removing decal adhesive?

First try rubbing alcohol, but let it "sit" on the adhesive awhile to soften it.

If that doesn't work, maybe try lacquer thinner, carb cleaner, or straight acetone.

I take it, that none of those will do bad things to the gel coat? I didn't apply much of the Goof Off because in the back of my mind, I kept wondering if it could effect the finish....
Krazy~

 

[Tropax]

Re: removing decal adhesive?

on cars we use "citrus cleaner" or cheaper Blue spirits or condensation remover (what you fill in the gass tankt to remove water and condensation)
that dosent attack the paint jobb only the glue...
im nott 100% sure what all this is cald in english butt this is my rought translation from norwegian

 

[gonefishie]

Re: removing decal adhesive?

Here ya go!

http://www.grainger.com/Grainger/items/4YLF7?Pid=search

 

[ajgraz]

Re: removing decal adhesive?

If you look at the MSDS on the spray can above, it's basically mineral spirits and orange oil.

So, yeah, as another poster said, there's a few more things you might already have around the house to try...citrus cleaner with orange oil, or mineral spirits (a.k.a. charcoal lighter fluid).

None of the things listed so far (including lacquer thinner/acetone or rubbing alcohol) will damage gel coat, at least not if you don't leave them on for hours. Any of these things could destroy paint instantly, though.

 

[tlzimmerman]

Re: removing decal adhesive?

There are lots of goo's and such that will work decently well. Acetone is about as good as anything.

As someone in the decal business....I use heat and a pink eraser to get the majority off (harder eraser you can find the better), then I use the cleaners on the leftover residue once the bulk of it is taken care of.

 

[lckstckn2smknbrls]

Re: removing decal adhesive?

I too have been doing vinyl graphics for many years. We use Zep Chemicals Big Orange it's a degreaser and then we clean that off with Denatured alcohol solvent.

 

[BigBoatinOkie]

Re: removing decal adhesive?

I used denatured alcohol. Just wiped in small sections for a few seconds and it wiped right off. Didn't have any negative effect on the gelcoat, just cleaned it up real nice.

I think I heard somebody on iboats say he used WD-40 and it worked well.

Just mix everything you've heard on here into a bucket and get after it.

 

[nuboat2me]

Re: removing decal adhesive?

Once the decals were off, I used Goo Gone...

I used a "Wonder WHeel" bought on Ebay to get the decals off my 84 TransAm. Then followed up with Goo Gone...

Worked for me...

Cheap and smells all orangy too...