Thread subject: Whaler Central - Boston Whaler Boat Information and Photos :: Scratching out old stickers from plexiglass
Posted by robaguero on 06/27/07 - 1:49 PM
#1
Any of you guys has a better recipe??
I have tried the following and still having quite a hard time pulling out those old stickers:
1) Hair dryer (not hot enough to melt the old glue)
2) WD-40 (probably didnt work because of the dried vinyl from the stickers)
3) Lighter fuel (used after the hair dryer attempt but still could not remove them)
My last resource (and probably out of desperation) will be using a fine X-acto knife and start scratching the surface of the sticker.
Come on guys......let your ideas-experiences flow
Posted by Home Aside on 06/27/07 - 2:13 PM
#2
You have to be a little more specific as to what you are doing, are you removing old stickers from a plexiglass windshield, or are you talking about removing sticker graphics from the gelcoat of a boat?
The Word scratching sends shivers up me timbers.....
I am currently removing all graphics from my 1985 Revenge 22 WT so I can do a full hull rub out / Polishing and then new graphics and a good wax....I'm using a heat gun, as you have said a hair dryer doesn't have the oooommph, mine are coming off very easily and at most I've had to use my fingernails periodically to get a strip coming off the gelcoat.
I have been using a rag with mineral spirits (as lightly as possible) to take the excess glue off the gelcoat afterwards followed by a warm soapy washdown, and then a clean rinse.....
Pat
Posted by moose on 06/27/07 - 2:15 PM
#3
Some of the folks who restore really old fiberglass boats with fins and windshields use heat guns to bend and "remove" scratches and cracks from old plexiglass windshields. Maybe a heated sticker would come off with a widget.
Mike
Posted by robaguero on 06/27/07 - 2:22 PM
#4
Thanks for the quick reply home....im trying tu pull out the old stickers from the windshield. You are right on the dot, the hair dryer does not generate enough heat to pull them out easily.....i will try to get a heat gun.
Posted by danedg on 06/30/07 - 9:37 PM
#5
Try Acetone...it dissolves old adhesive and might not play hell with the plexi....try a little a little spot first....
Posted by ioptfm on 06/30/07 - 9:48 PM
#6
I saw that you used WD40.............I have always used that along with a very fine steel wool and it takes the paper and glue off.......Better be careful with the acetone......Have you ever heard of Goof Off? It is suposed to remove all sorts of paints, glue, etc, but I would test it on something similar first
Posted by Tom W Clark on 06/30/07 - 10:06 PM
#7
DO NOT USE ACETONE ON PLEXIGLAS! Acetone will destroy the surface of the PlexiGlas.
What sort of stickers are we talking about here? I have NEVER come across a decal or sticker that would not yield to a hair dryer or WD-40.
Do NOT use any metal device to scrape anything off of Plexiglas, it will scratch the surface. The human fingernail is very effective as a tool and just soft enough to not damage PlexiGlas. Once the sticker is substantially removed, the adhesive will be exposed and a *mild* solvent like WD-40 can be used to remove the residue.
Edited by Tom W Clark on 06/30/07 - 10:07 PM
Posted by MW on 07/01/07 - 1:21 AM
#8
Scratch ACK ! "Acetone" ?- It will absolutely "TOAST" the plexiglass to a beautiful melted smear FOR SURE ! (I've done it), try what I do, get a can of "PURE silicone spray (Hrdwr store). spray the silicone on the stickers, let it work for a min or two, then take a VERY dull scraper and work it softly, re-apply if neccessary. "WD-40" is oil mixed with silicone, "pure silicone spray" will melt the adhesive, WD-40 does'nt have the "PUNCH" needed (on really tough jobs). I used to be a "Paper cutter" a hundred years ago, the adhesive glue from cutting the glued stationary would get on the machinery blade after a while, and stick to everything, making a mess out of the "CUT", we would keep a can of "Pure silicone spray" on the machines, it would melt the glue off the blade like butter off a hot knife. Hope this help's, AND works ! Try some "Scotch bright" (plastic brillo pad) before the dull scrapper, to work it in
mw
Edited by MW on 07/01/07 - 1:30 AM
Posted by danedg on 07/10/07 - 3:34 PM
#9
OK...my bad...don't use Acetone!