How to remove bumper sticker from painted surface?

[NormanBuntz]

I have a very thin applique that's been on my truck tailgate for 8 years, and I can't figure out how to remove it without hurting the paint finish. I've tried a blow dryer and Goof Off with no luck. It's not a traditional bumper sticker made out of paper. It's more of a plastic applique with some areas cut out around the letters. It's about 1.5 inches by 7 inches. It's very thin, but it's still raised a little to the feel.

Suggestions please?

 

[earlyre]

goof off should work, but can easily damage your clear coat.

goo gone + soak time + soft plastic scraper.

 

[ALR]

I just use a fingernail to get it started and peel off, then if any adhesive is left on surface I use lighter fluid on a paper towel to rub off.

 

[Mr Nice]

Lighter fluid or WD40 to remove the glue.

 

[JHZR2]

can you get an edge with a razor blade?

Can you gently break the surface with a razor (dangerous but would help solvent access more adhesive).

 

[DuckRyder]

Is it something you could get a piece of fishing line behind?

 

[NormanBuntz]

Thanks for the replies. This thing is very hard, brittle and thin. It's been in the NC sun for 8 years. That's why I tried to soften it with a blow dryer. No luck. Can't use a razor blade without damaging the paint.

If soaking is the best idea to soften up, what's the best product to use?

 

[69GTX]

May not be any better but I've had good luck with hot air dryer (out in the warm sun), baby oil/rubbing alcohol that is pretty good for removal old tail stripe decals. It's a slow process, especially if it comes off in small pieces. If it's been on there for more than a couple of years the paint is probably faded a bit around it.

Lots of good links on the internet showing different methods/materials.

 

[OneEyeJack]

Add soak time to whatever method you try, lots of soak time. Be patient.

 

[Nick1994]

This is what we use in the body shops to remove decals, double sided sticky tape from door moldings, and the residue from underneath emblems.

It's an eraser wheel. Hook it up to your drill and use the edge of it and go back and forth over the whole thing, DONT stay in one spot for more than a second, it'll burn through the paint, you have to keep moving back and forth evenly, it would take probably 10-15 seconds to get it off with one of these.

 

[NormanBuntz]

Originally Posted By: Nick1994
This is what we use in the body shops to remove decals, double sided sticky tape from door moldings, and the residue from underneath emblems.

It's an eraser wheel. Hook it up to your drill and use the edge of it and go back and forth over the whole thing, DONT stay in one spot for more than a second, it'll burn through the paint, you have to keep moving back and forth evenly, it would take probably 10-15 seconds to get it off with one of these.

Thanks for the tip. I guess my sticker is actually a decal with some letters cut out, not a traditional bumper sticker. Hoping this eraser wheel works---found one on eBay.

 

[Nick1994]

Also as a heads up, it feels and smells exactly like a pencil eraser, and it's going to throw eraser rubber all over the place, it'll clean off afterwards though. Probably wax the area afterwards.

 

[SatinSilver]

Label and Sticker Remover:

http://www.walmart.com/ip/Turtle-Wax-Mul...dingMethod=p13n

Saw it at WM last week.

 

[Robenstein]

I have had good luck with a blowdryer and PLASTIC razor blades.

 

[GMBoy]

Originally Posted By: SatinSilver
Label and Sticker Remover:

http://www.walmart.com/ip/Turtle-Wax-Mul...dingMethod=p13n

Saw it at WM last week.



THAT STUFF WORKS! I removed several bumper stickers from a friends new/used car. Spray it on...wait a minute and peel.

 

[donnyj08]

Originally Posted By: Nick1994
This is what we use in the body shops to remove decals, double sided sticky tape from door moldings, and the residue from underneath emblems.

It's an eraser wheel. Hook it up to your drill and use the edge of it and go back and forth over the whole thing, DONT stay in one spot for more than a second, it'll burn through the paint, you have to keep moving back and forth evenly, it would take probably 10-15 seconds to get it off with one of these.

This is the most efficient way I know of. very hot water and vinegar will work as well unless the sticker is a very high quality one.

 

[Snoman002]

The eraser wheel is supposed to be the cars meow.

I recently had to remove some ancient window tint adhesive and PB Blaster was amazing, it also soaked into some stickers better than anything else I tried. Not sure how rough it is on paint however.

 

[shinyWheels]

Yes the erase wheel works. You can find it on Amazon. I used that plus the rapid remover.

Eraser

Rapid Remover

I had some stickers I need to remove and this combo worked like a charm. You can get nearly 95% of it off using the eraser. Wherever there's some gooey residue left, you can spray the rapid remover on which cuts the glue and wipes off clean.

Just be careful using the eraser on plastic surfaces. It burns through in a hurry.

 

[Tdbo]

WD40, a snow scraper, and some careful manipulating.

 

[NormanBuntz]

Originally Posted By: Nick1994
This is what we use in the body shops to remove decals, double sided sticky tape from door moldings, and the residue from underneath emblems.

It's an eraser wheel. Hook it up to your drill and use the edge of it and go back and forth over the whole thing, DONT stay in one spot for more than a second, it'll burn through the paint, you have to keep moving back and forth evenly, it would take probably 10-15 seconds to get it off with one of these.

I bought this exact eraser pad and followed the product instructions. It didn't work. The decal feels smoother now so the eraser may have removed the top textured layer but that's all. I figure the decal is too hardened after 8 years in the Carolina sun. Any other recommendations???