Removing 3m vinyl wrap

[rsaf1947]

My wife and I spent the day working on our 2003 Holiday Rambler Scepter's front vinyl protective wrap trying to remove it. It has gotten the ugly cracks and some areas that are lifted alittle. Saw in Motorhome magazine a recommend product for removal called Crystaltek. We worked very hard and used a heat gun and got no where fast. The top layer comes off with alot of scraping, but leaves a thick layer of glue which we fought with their other product Adhesive-Off that was supposed to get the adhesive residue off. No luck there either. HAS ANYONE FOUND SOMETHING THAT DOES WORK TO GET RID OF THIS STUFF OR DO WE GET IT DONE PROFESSIONALLY $$$$$$??
We don't mind some elbow grease but this is just horrible. I am planning on calling 3M tomorrow to see if they have any products out there that takes their stuff off!

[dad4papa2]

Sorry that should read Wichita Kansas

[dad4papa2]

I posted this sometime last year but can't seem to find it now.

I did my 96Damon last year. I ended up trying the 3M eraser wheel for my variable speed drill.. Take your time and as stated above do not go fast. The slower you can go at a steady pace works great. Do not push real hard thinking it will work better, this will only make your wheel get out of round real quick. This wheel will make your Jobso easy that you will want to do the neighbors.

NOW FOR THE BEST PART---- find and locate a dealer for a product called Solv-it. A company called BG Products Inc. out of Wi hits Kansa distributes it. I found a dealer in Missori that handles it. 3 years ago it was $9.95 a can.can is 32 oz and goes along way. This product is used for professional use of cleaning vehicle exterior body surfaces and works very well on the adhesive glue. You will be amazed . It still takes a little elbow grease but once you use it you will always hay a can at your finger tips.

Do a google omit and shouldbe able to find it on Internet somewhere. The part # you want is 852. If it is still active there is a website www.bgprod.com.

I am in no way affiliated with this company or product but will never be without it.

Hope this helps.

Dad

[JTHarley]

I am going to attempt this when we are in Florida this winter….I was told by a 3M installer that we should try a commercial steam gun, a plastic scraper (got that on amazon with 20 blades) and then use either WD-40 or goof off to take the rest of the glue off.

I am planning on this taking about a week but what the heck…it beats paying $70 per hour at a dealer to have it removed. Most of the people I've talked to who have been successful said it took about 15-20 hours to take it off the front of the motorhome. I would NEVER add 3m or diamond shield to a motorhome. If you are worried about chips and rocks simply put on a breathable bra when driving and then take it off once you get to your destination.

[PFGuil49]

I removed the 3m film from the front of my 2005 Holiday Rambler Endeavor this summer. It developed the ugly cracks and mold had started growing under the film. I purchased a 3m eraser wheel and went to work. Once you find the proper wheel speed (not to fast because the glue will stick to it) and pressure to apply, then it’s a matter of time. It took me 3 day for a total of ~30 hours but the front of my RV looks brand new now. I used mineral spirits to clean up the excess glue that didn’t come off with the eraser wheel. I had one little spot where the paint peeled off but this was before I found the right pressure to apply and wheel speed. So grab your favorite beverage and let the 3m eraser wheel do the work for you.

Fitz

[smlranger]

I want to eventually remove my Diamond Shield but have hesitated.

Recently, I spoke to a fellow at an RV park in Myrtle Beach with a Mountain Aire with some pretty nasty looking 3M film on his coach. I watched him work on it some every day for about 4 days. He simply used some plastic chisels he got from Harbor Freight. He started at an edge and scraped off the film which left the sticky adhesive. He used Goof Off on the adhesive. The paint looked absolutely new in places where he had removed the film.

[rsaf1947]

rheavn wrote:
rsaf1947--did you try any of the methods or products suggested? What did 3M suggest? Did you just give up?

see my post at end of this list of posts. haven't given up totally, but for this year, yeah. Weather is getting too chilly to work outside on it.

[rsaf1947]

acker1 wrote:
Looking forward to 3M's answer. I finally gave up on mine.

DICK

3M basically said to use the citrus based remover, which we know already didn't do the job. I contacted a local rv dealer, Avalon, and spoke with the body shop foreman. They just had finished doing a coach with the same problem. Well over 40 hours of labor and about a total of $4k and some painting necessary after removal. We will wait until spring and try it again ourselves. If all else fails, will put a breathable bra on the front and call it a day. Yikes!!!

[kdk]

OK, for you guys having a problem removing the adhesive, I found a product that works. Simply spray it on the adhesive after the film is removed, wait about a minute, the using a plastic spatula (the type used for auto body filler application) and scrape it off. The adhesive turns into a gel and simply wipes right off. Two applications may be required and maybe some wiping with a cloth to clean up but it does work. I was a little apprehensive when buying it @ $28.00 a bottle but they assured me it works and it did. I have also removed road tar and bugs from the finish as well. This worked great on my 3m film but would probably do just as good on Diamond shield. I called the company and they said they could ship it any where in the US. Here's the info
"Wyricks Sticky Substance Remover"
Wyrick Company, 401 W Washington Ave., Zeeland, Michigan 49464
(616) 772-6800"
This was worth every penny and feel confident it will work for you as well. You can also buy the spatula from them.
Blessings; KDK

[noteven]

Good idea to check with 3M about removal.

Our AZ sun damaged decals project - test run - the sort of red/magenta/ugly cracked decals - the colored layer comes off and leaves the glue. Citrus cleaner removes the glue. Detergent and warm water removes the citrus residue. Beer in shade. Repeat.

- the black decals (operating at what 500deg more in the desert sun?) are hardly damaged, peel off with a small amount of heat carefully applied. Go figger.

- I bought a 3M eraser wheel for clean up operations but haven't used it yet.

[Rascally_Road_W]

First of all, the clear film that is installed on the fronts of RVs is not the same as the vinyl graphics installed on many gel-coated RVs... these are two different products. CrystalTek is designed for vinyl graphics, not for the clear shield such as "Diamond Shield" or "3M Clear Shield".

Many companies use steam to remove these products while others have different methods. When this stuff starts to crack, it becomes very time consuming and with a lot of patience can take you several days. In most cases (not all), there's a good chance that some of the paint underneath could be lifted.

[rheavn]

rsaf1947--did you try any of the methods or products suggested? What did 3M suggest? Did you just give up?

[acker1]

Looking forward to 3M's answer. I finally gave up on mine.

DICK

[rsaf1947]

The product we used, Crystaltek says to use heat and even suggests using the sun to help heat the unit up. Tried mineral spirits, MEK, and still didn't help it. I will try the other stuff and still will call on 3M for their suggested method. Should not be this difficult.

We did try pulling but it just breaks off in tiny pieces if at all. I am guessing this wrap has been on the coach for a good ten years and has seen alot of sunshine in that time and has baked on good.

[chastho]

Using a heat gun makes the glue stick to MH. I removed mine with very little glue to remove by just starting at a corner and pulling a little at a time. I did it in the shade because the sun make the glue stick. The glue I had to remove was easy by using wd-40 on a rag. it wiped right off. try it without the heat and see if it comes off cleaner and easier.