Removing Decals

wyomingben · Feb 24, 2003

I have removed some decals from my Fiberglass boat. I hear a rubbing compond will help blend the finish so the outline of old decals will not show. So I went to 3m website to see what they have hear are all that where listed 3M Finesse-It II Finishing Material Designed for use on O.E.M. and fully cured automotive paints, can remove grade 1500 sand scratches and removes swirl marks after compounding, while leaving a glazed finish. 3M Imperial Microfinishing Compound Specially formulated medium cut compound. For removal of microfine grade 1200, 1500 or 2000 sand scratches in automotive paints including clear coat finishes. Available in either liquid or paste form. 3M Imperial Ultrafinishing Compound Aggressive cutting paste compound. Use on refinished acrylic lacquer, to remove 3M Ultra Fine 1000 sand scratches. 3M Perfect-It II Rubbing Compounds Specially designed medium-cutting compound for removing grade 1200, 1500 and 2000 color sanding scratches in automotive paints including clear coats. Unique formulation. Produces minimal compound swirl marks while buffing to a high gloss. 3M Perfect-It III Extra Cut Rubbing Compound Aggressive cream compound for tough, hard low VOC clear coats that leaves a fine finish. In the event that you miss your buffing window and the clear becomes extremely hard, this is the recommended compound. 3M Perfect-It III Rubbing Compound Superior compound that completely removes sand scratches while leaving an ultra fine finish. Available in quarts and gallons. 3M Super Duty Rubbing Compound Aggressive compound. Remains wet on the job with little or no mess. Maintains high rate of cut with constant pressure. Buffs to high gloss with minimum of swirl marks. Can be used by hand or machine. I know I want to use the minimum that is needed, but there are so many. Which one would you all recomend?

wazzu98 · Feb 24, 2003

Re: Removing Decals

Not exactly sure what product it was, but yesterday I was picking up some Heavy Duty 3M Cleaner to remove oxidation from my boat and I noticed a decal remover. Not sure what company made it (3M I think) and I don't know if it works, but worth a try. It was in the marine section at my local Wal-Mart! Good Luck

snapperbait · Feb 24, 2003

Re: Removing Decals

Perfect-it II would be my first choice and would probably be just right... Super Duty if it's being difficult... 3M products are the greatist...

JAZZedBW · Feb 24, 2003

Re: Removing Decals

I am not sure of what you mean. If you were to take of decals like stickers, just use a hair dryer and peel them off. JAZZ

ob1jeeper · Feb 24, 2003

Re: Removing Decals

Any of the medium to heavy cutting action compounds will work. The courser the buffing material, the less work will be required, HOWEVER ... ESPECIALLY if you're going to use a mechanical buffing wheel, take it slowly and use LIGHT pressure, letting the wheel to the work, or else you could easily "burn through" the finish, making a mess out of what you're trying to improve on... If you don not have much experience using a buffing wheel on painted surfaces, I'd suggest you get the coursest (heaviest cutting action) compound readily availabe to you (any parts house that sells automotive paints carry this stuff), and do the rubbing by hand. In the long run it's the safest, and least chancy way of getting the results you're after... Good Luck, Obiwan Jeeper

Fly Rod · Feb 24, 2003

Re: Removing Decals

I too used only a hair drier on decals that were onthe boat for three years

Whaler Proud · Feb 25, 2003

Re: Removing Decals

I removed decals from my boat last summer and had the same problem. The outline was actually glue residue (I used the hair dryer trick) so I sprayed some WD-40 on the glue and rubbed it off. I then followed this with some polishing compound (Maguire's since it was in the garage) to bring the shine back.

wyomingben · Feb 26, 2003

Re: Removing Decals

Well I got the old decals off no problem with a heat gun, the deal is, is they have been on there since the boat was new in 1980, you can see and FEEL the where the old edges of the decals are. I got some 3m Perfect II and rubbed on it with a mechanical buffing wheel, it did help a little but I have a long way to go and I fear I may ruin the surrounding finish. Anyone have any more hints?

John avery · Feb 26, 2003

Re: Removing Decals

I also used the 3M decal remover from wall-mart and a heat gun to peel the decals off my 1991 tracker pontoon and it worked like a charm. Before I did this I tried all kinds of things from this orange smelling stufff to paint thinner and found the heat and the 3M product to be best. John

ob1jeeper · Feb 27, 2003

Re: Removing Decals

If you are having difficulty with coloration differences, there MAY be nothing you can do short of re-gelcoating... If it's only a thickness issue you're seeing, get a rubber sanding block, and some 300 -to- 600 "wet-or-dry" sand paper, then sand down the area, using EVEN and LIGHT pressure, and plenty of water, to keep the "cut materials, from packing the sandpaper... In the autobody world this is know as color sanding... The idea is to take off ONLY the "high spots", but to do it in a controlled, and even manner, so it doesn't show where you've done the work... THEN after you have the surface "flat", you can lightly, HAND-BUFF the finish with your compound... The last thing you want to do is to cut completely through the gelcoat, and have to re-finish the hull... Better to have a couple of "ghost letters that most folks will never see anyway, than to have to re-do the entire hull... Good Luck, Obiwan Jeeper

snapperbait · Feb 27, 2003

Re: Removing Decals

If you do decide to color sand, I would go with something more like 800-1500 grit wet sanding... With any paper less than 1000 grit, you'll have a very difficult time buffing out the scratches from the sandpaper with even the most course rubbing compound...

mattup · Mar 19, 2003

Re: Removing Decals

Ok I have the same problem and ive used 3m super duty compound , starbrite color restorer, acetone and MEK , so my next move is wet sanding??

coder · Mar 20, 2003

Re: Removing Decals

you could use a small balsa wood sanding block 1x2 and 600grit w/d with a spray bottle full of water.

Removing Decals

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