Not as sun faded. Another method is to buy a pin stripe removal wheel. Grind the gelcoat away from the fiberglass using a grinder and 36-grit griding discs on a soft grinding pad. Any content, information, or advice found on social media platforms and the wider Internet, including forums such as YBW, should NOT be acted upon unless checked against a reliable, authoritative source, and re-checked, particularly where personal health and liberty is at stake. Applying heat to the decal anywhere from a few seconds to a few minutes (depending on the air temperature) warms it up enough to be removed more easily. Take a closer look at those graphical designs and start feeling for ridges. I ask about Goo Gone removing 5200, because one of my uses of acetone has been to remove such - especially from gel coat. Re: Best way to remove old boat stripes decals? Answer Save. The previous owner has some decals on the side that I have since removed with a little help from a heat gun. Favorite Answer. How do I know if I have a clear coat or a gel coat? I would appreciate a less harmful cleanser/solvent to remove very stubborn stuff. Once I had removed all the decals I liberally applied the Goo Gone, letting it soak in, then gently used the plastic scraper to remove the majority of the adhesive. I plan to remove the residue with goo gone, but you can obviously still see the discoloration from where the decals used to be. In the video, Wade uses a simple fiberglass restorer to improve the finish of the model RV’s fiberglass. Hold the hair dryer a couple of inches away from the decal and start by keeping it aimed at the center for a few seconds. Uses of fiberglass include surfboards, kayaks, automobiles and boats. Using a hair dryer or a heat gun, heat the vinyl until it becomes soft and pliable. Use a solvent to remove any remaining adhesive. Step 3 Scrub the entire area with detergent and then rinse with clean water. If your boat has some tough gel coat stains, don't let them ruin your day. When the decal is removed, the underlying gelcoat will still have the original, unfaded color. Method 1: Remove Gel Coat Oxidation From Your RV by Hand Buffing In this video, Wade Weiss from Wade Maid , demonstrates how to rejuvenate your dull and oxidized gel coat by hand. (Be very careful when using a heat gun as they have the power to blister gelcoat.) Generally, one quick way to tell is by looking at the RV’s graphics. It could also lead to unintentional … 3M rubbing compound was recommended for the task by Truck Camper Warehouse. Acetone is extremely toxic. Removing decals is much the same process as removing stickers except you’re not likely to be able to peel it up. Use common household solvents to remove glue and adhesives from fiberglass. Over the years I've seen boat owners attempt to remove damaged stripes with razor blades. Do make sure it is indeed painted on there, as it's very rare these days. I've tried Gelcoat > cleaner, Isopropyl Alcohol, hot water. If that's the case, you can't remove it, you need to bring the rest of the hull "back" to match. Spray it on the exposed adhesive, wait a few minutes and wipe away the residue with a sponge or plastic squeegee. Use heat to remove it. Start with a hair dryer or heat gun. Apply heat with a hair dryer to loosen the adhesive. So, then your faced with either living with the nonmatching gelcoat- or … Put on gloves Fold paper towel into quarters Soak paper towel with adhesive remover Wet a large area of adhesive (maybe a foot square) A few years ago I removed vinyl decals from the sides of a boat. However, if you are on a tight budget, you certainly need the help of a trustworthy oxidation remover. Wipes it right off in a few seconds. Removing Your Camper’s Decals We started by loosened the decals. It usually has two colors: cream-colored or white. One thing to keep in mind when removing vinyl off of gelcoat is that your gelcoat has most likely faded due to UV exposure. 1 decade ago. a large decal is a-fixed to the back of my boat. A combination of fiberglass material and gel coat covered outside is the most popular type of RV. It is often applied vinyl decals with lettering or stripping patterns. Parking the RV so that the decals are in direct sunlight for a few hours will make your job much easier. Heat the decal with a hair dryer or heat gun. The warmer the air is when you try this project, the easier it is to peel! In some stubborn cases, application of moderate heat, hot but not to the point of burning skin, will soften the decal and cause a reduction of adhesive bond. If you don't want to take the boat to a company, then you can try for yourself. Decals and stickers are often applied to the surface of such fiberglass surfaces to add decoration and personalization. Derrick S. Lv 7. Stickers and decals leave behind a sticky glue-like adhesive when removed. Fiberglass Gel Coat RV. As it ages, fiberglass oxidizes and loses its gloss, regardless of waxing. Remove the decals revealing "virgin" (non-faded) gelcoat. Goo is gone but the base fiberglass-gelcoat is cleaner, whiter where the letter used to be. To remove stubborn sticker residue on glass or plastic objects, I recommend soaking the glass or plastic in a solution of warm water and washing soda for 30 minutes. My advice, having never used this on gelcoat, is to make sure you remove any surface chalking, and the instructions say up to 4 coats may be required. This process was similar to using a safety razor to remove paint from a glass window. 