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old cracked faded graphics. R&R is easier than thought.

SDcampowneroper
Explorer
Explorer
Our ''09 Carriage Cameo was looking poor several years ago. The graphics were fading and cracking. Another member was also searching for new graphics for his Carrilite, another Carriage line.
Together he and I found the auction purchaser of the graphics, which he ( a sign maker) with the plotter to make new graphics for any unit collaborated.
His unit when he visited and delivered our now set looked like a new penny.
I finally now have time and energy to tackle the job, after much research and advice have found the quickest easiest removal method. Forget most of utube, its hacks and not DIYs after your money.
on Amazon I found the rubber eraser wheels, good for some places especially on painted surfaces, A gallon of VINYL OFF will strip a 1/2 dozen rigs.
What you do is wipe on vinyl off, wipe up runs, dont let them get to painted parts, wait a bit, do it again. wait a bit , then with a single sided steel razor blade in a 8" long good holder with the blade at a very close angle to the work and 10-20 degrees angled to progression, so it wont cut into the gel coat, cut under the vinyl with some pressure near the blade. Change the blade regularly. use only 1/2 of the blade width each pass to get a clean removal easily. Do not rush the job!
Then, apply another coat of vinyl off, wait until it firms up, not runny. then scape away the adhesive,wiping the excess onto a paper towel regularly. There will still be some adhesive you can see in the 'shadow' where the graphics were. reapply, scrape, wipe then with a clean disposable terry cloth damp with lacquer thinner. Wash down thouroughly with soapy water to get runs and will show any missed adhesive.
Now use Meguires. 67 compound with an auto body polisher to remove oxidation and restore shine. This has been a much faster less intensive project than first imagined. A 36' wall in a day.
Next post application when I get there. Stay tuned, same bat channel, same time Do I hear a BIFF!
With pms I can direct you to the sign maker
12 REPLIES 12

noteven
Explorer III
Explorer III
SDcampowneroperator wrote:
noteven wrote:
SDcampowneroperator wrote:
Our ''09 Carriage Cameo was looking poor several years ago. The graphics were fading and cracking. Another member was also searching for new graphics for his Carrilite, another Carriage line.
Together he and I found the auction purchaser of the graphics, which he ( a sign maker) with the plotter to make new graphics for any unit collaborated.
His unit when he visited and delivered our now set looked like a new penny.
I finally now have time and energy to tackle the job, after much research and advice have found the quickest easiest removal method. Forget most of utube, its hacks and not DIYs after your money.
on Amazon I found the rubber eraser wheels, good for some places especially on painted surfaces, A gallon of VINYL OFF will strip a 1/2 dozen rigs.
What you do is wipe on vinyl off, wipe up runs, dont let them get to painted parts, wait a bit, do it again. wait a bit , then with a single sided steel razor blade in a 8" long good holder with the blade at a very close angle to the work and 10-20 degrees angled to progression, so it wont cut into the gel coat, cut under the vinyl with some pressure near the blade. Change the blade regularly. use only 1/2 of the blade width each pass to get a clean removal easily. Do not rush the job!
Then, apply another coat of vinyl off, wait until it firms up, not runny. then scape away the adhesive,wiping the excess onto a paper towel regularly. There will still be some adhesive you can see in the 'shadow' where the graphics were. reapply, scrape, wipe then with a clean disposable terry cloth damp with lacquer thinner. Wash down thouroughly with soapy water to get runs and will show any missed adhesive.
Now use Meguires. 67 compound with an auto body polisher to remove oxidation and restore shine. This has been a much faster less intensive project than first imagined. A 36' wall in a day.
Next post application when I get there. Stay tuned, same bat channel, same time Do I hear a BIFF!
With pms I can direct you to the sign maker


Is the vinyl off product made by CrystalTek?

Thanks
Yes made by crystal tech, Atlanta Ga. A little goes a long long way. I wont use more than a pint to strip my unit softens vinyl to make it easier to scrape off, eats adhesive in a minute. But give it 5 to 10 to thicken so it isnt runny. Then you wipe your gummy blade off onto a paper towel regularly so it doesnt drip.
Its thin as water, runny will damage painted parts. use only on fg gel coat surfaces. Plastic scraper blades do work on removal, just not as well as steel. Alittle practice with a steel blade when used as I describe at an angle to work wont hurt the gel coat are much faster and remove more than the plastic blades. I have them also. to me now mostly a waste of money, but one I had to try. They do work. for some places. Technique is the secret to success and ease with steel blades. Blade angle to work progression angle to work, amount of vinly removed to each work pass.


