Sticker removal

[4x4mike]

I need some suggestions for some stubborn sticker removal. Most stickers I've applied were to glass so it's pretty easy to remove. I've got 2 on paint I need to remove. I've searched around and everyone seems to have a method but wondered if anyone has personal experience.

Both stickers are bumper sticker style stickers that are pretty baked on. I've tried the simple finger nail pick but it's not going anywhere. Even if I could pick them off it would take forever. The surface the stickers are on is clear coated and I'd rather not damage the paint or clear coat. I also do not want to scratch it all up.

I saw the pin stripe removal pads which look cool. Problem is I think it would scratch and my stickers are bigger than your average pin stripe.

Any help is appreciated, thanks.

[CJM]

Heat gun on low or blow dryer and some goof off/goo gone. You can use more aggressive things like mineral spirits (usually doesnt damage paint) but stay away fromthings like paint thinner, acetone, brake cleen or carb clean-they will mess up the paint.

Take your heatgun or blowdryer and heat up the sticker and begin to peel it back if you can. Then pull up in such a way (almost towards yourself and up) so that the sticky junk comes with the sticker. For very stubburn stickers use an old credit card or similar to help.

When your done Id clean the spot with alcohol and wax it a bit just to bring out any shine you probably removed when using the chemicals.

[4x4mike]

I'll try the hair dryer. I didn't want to use chemicals because of the paint and need to restore the area. The credit card thing makes me cringe because of scratching and whatnot.
I'm wondering if mineral spirits will soften the sticker? Ideally I want that because they are pretty baked so they are hard and dry looking.

[DHC6twinotter]

I used a rubber eraser wheel (iirc, that's what it's called) on my drill to remove the factory stripes on my 2nd gen. It took me 5 hours to do, but turned out nice. If you are using it on plastic, you have to be very careful or it will take the paint off. You might have to wax or something afterwards too. I got the eraser wheel at my local automotive paint supplier.

[4x4mike]

I can wax afterwards, in fact the entire vehicle is over due. I just don't want to cook one spot and screw it up. I'm guessing the sticker was vinyl but is more like hard plastic now. I imagine the wheel would create friction and then a sticky mess. Did you have anything like that with your factory stripes?

[DHC6twinotter]

Nope, no sticky mess. It came off in really small sections though, almost like scrapping paint off of siding. My stripe was already in pretty poor shape (cracked, etc), so I dunno if that helped any.

I used low speed on my drill, and there are two really small spots where I couldn't quite get the sticky residue off. I didn't want to attack it too aggressively since I was worried about burning the paint, so I just left it. It sounds like my sticker was a different composition than what you have, so I'm nots sure how well the eraser wheel would work. Might be worth a try, although might be kinda iffy if your sticker is on plastic.

[04 Rocko Taco]

Use the heat gun method, then when its off use rubbing compount over that area to remove all the junk from the surface, and then wax. good as new.

[paddlenbike]

The 4Runner isn't going to look the same without those rainbow stickers. :flipoff:

[Seanz0rz]

http://thedoghousediaries.com/comics/uncategorized/2011-12-09-13a8bf5.png

http://thedoghousediaries.com/3283

i have nothing useful to add.

[4x4mike]

To my defense the stickers are on the roof and were under my two mag mounts. It protected the paint from the magnets. It protected it all right, now I have to burn the things off.

[paddlenbike]

http://thingsrepublicanshate.files.wordpress.com/2010/05/pres-obama-volvo1.jpg

This car gets a fresh paint job every 4 years, underage democratic hippy girls are optional.

Heat + plastic spackling knife to remove, then goo-gone to lift the adhesive. If all else fails, I have successfully used that "Fast Orange Pumice" meant to clean your hands for really nasty things baked into the paint, but I have only used it on white cars and you have to be careful not to rub too hard (the car, not the girls).

[4x4mike]

Got the stickers off. Right away my wife followed me out to the garage when she saw me unplug her hair dryer. I don't blame her, she thought I was up to no good. I've never owned a hair dryer so when I use one I'm up to something. I actually haven't owned a comb since I was in grade school, even then I don't think I used it.

The vinyl one was pretty easy as it got soft when I put the hair dryer to it. The other sticker was more like plastic and basically flaked off, no peeling what so ever.

The plastic one required a little razor blade work but was pretty easy on the paint. There are a few little marks on the paint but they aren't bad, plus they're on the roof. I think a little scratch remover will take care of it.

Both spots required some goo gone action. The resultant rubbing lightly scratched the paint but again it's on the roof and I think it will all look fine next wax job.

Thanks for the advice.

First one. You can see a scuff in the paint from the mag mount before I used the sticker. They move every now and again. When they do they scratch with ease. Another reason for the stickers is that moisture always collected under the magnet against the paint, I wanted a barrier.
https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-pVzqcSiuIHo/Tvn7nz7JRCI/AAAAAAAArFk/cBecbiUYcJk/s640/IMAG0537.jpg

Here's the plastic one. You can see the circle from the magnet. It did it's job quite well. Protecting the paint and yes, sticking as a sticker should do. Also shown are my solution to mag mounts, 2 meter and CB antenna mounts (CB mount covered with cap as I don't use it much).
https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-Dnv_U1QbG_E/Tvn7oecvLbI/AAAAAAAArFo/xr8WVhiGDug/s640/IMAG0538.jpg

I didn't get any pictures with the stickers removed but you get the idea.

[Obi..]

;) Destroying a perfectly good Humbug sticker's akin to destroying a Return on the Jedi sticker.
[Shaking my head and walking away with nothing else to say.] :shake: :laugh:














Glad you were able to remove them. FWIW my wife "gave" me her old hair dryer for similar reasons. She didn't want to know what I was using it for anymore and just got herself a new one. :rofl:

[Bob98SR5]

definitely heat gun, mike.