removing a name

[jpk55]

Has anyone used a drill attachment called an eraser to remove vinyl letters from a transom? thanks

 

[fissioneng]

I've used the 3M stripe remover which attaches to a drill. I bought it at an auto refinishing store. It requires very high rpm, so I had to buy a special high speed drill to use it. It worked great, but you need to make sure not to create too much heat.

 

[Peter Mitchell]

I replaced the vinyl letters on my stern which had been on the boat for 6 years. Heated the vinyl with a ladies hair dryer and then used plastic scrapers to remove the vinyl. Most of the letter just peeled off after having been heated a bit. The scraper did a good job of getting the pieces that needed a little extra effort to remove.

 

[DCMY #92]

If your planning to repaint the hull after removing the letters be sure to use solvent to remove all traces of the adhesive before sanding. Otherwise you'll spread it around and get orange peel.

 

[SeaEric]

+1 on the hair dryer or a sparingly used heat gun. They should peel right off. Then a little goof off to get the sticky stuff off. That name hasn't been on there too long. It should give up pretty easily.

 

[drburke]

For the record, vinyl does not always come off. More correctly, sometimes the paint below can be affected. This lettering was in the tropical sun for 5 years in Cabo San Lucas.

Attached in an image of my flybridge with the faint shadow of the original lettering. The vinyl came away, and the glue was removed with Goof-Off and solvent. But the silver shadow left something infused in the Awl-Grip which was so deep that attempting to compound it out was going through the paint--so we left it.

My message is to proceed carefully and be aware that this is a possibility.

DAN

 

[jpk55]

Thanks for the suggestions. The vinyl letter came off with a little heat, now I'm dealing with some
kind on gold leaf lettering, almost like the vinyl. Its like steal. Any suggestions ?

 

[SeaEric]

Is it also vinyl or is it paint? If paint - Easy Off heavy duty oven cleaner. NOT the odorless or "environmentally friendly" version - use the original caustic peels your skin off stuff. It its also vinyl, heat and patience should do it. There may be a solvent that will help break down the adhesive but proceed with great caution!