Thanks - I have ordered some.

I have a 2007 Carriage C-Force with desert sun wrecked vinyl. One would think the black graphics would be totally welded to the surface at the sub molecular level, but suprise - they have been coming off using "careful heat gun gentle scraping" conventional technique.

The cracked and broken and junky kinda faded red ones - now they are a different story...

SDcampowneroper
Explorer
Explorer
noteven wrote:
SDcampowneroperator wrote:
Our ''09 Carriage Cameo was looking poor several years ago. The graphics were fading and cracking. Another member was also searching for new graphics for his Carrilite, another Carriage line.
Together he and I found the auction purchaser of the graphics, which he ( a sign maker) with the plotter to make new graphics for any unit collaborated.
His unit when he visited and delivered our now set looked like a new penny.
I finally now have time and energy to tackle the job, after much research and advice have found the quickest easiest removal method. Forget most of utube, its hacks and not DIYs after your money.
on Amazon I found the rubber eraser wheels, good for some places especially on painted surfaces, A gallon of VINYL OFF will strip a 1/2 dozen rigs.
What you do is wipe on vinyl off, wipe up runs, dont let them get to painted parts, wait a bit, do it again. wait a bit , then with a single sided steel razor blade in a 8" long good holder with the blade at a very close angle to the work and 10-20 degrees angled to progression, so it wont cut into the gel coat, cut under the vinyl with some pressure near the blade. Change the blade regularly. use only 1/2 of the blade width each pass to get a clean removal easily. Do not rush the job!
Then, apply another coat of vinyl off, wait until it firms up, not runny. then scape away the adhesive,wiping the excess onto a paper towel regularly. There will still be some adhesive you can see in the 'shadow' where the graphics were. reapply, scrape, wipe then with a clean disposable terry cloth damp with lacquer thinner. Wash down thouroughly with soapy water to get runs and will show any missed adhesive.
Now use Meguires. 67 compound with an auto body polisher to remove oxidation and restore shine. This has been a much faster less intensive project than first imagined. A 36' wall in a day.
Next post application when I get there. Stay tuned, same bat channel, same time Do I hear a BIFF!
With pms I can direct you to the sign maker


Is the vinyl off product made by CrystalTek?

Thanks
Yes made by crystal tech, Atlanta Ga. A little goes a long long way. I wont use more than a pint to strip my unit softens vinyl to make it easier to scrape off, eats adhesive in a minute. But give it 5 to 10 to thicken so it isnt runny. Then you wipe your gummy blade off onto a paper towel regularly so it doesnt drip.
Its thin as water, runny will damage painted parts. use only on fg gel coat surfaces. Plastic scraper blades do work on removal, just not as well as steel. Alittle practice with a steel blade when used as I describe at an angle to work wont hurt the gel coat are much faster and remove more than the plastic blades. I have them also. to me now mostly a waste of money, but one I had to try. They do work. for some places. Technique is the secret to success and ease with steel blades. Blade angle to work progression angle to work, amount of vinly removed to each work pass.

noteven
Explorer III
Explorer III
SDcampowneroperator wrote:
Our ''09 Carriage Cameo was looking poor several years ago. The graphics were fading and cracking. Another member was also searching for new graphics for his Carrilite, another Carriage line.
Together he and I found the auction purchaser of the graphics, which he ( a sign maker) with the plotter to make new graphics for any unit collaborated.
His unit when he visited and delivered our now set looked like a new penny.
I finally now have time and energy to tackle the job, after much research and advice have found the quickest easiest removal method. Forget most of utube, its hacks and not DIYs after your money.
on Amazon I found the rubber eraser wheels, good for some places especially on painted surfaces, A gallon of VINYL OFF will strip a 1/2 dozen rigs.
What you do is wipe on vinyl off, wipe up runs, dont let them get to painted parts, wait a bit, do it again. wait a bit , then with a single sided steel razor blade in a 8" long good holder with the blade at a very close angle to the work and 10-20 degrees angled to progression, so it wont cut into the gel coat, cut under the vinyl with some pressure near the blade. Change the blade regularly. use only 1/2 of the blade width each pass to get a clean removal easily. Do not rush the job!
Then, apply another coat of vinyl off, wait until it firms up, not runny. then scape away the adhesive,wiping the excess onto a paper towel regularly. There will still be some adhesive you can see in the 'shadow' where the graphics were. reapply, scrape, wipe then with a clean disposable terry cloth damp with lacquer thinner. Wash down thouroughly with soapy water to get runs and will show any missed adhesive.
Now use Meguires. 67 compound with an auto body polisher to remove oxidation and restore shine. This has been a much faster less intensive project than first imagined. A 36' wall in a day.
Next post application when I get there. Stay tuned, same bat channel, same time Do I hear a BIFF!
With pms I can direct you to the sign maker