6 Answers. Seek professional advice/confirmation before acting on such at all times. Remove decals from fiberglass with vinegar and paper towels. Lenny: There we go. Plug in your hair dryer and put it on the hot setting. How to Remove Decals. Simply slather the sticker with oil and then soak a rag in oil. "The biggest problem with these RV's is the fact that gel coat oxidizes so easily and it is virtually impossible to polish or wax the gel coat without getting that polish or wax on the decals" As boats get older, the decals and striping tape start to peel and crack. I tried rubbing compound with an electric buffer and good wax to no avail, ended up wet sanding with soapy water and 1200 grit. Due to the manufacturing processes, clear-coated RVs usually have the graphics painted onto their surfaces, and gel-coated fiberglass will use decals. Within 12 hours, the paint will be simple to remove through the use of a pressure washer and a brush. By using the proper cleaning ingredients to remove the decals from the start, you will get rid of both the decal and any adhesive without damaging the fiberglass. > Would any of the aforementioned products be able to remove varnish from a white gel-coat? Scraping away the decal in an attempt to remove it can leave residue behind. Heat can help persuade off a stubborn decal. Now, she's gleaming from stem to stern. How can I remove without hurting the gelcoat surface? Re: decal "ghost shadow" Can you post pics? It's bacially a large rubber easer wheel that you mount in your cordless drill. After removing lettering, spray any glue residue with Rapid Remover and let it penetrate for 30-60 seconds. Once you have removed the decal, you will need a solvent to remove the trace adhesive. I do not know of anything better, cheaper or safer for the gel coat. If you want to restore your boat or your RV to its former glory, you need to include Meguiar’s Heavy Duty Oxidation Remover t… Hi all I am trying to remove a boat name painted on the top of gelcoat. This is the wrong way. I think a heat gun works on newer ones but not sure about 18 year old decals. The hull was recently waxed prior to removal of the decals and is in good shape otherwise. The task of removing discoloration and other deep-seated stains is an expensive one. After many years outdoors, an RV's fiberglass outer skin will inevitably start to look a little bit faded. remove decal from boat gelcoat? Watch How to Restore Faded Gel Coat on a Boat. Grab hold and pull gently. Relevance. Using a vinyl chipper/scraper or your finger, lift a corner of the vinyl and pull up while maintaining heat on that area. Repeat step 2 until all of the vinyl has been removed from the area. Anyone got any ideas? Any recommendations of a good way to remove them without sanding or damaging the gel coat. Once this was completed, we used a safety razor blade almost flat to the camper to carefully scrape off the decals. > fairly unsightly but attempts to remove have left a residue of glue on the > gelcoat that seems to resist all efforts to shift it. You’ll have to resort to using a plastic razor blade to lift it off of the paint. Lay the oily rag over the sticker, wait an hour or so, then gently wipe or scrape off the sticker and residue. The best way to remove is with a heat gun to soften the decal first then peel with a plastic scraper. It is possible to scrape it off with a plastic scraper to avoid damaging the fiberglass but a very, very slow process. Rapid Remover works fast without causing damage to most surfaces. Probably different with car finishes, but base coat clear is … Gently slide a plastic razor blade under the decal as the adhesive softens. After you warm up the decals, use a razor to lift a corner edge. REMINDER - COVID-19. You cannot use the removal disc to lift nameplates; a heat gun is the only thing that will work. ... Back in the day before decals, the professional sign (name) painters all used Easy Off Oven Cleaner. Gel Coat RV's w/ Decals: Since these are the most common type of RV's due to their more entry level cost, I will address these type of RV's. 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