How to remove lettering?

[jayfarmlaw]

My 97 VIP has LARGE vinyl letters down the side of the boat that say "VIVA" It looks ok...but I dont really like it. I am fixing to poliglow the boat and would like to take them off before I do.<br /><br />Any tips or tricks on removing them and if you can still see the letters outline after removing them, how do you get rid of that?<br /><br />Thanks,<br /><br />Jay

 

[brownies]

Re: How to remove lettering?

Peel them off and use short bursts of laquer thinner with a cloth to get the glue off. (rub a little and stop, little at a time over and over).<br /><br />BUT, you will probably have fresh finish under there and it will show. Almost, if not Impossible to get it to go away. <br />The best I've ever done was to make stuff like this difficult to see up close, but, from half mile away....it was "VIVA"....plain as day.

 

[JB]

Re: How to remove lettering?

Hair dryer and a PLASTIC scraper. Should peel off easily.<br /><br />GOOF OFF is the best stuff to remove remaining adhesive.<br /><br />The ghost or shadow in the unoxidized gelcoat that remain can be eliminated by cleaning off all of the oxidation on the rest of the hull.<br /><br />I just removed huge lettering and registration numbers from my Whaler. Now to clean off the oxidation.

 

[waterone1@aol.com]

Re: How to remove lettering?

You can use a heat gun and a scraper, then follow up with Goof Off. Or you could take it to a fiberglass shop and have them remove it. The tool is expensive, but it will remove the lettering and the glue very quickly (shouldn't cost you very much).<br />Once the lettering is gone, compounding the area with rubbing compound and buffer MAY get rid of the difference, if not, it will require wet sanding, then buffing.

 

[Cptkid570]

Re: How to remove lettering?

You can rent a heat gun for like $6 a day at a tool rental shop.. Try the hair dryer first. Heat gun is like a real real hot hair dryer.

 

[Always Broke]

Re: How to remove lettering?

Just a quick word of caution, hope it’s not to late! Heat guns get very hot, hot enough to blister paint, gel coat too, use it wisely if you go that route heating it just enough to loosen the glue. .

 

[jayfarmlaw]

Re: How to remove lettering?

I was worried about nothing. I used my Pocketknife to gently get one edge up and the lettering peeled off with no problems. That worked well but I used a razor blade to get the rest started.<br /><br />Absolutely a non-event. I do have the "Shadow" but I will try to compund the boat before I Poliglow it. <br /><br />Thanks for the help,<br /><br />Jay

 

[brownies]

Re: How to remove lettering?

In order to be sure you got that shadow to go away, stand way way way way back from it. Many times that kind of shadow will disapear up close, but, be visible from far away.