Decal Removal

[Don Coffey]

Hi All,

I have picked up some spare panels of e-bay and intend to remove the decals, prep and respray them. I am looking advice on a couple of points;

1, I have tried to remove the decal using a hairdryer with not much luck. When the decal has come away it is in very small parts and leaves a sticky residue. Is this what I should expect or am I being too impatient? How do I remove the residue?

2, There are a few minor scratches on the panels, what is the best method of removing these?

3, Any recommendations on which primer/undercoat to use?

I'm sure I will have a few more questions but this should be enough at present to get me started.

Don

[Mervinh]

Have you tried soaking the decals with WD40 or similar the solvent will dissolve the glue and help to remove the decal, also thinners will do the job
scratches fine wetndry used wet
undercoat hairyaresole cans? if you still have small scratches or marks first a coat of plastic primer (works as a etch primer i am told by someone who knows ) then use hi build spraying it on and flattening it until tou are happy you have a smooth surface then i usually go for a coat of ordinary primer folowed by topcoats, loads of time and patience are the biggest requirment. be sure every stage is how you want it to be before proceeding to the next you will see it every time you look at the bike and regret it forver,

[BIGROG]

I think you will find that the decals have a clear lacquer (god knows how you spell it) sprayed over them, very hot water sometimes works if not you will have to find something to break down the lacquer? and not the paint or take the lot off and start from scratch.

Rog.

[African Simba]

UPVC Cleaner (Solvent) sold in DIY shop does the trick for removing sticky stuff, but be careful and go gentle with it. Also in supermarkets look for "Sticky stuff" remover. Works well too.

Follow BIGROG advice by removing the Laquer first - Ask in places where they sell car paints for advice and right emrey paper grade. Again go gentle with this. Then Follow Mervinh advise. Plastic Primer is a must. I also suggest "Heated area" when paint applied This Help for paint to cure well. After finished painting don't forget to apply Final coat of clear Laquer. Go easy, you don't want it running !!

Paint is best applied if you have a paint gun and a compressor, Better than cans. But cans will do. Make sure no dust is present in either case.. (Clean area when paint is applied)..

Surely others will be coming-up with ideas...Good Luck

[Don Coffey]

Cheers Guys,

I'll continue to remove the decals and 'sticky Stuff', and follow advice with regards to preparing and finishing panels.

Don

[pbekkerh]

White Spirit or "Label remover"(yes it can be bought) will remove the residue.

carefull with the heat. A guy on a computer forum, removed his decals on the computer, and melted three keys in the process

[datsun fan]

Hi, here is the link to a refurb job I recently did -all the details are in the thread.

Any questions just ask.


Overland Ollies new Machine

[BIGROG]

A good guy to talk to is Digicaptive, he is an expert with paint if you can't catch him on here I'm sure he won't mind if you PM him with some questions, he's a nice bloke.

Rog

[banger 115]

try Tar & Glue remover, its good stuff just let it soak for a minute or two...

[Kjell Lindberg]

Take the parts you want to fix, to a pro painter and ask how you should do the work.

The stuff You can buy in DIY shops normally never works as well as the solvents/paints/paint stripper/decal remower that the pro's have access to.

One "bodgers" tip to remowe paint from plastic parts is to soak it in break fluid. (Not silicone DOT5, Go for the DOT4!)
Break fluid do not resolve plastic like Thinner, Acethone or simillary detergents do (Your car/Bike Brake fluid reservoar is normally made out of plastic)

I have tested this method my self, on severall occasions, and it works.
Although it will not solve Industrial 2-cote paint.