customer wants me to strip his 5-ton truck

[signmeup]

I just did a job like this on a giant fibre glass apple. It was gold metalic so old that the top lettering (in the worst sun) was little more than dirty glue. The rest was cracked into tiny squares. I used 3m adhesive cleaner and a dull 1.5" putty knife. It went fairly well. Funny thing was the lettering at the very bottom was in the best shape and I had to sand it off. The surface wasn't cracked so the remover couldn't get to the glue.

 

[TheSnowman]

I love the Vinyl Zapper, but I'm always afraid to use it on a vehicle. I had too many decent ones in here that can't be ruined. I've used it a ton of Alumalite though, and other substrates to get baked on stuff off of them. Anyone have before and after pics from using it, and what you used to clean off the eraser part?

 

[firesignz]

Zapper is the way to go

Had a van to remove - three layers of reflective vinyl installed in 1995 and brittle as anything. Tried all the usual routes and a few non-conventional (read - chemical) routes with poor results and wasted time.

Borrowed the snap on version of this tool from my buddy who has a body shop (he never even realized what the funny looking rubber wheel was for - they only used the wire wheels for frame work). His was air powered and a real match for my small compressor. After removing 6 letters in 5 minutes CLEANLY, I put the tool down and went online to order the electric MBX Zapper next day air.

When I got it in hand, I went at the van, cleaned off ALL lettering and adhesive (even with that metallic reflective dust in it) PERFECTLY and even buffed out the paint.

As far as cleaning off the dust left behind, foaming glass cleaner (non-ammonia of course) and a cloth rag - wipes right off with no residue.

I have also used it on a few de-commissioned pieces of fire apparatus and chiefs cars before being sold. Never had a vehicle yet that took me more than 2 hours (even the worst reflective striping and gold) - never once had a concern about using it on any vehicle regardless of age or type.

I have even had occasion to use it on a BRAND NEW BLACK FORD VAN after my assistant put on a VERY LARGE uh-oh. NO ISSUE WHATSOEVER.

Used it on my own boat and it burned a bit, but was being covered over again so no big deal. (I wouldn't use it on a customers boat though).

This was a tool WELL WORTH the money.

 

[Techman]

Steam pressure washer is the way to go.

I have removed hundreds of footage of vinyl with a steam presure washer.
FAST, and clean... EAsy.. the best way. No need for any fancy smancy wheels strippers etc.

 

[mikefine]

Do yourself a favor and farm it out to an auto detail shop.
They typically have the equipment and experience to do that type of work.

 

[andy]

we use a wallpaper steamer, you can rent or buy thats up to you...

it is not that bad...... works on all types of vinyl.... there will be some residue.....

we usually charge by the hour to remove old vinyl, you can give him a price, as we all

know, it always takes longer than we think...

+1

Those vinyl Zappers give me nightmares... modern automotive paints are water based and aren't as tough as they used to be.... a zapper is asking for trouble IMO.

Wall paper steamers are easy to use, kind on the paintwork, cheap to buy or rent and do a great job.....

 

[CentralSigns]

3M makes a small eraser tool for a drill. Works good and I was worried about paint scratching, but after use no scratches. It removed 10 yr old vinyl but used rapid remove for glues. I have also used an ice scraper and a heat gun together. Heat and scrape while hot, worked awesome on metallic chrome decals.

 

[AUTO-FX]

Andy, it should be ok - the clearcoat is still catalyzed urethane ( in the U.S. anyway) even when waterbase colorant(basecoat) is used. The thing with any of these friction tools is to limit the heat created.Also it's still less risky than pressure washing IMO. just my 2 from my experiences.

 

[Kottwitz-Graphics]

Vinyl zapper. A job like this will easily justify it's purchase. We rarely remove vinyl but our vinyl zapper is one of our favorite tools.

+1... I think dynabrade has one. I've used it in the past, and removal is a snap. You just can't use it on fiberglass, because it will turn the panel yellow, but on steel auto body panels, nothing beats it...