How To Remove Old Decals

[tramsnod]

I'm restoring a WW shell and have some pretty stubborn original decals that I can't get off.

Has anyone got any idea's on the best and most effective way to remove old decals?

[dragunov308]

fingernail to scrape em up and use rubbing alcohol to scrape off the goo....shouldnt hurt the lexan

[RA1028]

Decals will be easier to remove by using a blow dryer to apply some heat on the surface first

[WW-nut]

I'm restoring a WW shell and have some pretty stubborn original decals that I can't get off.

Has anyone got any idea's on the best and most effective way to remove old decals?

Peter have the decals been applied directly on to an unpainted body shell, as I normally find they fall off when I strip the paint using brake fluid or Mr Muscle oven cleaner. If so try a hair dryer and a window scraper (one of the ones that are used to remove paint when decorating). I then soak the shell in Mr Muscle kitchen cleaner/ window cleaner to remove any glue residue - though I still need to give it a good rub after.

Hope this helps

Nigel

PS - I don't work for Mr Muscle, I'm too tight to go and buy anything else, I just use whatever we have hanging around the house.

[tramsnod]

Hi guy's and thanks for the responses.

The journey so far....

Got this shell off ebay and sat it in brake fluid for a day. Didn't even work a little. Normally after an hour or two if you give it a rub you start to see the paint coming off. But not this one.

Gave it a wash and rummaged through the laundry cupboard and found some no name oven cleaner and gave it a good spray. Didn't do much at all and I think it just ******* the decals off because they gripped the shell even tighter than before.

Tried the old blade which only managed to mangle my fingers a bit so I was getting a bit frustrated when i thought i would ask you guy's for help.

Got my wifes hair dryer out and that moved the decals. Then I spent an hour fighting the residue. Another good wash and a bit of a wipe over with some wet and dry sandpaper and I'm pretty happy with it so far.

I'll leave it until tomorrow and have a pretty critical look over it and I may even get some Mr Muscle and give it one more spray if it needs it.

This is the hardest Wild Willy shell I've ever had. I've probably handled a least a dozen Willy's (that sounds bad doesn't it????) and this is the hardest one yet.

I'm going to do it desert camo, just for a change.

[Jack_Truck]

I have found the same thing. Some paint comes off easier while some stuff just won't move. My worst mistake was using paint remover, it removed the paint along with the plastic.

[ap6318]

I found a small amount of nitro fuel and lots of elbow effort with a soft cloth works well.

Just give it a good bath in soapy water when you've finished.

[tramsnod]

Just hit it with the Mr Muscle, so I will see how that comes up.

[tramsnod]

Why oh why did I stray from Mr Muscle.

Sprayed the shell last night and left it for an hour (would have left it longer but I'm too impatient) and then gave it a scrub and a wash and it's perfect.

I don't know why I went away from Mr Muscle, he's the man.

[Swarm]

Yup Mate Mr Muscle is the man ...How does the old add go ...Mr Muscle loves the jobs you hate spray him on dirty surface and he just cant wait ...Blah Blah Blah (Cant remember the rest) ....Why is my long term memory on rubbish like that add still with me but I struggle to remember what I had for breakfast

Why did you ever stray Peter ?? It was prob that Traxxas you own that detered you

[loaded]

The only thing that works on all sticky residue and never damages the plastic beneath (in my experience) is Olbas oil. The active ingredient is the Eucalyptus oil, which is the biggest ingredient in Olbas oil. Seeing as you are from Australia, I guess Eucalyptus oil is pretty easy to come by ;-)

Hint : Olbas oil is expensive, as it is a branded blended product, however, standard Eucalyptus oil for a sauna is good too and much cheaper (considering the size of the bottle)

If you have something very stubborn sticky mark 'soak' it with a few drops of the oil on a flat surface for half an hour, then wipe off with kitchen towel. Wipe off the greasy brown residue, then use more oil on the paper towel directly and polish it out.

Do not ever use your wife's kitchen cloths, or you might find yourself relegated to the ever increasing number of divorced people (which I maintain has a lot to do with Tamiya tinkering and collecting)

Keep well,

Paul.

[WW-nut]

Why oh why did I stray from Mr Muscle.

Sprayed the shell last night and left it for an hour (would have left it longer but I'm too impatient) and then gave it a scrub and a wash and it's perfect.

I don't know why I went away from Mr Muscle, he's the man.

Glad it worked for you; they sounded like the pefect decals though, as normally decals fall off when you don't want them too.

I always ask my missus to buy Mr Muscle after discovering the magical properties it has for r/c car restoration, though I just tell her I like the smell when the kitchen has been cleaned.