Removing vinyl striping

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Dan Steill

I am trying to remove the vinyl striping off of the side of my 1984 O'Day Daysailer 17' without very much success. The light blue comes off great and takes the dark blue under it as well. But, the dark blue by itself is a real pain in the butt plus the adhesive that is left on the boat is hard to get off. I am using a heat gun and scraper but, at the present rate, I might get done by spring.... Any and all suggestions are very much apreciated!
 
Dec 2, 1999
15,184
Hunter Vision-36 Rio Vista, CA.
Did it last year.

Dan: I did this last year on the cabin of our H'31. I did a pictorial article in the Photo Forum "De-stripping made easy" dated 11/08/1999. Take a look at it and see if this helps. I did ours in about an hour (no heat gun). Good luck, I'd be interested in your luck with this method.
 
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Terry Arnold

eraser the only way

Based on Steve's earlier posting on the eraser method for removing vinyl striping, I invested in one of erasers and after removing about 200 linear feet of vinyl striping can heartily recommend this as the only method. It takes off the stripe, removes the adhesive, and doesn't damage the underlying paint. I bought it for about $10 from www.harborfreight.com. (Search the site with "pinstripe eraser") I used a 1/4" drill which turned the eraser at less than optimum rpm. It would certainly be a easier with a speed of probably 3000 rpm.
 
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Mike Epp

hair dryer

Mine came off my '87 Hunter 23 with a hair dryer...............noooo problem.
 
Dec 2, 1999
15,184
Hunter Vision-36 Rio Vista, CA.
FYI

The amount of effort to remove the stripes is dependent on the condition of the vinyl. I had tried a heat gun on the cabin stripes on my boat too and they WOULD NOT come off even when using a plastic scraper too. That is when I decided that the eraser was the next thing to try. I think that there are some chemicals that will also soften these stripes too.
 
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Dan Steill

Steve Dion

I can't find your article. I have looked and searched but nothing comes up. Can you tell me where to find it?
 
Dec 2, 1999
15,184
Hunter Vision-36 Rio Vista, CA.
DAN ' It's in the Photo Forum.'

Dan: Did you look in the photo forum? If you search on the title I sent you or search on my name 'DION' you should find it.
 
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Dan Steill

eraser

I think that I tried searching for your name and the entire phrase but will try again! I did order the eraser this afternoon anyway! Maybe I will find the article so I can figure out how to use it! I, Too, will have to use it on an electric drill.
 
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Dan Steill

Steve Dion is a big dummy!!!!

Steve Dion is a big dummy!!!! You did not tell me that it was located on the hunter web site! for that matter, I didn't even know that there were other sites! (Dan Steill is a big dummy, too) But, I found it. Great article and it will help me a lot. Thanks Steve, I really appreciate it.
 
Dec 2, 1999
15,184
Hunter Vision-36 Rio Vista, CA.
Oh s---, you found me out!

Dan: Sorry, I did not even think about that being a Hunter only thing.
 
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Dan Steill

LOL

Yes, I guess I did.... Anyway, I am looking forward to getting that eraser. That is my last step in getting the boat ready to paint. After it gets shot, I am heading south for the rest of the winter. I am getting too old to put up with this snow and cold!
 
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maniathe

vinyl removal

Old vinyl can be particularly tuff. You may want to go to our local sign company ( vinyl is their thing). There is a product on the market for sign makers that desolves old vinyl. Also the glue removers that they us are citrus based. The key to glue removal is patience and a lot of rags. Let the remover sit as long as possible before scraping. Personally.... considering that the dark blue is old ( oddly, different colored vinyls have different degrees of tack , dark blue being more agressive for some reason) I'd go with the vinyl desolver.
 
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maniathe

vinyl removal

typo-----what I meant to say was YOUR local sign company might have the vinyl desolver. It's a relatively new product in the sign trade magazines ( Signs of the Times, Sign Business,etc.) You could go with the eraser also but it doesn't really work that well on very tough adhesion or old and cracked vinyl. When it gets that bad, we get out some 80 grit and use the guy with lightest hand for the bulk removal and the glue remover for the rest. But.. give that desolver a try first.
 
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MIke B

removing vinyl stripes

The key to remving vinyl with a heat gun it the correct temp , there is a temp at which the vinyl will peel right off, get it too hot and it tears, not hot enough and it wont come off .You need to experiment.Itried one of those eraser wheels, I have lots of drills and tried them all, go with the heat gun and solvent, good luck MIke B
 
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