Is the vinyl off product made by CrystalTek?

Thanks

SDcampowneroperator wrote:
BobsYourUncle wrote:
Pics!! Pics!
I'd love to see the results.

The graphics on my Tango are looking pretty shabby and I'd like to tackle replacing them too. I found a source for them, I think it was about $1700. CDN for the whole set.

BIFF!! :B

Bob, get mine for $200 US from this maker
Max

Thank you, that is substantially better, even with the dollar difference. I need to follow up on that.
2007 GMC 3500 dually ext. cab 4X4 LBZ Dmax/Allison - 2007 Pacific Coachworks Tango 306RLSS
RV Rebuild Website - Site launched Aug 22, 2021 - www.rv-rebuild.com

SDcampowneroper
Explorer
Explorer
BobsYourUncle wrote:
Pics!! Pics!
I'd love to see the results.

The graphics on my Tango are looking pretty shabby and I'd like to tackle replacing them too. I found a source for them, I think it was about $1700. CDN for the whole set.

BIFF!! :B

Bob, get mine for $200 US from this maker
Max

Grit_dog
Navigator
Navigator
^ Interesting.
I've always used old fashioned single edge steel razor blades. Some heat form a heat gun or torch and scrape 'em off.
Just stripped a whole pickup truck of 35 year old paint the same way.
2016 Ram 2500, MotorOps.ca EFIlive tuned, 5โ€ turbo back, 6" lift on 37s
2017 Heartland Torque T29 - Sold.
Couple of Arctic Fox TCs - Sold

GMH
Explorer
Explorer
SDcampowneroperator wrote:
bobsallyh wrote:
Do you think a plastic razor blade would also work?
No the plastic blades are just OK for scraping some of the the adhesive.

A heat gun or hair dryer and plastic scraper blades WILL take all the vinyl and 95% of the adhesive off with ZERO chance of gouging the gelcoat. Some 3M adhesive remover and elbow grease gets the remaining glue off. These are what I used. They donโ€™t last long, but theyโ€™re cheap.:)

noteven
Explorer III
Explorer III
Hi SD -

Is the product:

"A gallon of VINYL OFF will strip a 1/2 dozen rigs."

made by CrystalTek?

Thanks

SDcampowneroper
Explorer
Explorer
BobsYourUncle wrote:
Pics!! Pics!
I'd love to see the results.

The graphics on my Tango are looking pretty shabby and I'd like to tackle replacing them too. I found a source for them, I think it was about $1700. CDN for the whole set.

BIFF!! :B
Member signmaker with the graphics to match just about anything he is a member in Iowa. Out of respect to his privacy, I will not name him , will forward legitimate requests. His prices were 1/4 of what you werequoted for ORACAL graphics with a 30 year warranty.
Go back into my posts to read about it. key word ' deleted . Please do not contact him directly. he is a private person with many irons in the fire, A personal request from me could get you a response.

SDcampowneroper
Explorer
Explorer
bobsallyh wrote:
Do you think a plastic razor blade would also work?
No the plastic blades are just OK for scraping some of the the adhesive.

Pics!! Pics!
I'd love to see the results.

The graphics on my Tango are looking pretty shabby and I'd like to tackle replacing them too. I found a source for them, I think it was about $1700. CDN for the whole set.

BIFF!! :B
2007 GMC 3500 dually ext. cab 4X4 LBZ Dmax/Allison - 2007 Pacific Coachworks Tango 306RLSS
RV Rebuild Website - Site launched Aug 22, 2021 - www.rv-rebuild.com

bobsallyh
Explorer II
Explorer II
Do you think a plastic razor blade would also work?