Best method to remove stickers

Trying to remove the OEM stickers off my lower cowls, what's the best/safest method? Heat gun? Steam gun?

Regards,
Bruckner

Hair dryer and some patience. And rubbing alcohol. With a clean soft cloth only...

Marinate the sticker with WD-40. It will soften the adhesive around the edges allowing you to peel back slightly. Repeat until sticker is completely removed. Clean off WD-40 residue with whatever soapy substance you normally wash the bike.

Heat (hair dryer) and a product called "goo be gone". If you need to scrape at it, use a credit card wrapped in a soft cloth.

WD-40 and a brand new plastic bondo applicator spatula (they come in a 3-pack for like $2.50). Be careful not to go too fast, let the WD work in and dissolve the adhesive as you peel up the vinyl decal and expose more adhesive. Let the WD do the work, don't push or pull to hard and tear the decal or use too much force with the spatula. Just use it to lever it up a bit and expose more adhesive to the WD-40 so it can dissolve, not pry the sticker all the way off in one shot.

[image: View Post]Serenity_VFR, on 15 March 2010 - 11:07 AM, said:

WD-40 and a brand new plastic bondo applicator spatula (they come in a 3-pack for like $2.50). Be careful not to go too fast, let the WD work in and dissolve the adhesive as you peel up the vinyl decal and expose more adhesive. Let the WD do the work, don't push or pull to hard and tear the decal or use too much force with the spatula. Just use it to lever it up a bit and expose more adhesive to the WD-40 so it can dissolve, not pry the sticker all the way off in one shot.


Rubbing alcohol does the same thing without risk of softening the paint.

Gun cleaning solution works wonders! (and no, i'm not kidding!)

The WD40 approach required more patience than I had, so after experimenting with a scrap part of an upper cowl which had a sticker on it, I determined that the steam approach was fastest yet safe, the sticker peeled right off after exposing it to kettle steam (gotta use what's available!) for about 15 seconds. Only trouble, I have residue of adhesive on the paint, now going back to WD40 to dissolve it, hoping it works!

Regards,
Bruckner

I used a heat gun (CAREFULLY!) for the first half of the job. If WD-40 doesn't take the remaining residue off, "Goo Gone" will. Plus your bike will smell all fresh and cittrus-y. :fing02:

[image: View Post]Bruckner, on 17 March 2010 - 08:50 PM, said:

The WD40 approach required more patience than I had, so after experimenting with a scrap part of an upper cowl which had a sticker on it, I determined that the steam approach was fastest yet safe, the sticker peeled right off after exposing it to kettle steam (gotta use what's available!) for about 15 seconds. Only trouble, I have residue of adhesive on the paint, now going back to WD40 to dissolve it, hoping it works!

Regards,
Bruckner

I've used goo gone (at ACE) many times. No problems.

Sandblaster or beltsander with 50 grit :laughing6-hehe:

But only if its your ex-wifes bike.

Sorry there has to be one in every group right?

[image: View Post]dweese, on 18 March 2010 - 09:08 AM, said:

Sandblaster or beltsander with 50 grit :laughing6-hehe:

But only if its your ex-wifes bike.

Sorry there has to be one in every group right?



And I was going to say photoshop...

hot soapy water first, then heat gun on low heat (hair dryer is the best) to soften the decal and use a very thin sharp blade the lift a corner and then peal. I used a blade from a single blade razor. after removing all the stickers i then used tar/bug remover to lift the residue. Washed the bike finally and hey presto pristine clean and unmarked bike.

Remove as much of the sticker as you can with your finger nail, then use rubbing alcohol to dissolve the adhesive.

[image: View Post]jaimev34, on 12 September 2010 - 08:46 PM, said:

Remove as much of the sticker as you can with your finger nail, then use rubbing alcohol to dissolve the adhesive.


The thumb has the toughest nail. :biggrin:

Yeah - fingernail and some rubbing alcohol should do the trick.

Bruckner, Were your decals painted in? Under the clear coat I mean....

[image: View Post]VFR4Lee, on 12 September 2010 - 09:12 PM, said:

[image: View Post]jaimev34, on 12 September 2010 - 08:46 PM, said:

Remove as much of the sticker as you can with your finger nail, then use rubbing alcohol to dissolve the adhesive.


The thumb has the toughest nail. :biggrin:


The pinky is rather strong as well!

Hairdryer to melt the glue, nail to pry off (keep warming with hairdryer as you go along)

Then WD-40 to clean glue residue

[image: View Post]Oubaa, on 21 March 2011 - 07:08 AM, said:

Hairdryer to melt the glue, nail to pry off (keep warming with hairdryer as you go along)

Then WD-40 to clean glue residue


Make sure you wash off the WD. It will damage your paint.

[image: View Post]SEBSPEED, on 21 March 2011 - 08:27 AM, said:

Make sure you wash off the WD. It will damage your paint.


?? is that so.... I always thought WD-40 was the most paint-friendly product on the market? That's good info, ... new to me