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Vinyl (I assume) Number Removal

AJPope

AJPope

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Patron
Smart guys. I am trying to remove my existing numbers. I tried a heat gun on low and from several inches away. The first piece I could pull, took the white paint off and down to the metal. I also tried some Goo Gone without success. Any thoughts on what else to try? Thanks in advance.

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AJPope said:
Smart guys. I am trying to remove my existing numbers. I tried a heat gun on low and from several inches away. The first piece I could pull, took the white paint off and down to the metal. I also tried some Goo Gone without success. Any thoughts on what else to try? Thanks in advance.

View attachment 83292
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I pull vinyl off all the time after years of sun and salt abuse down here in FL. We use it to wrap our boats. Heat is your friend. Leave the plane in the direct sun and slowly start to pick at the corner. I only use a heat gun if we are having crappy weather. They make tools to help peel, but an old hotel room key or a longer finger nail works great. The fact that it is pulling paint, makes me wonder if it is actually vinyl lettering as opposed to a stencil paint job.
 
AJPope said:
Smart guys. I am trying to remove my existing numbers. I tried a heat gun on low and from several inches away. The first piece I could pull, took the white paint off and down to the metal. I also tried some Goo Gone without success. Any thoughts on what else to try? Thanks in advance.
Click to expand...
AJPope said:
Smart guys. I am trying to remove my existing numbers. I tried a heat gun on low and from several inches away. The first piece I could pull, took the white paint off and down to the metal. I also tried some Goo Gone without success. Any thoughts on what else to try? Thanks in advance.

View attachment 83292
Click to expand...
I recently removed all the vinyl stripes from the sides and wheel fairings on my RV-6, and tried all of the mentioned products. Finally a commercial wrapper give me the answer.

Get some clean white shop towels like you can find at HF in a bag, bucket of water, clothes iron.

Set the clothes iron on full hot, fully wet the rag, slightly wring out the rag, fold the rag so it is double thickness, apply the rag to the first area to work, then apply iron for 5-10 seconds steaming the old vinyl. Repeat the steam as needed until vinyl softens. Work in like 1 ft sections at a time steaming, and peeling vinyl. This will soften the vinyl, and the adhesive.

Second problem is removing the adhesive that is left behind. For this the best product I found is called Rapid Remover(Amazon). Using another dry clean towel pour Rapid Remover on the towel, wipe and keep wet an area of 1-2 ft. Keep the area wet for several minutes then start rubbing and cleaning off the adhesive. Also used plastic razor blades (Amazon) to help remove the softened adhesive.

My aircraft was painted with Imron, and always hangered. Paint still very good, and Rapid Remover was found to not damage my paint, but you should test first with your paint system before applying to larger area.
 
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Roger mentioned RapidTac Rapid Remover. My guys peeled acres of vinyl from truck bodies, and Rapid Remover was the good shizzz for the adhesive. I bought it in four gallon case lots.

Sorry, but peeling the paint means it probably isn't very well adhered. We were heating aluminum truck bodies to 150F from the inside with kerosene space heater, and using heat guns for door panels and the like. There's an easy way to gauge surface temperature with a gun...warm it and touch it. The threshold of pain is 140F ~ 150F for most folks. The new guys learn pretty quick...
 
RogerG said:
I recently removed all the vinyl stripes from the sides and wheel fairings on my RV-6, and tried all of the mentioned products. Finally a commercial wrapper give me the answer.

Get some clean white shop towels like you can find at HF in a bag, bucket of water, clothes iron.

Set the clothes iron on full hot, fully wet the rag, slightly wring out the rag, fold the rag so it is double thickness, apply the rag to the first area to work, then apply iron for 5-10 seconds steaming the old vinyl. Repeat the steam as needed until vinyl softens. Work in like 1 ft sections at a time steaming, and peeling vinyl. This will soften the vinyl, and the adhesive.

Second problem is removing the adhesive that is left behind. For this the best product I found is called Rapid Remover(Amazon). Using another dry clean towel pour Rapid Remover on the towel, wipe and keep wet an area of 1-2 ft. Keep the area wet for several minutes then start rubbing and cleaning off the adhesive. Also used plastic razor blades (Amazon) to help remove the softened adhesive.

My aircraft was painted with Imron, and always hangered. Paint still very good, and Rapid Remover was found to not damage my paint, but you should test first with your paint system before applying to larger area.
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Thank You X3. will try
 
DanH said:
Roger mentioned RapidTac Rapid Remover. My guys peeled acres of vinyl from truck bodies, and Rapid Remover was the good shizzz for the adhesive. I bought it in four gallon case lots.

Sorry, but peeling the paint means it probably isn't very well adhered. We were heating aluminum truck bodies to 150F from the inside with kerosene space heater, and using heat guns for door panels and the like. There's an easy way to gauge surface temperature with a gun...warm it and touch it. The threshold of pain is 140F ~ 150F for most folks. The new guys learn pretty quick...
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Thanks Dan!
 
AJPope said:
Smart guys. I am trying to remove my existing numbers. I tried a heat gun on low and from several inches away. The first piece I could pull, took the white paint off and down to the metal. I also tried some Goo Gone without success. Any thoughts on what else to try? Thanks in advance.

View attachment 83292
Click to expand...
Spruce has this. I have not used it, but it looks like it might do the job.
www.aircraftspruce.com

MBX Vinyl Zapper | Aircraft Spruce

MBX Vinyl Zapper Removal of elements such as vinyl decals & DOT tape from metal surfaces, fiberglass, plate glass, wood, aluminum, OEM paint finish.
www.aircraftspruce.com www.aircraftspruce.com
 
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