hey guys, ive been wanting to remove the emblems from my rear hatch/door. it says "explorer" on the left and "sport" on the right. ive read a few threads about people taking them off and they used fishing line to get the emblems off and other various things to get the glue residue off.

i just called my local body shop and asked what to use to get the glue residue off after i get the emblem itself off - they said that theres an 85-90% chance that ill damage the clearcoat, they said they see people do it all the time. then i asked if i used a heat gun, would it be better, and they said, thats a better idea, but theres still a big risk of damaging the clearcoat.

at this point i really want to get those emblems off (as well as the sticker from the dealership where we bought the truck), but im scared im gonna damage the clearcoat, i think id rather leave the emblems and just keep my clearcoat undamaged, rather than take em off and risk the damage.

please gimme some advice here. also, what do you guys use to get the glue residue off?...what wont damage the paint/clearcoat? <-- this is assuming that i get the emblems off without damaging the clearcoat in that process.

thanks all.

to take my sticker off I just used a heat gun then took the tip of a razor blade to loosen one of the corners then pulled it off really really slow.

For the emblems use the heat gun again then start at one side with some fishing line and pull it off that way. I cant stress enough to take your time though.

A heat gun will definately work; however, ot ,ight be too hot and blister the paint if improperly used. Instead use a simple hair dryer.

Acetone will work wonders on the adheasive.

Good luck... ot will really make your truck look sharp....

good tips guys, thanks. its too bad you guys dont really know me in real life, im so ridiculously anal retentive about my truck (and just about everything in general), i will definately take my time.

anyway, im not too worried about hurting the clearcoat really when i remove the actual emblem, my truck is only 2.5 years old and ive waxed it since i got it, its not like the paint is all dried up and cracking and stuff (btw, al, i will use a hairdryer instead of a heat gun.) but what should i use on the glue residue?...acetone?..what the hell is that, heh? sounds kinda harsh. and what would i use to apply acetone?...and will it hurt the paint or clearcoat if i use too much pressure with acetone or apply too much? and where could i get it?

id like some other suggestions for glue residue removal if anyone has em.

thanks.

Acetone is a SOLVENT, an organic one. It is available at Home depot or any paint store or the paint deparment of one of the "=marts"/ If used as a simple wipe on wipe off, your paint will be fine.

Caution: be extremely careful when using any solvent. Wear eye protection, use hand protection, and use only in a well ventilated area.

yeah, "solvent" thats what im worried about. i dont want it to dissolve my clearcoat. you said if its used as a simple wipe on and wipe off ill be fine, well, what happens if i rub too hard or something. theres gotta be some kind of clear coat safe adhesive remover.

yeah...rubbing combined with water will jack up the paint.... tbomb, we know you are anal... you got rid of those cool tires and rims just b/c you didnt want to get longer studs....

acetone is the active ingredient in fingernail polish remover. Could be a little weaker in fingernail polish remover but not sure. Although the store people might look at you kind of funny when you are buying finger nail polish remover

Originally posted by tbomb
yeah, "solvent" thats what im worried about. i dont want it to dissolve my clearcoat. you said if its used as a simple wipe on and wipe off ill be fine, well, what happens if i rub too hard or something. theres gotta be some kind of clear coat safe adhesive remover.

I personally wouldn't hesitate to pour an entire quart of acetone over the emblem to be removed on my truck...

Originally posted by tbomb
yeah, "solvent" thats what im worried about. i dont want it to dissolve my clearcoat.

WATER is a solvent too my friend.

jim, why you bringing up old sh*t? :)

i dont think i wanna put nail polish remover on my paint either, heh.

well, youre right, water is a solvent too, but im pretty sure water is safe, i dont know anything about acetone. if they put it in fingernail polish remover, im sure as hell not putting it on my truck. and whats the deal al?..why you getting all defensive here? im just trying to get some info here.

tbomb, i am sorry... i didnt mean to offend you..... but you were the one who said you were anal...

Originally posted by tbomb
whats the deal al?..why you getting all defensive here? im just trying to get some info here.

I simply provided you with the info that you asked for. It's your problem if you want to argue its value.

Have a great day....

jim, i was just kidding, its cool :)

al, obviously youre not mature enough to just act civil in a public forum. "WATER is a solvent too my friend." <-- this is not info that i asked for - this is an irrelevant point with more than a sarcastic tone.

i am not trying to argue anything here, i am simply questioning what i dont know. if im gonna be putting an unknown chemical on my explorer (which wasnt cheap) im sure as hell not gonna take the word of someone who says "wipe it on, then wipe it off" and when i ask about side effects, gives me an attitude. if you have some kind of problem with me (for god knows why), then thats your perogative, and you neednt post to my threads anymore; im trying to learn something here, not make enemies.

to everyone else: is there anything else that you guys use to remove the 'goop?'

thanks.

Originally posted by tbomb

i am not trying to argue anything here, i am simply questioning what i dont know.

It appears that you don't trust the answers that were given to you. That’s your prerogative. But for what it worth, acetone works very well at the removal of glue. You might also use MEK, toluene, or maybe gasoline,

well, im gonna drop the whole 'argue' thing because apparently there are more than a few people here who dont know what "arguing" means, let alone, dont want to allow me to just ask questions. (julie, i thought it was pretty obvious that i dont trust the acetone method. if i trusted it, i wouldnt have pursued it any farther. i just figured that i could ask someone who has used it about the potential risks, but i guess i underestimated common courtesy.) i guess im just supossed to get one persons opinion and thats it - i cant question that opinion or ask anyone else for other opinions, geez.

anyway, gimp, wd-40 sounds like its worth a try (i dont know about the lighter fluid on the paint though - is it safe?); i just wanna know for sure what will definatley work. if i get these emblems off and im left with a patch of glue residue, i dont wanna try something that might work and if it doesnt, ill have to run around frantically looking for something that will work. thanks for the suggestions though.

is there any type of "adhesive remover" or something like that available thats made for getting goopy crud like stuff off of paint without hurting clearcoat? id rather not use some shady chemical or something that wasnt intended to be used on a vehicles paint job.

WD-40 and elbo grease ........Nice and simple !!!!!!

White is a very forgiving color. I'm sure you're glad b/c it doesn't have the luster of a dark color. If you accidentally removed the clearcoat, you really don't need to worry because white doesn't show much shine anyway, but remember to wax it more often. My mom's Town & Country is white so that's how I know.

There's a 3M product that deals with adhesives, bugs, and tars. It's an excellent product. It's safe on CURED paints so it won't hurt your clearcoat. I used it to remove the adhesive when I removed the dealership name sticker on my mom's van the other day. When you spray it, it smells like thinner though. You should try it out.

billy, that sounds like something im looking for. i think ill give that stuff a try (and keep some wd-40 along side of me, just in case.)

thanks.

Ford used to sell their very own road tar remover made specifically for clearcoats. You might check with your local dealer's parts shop...

chris, thats a good idea, too.

i already have regular bug and tar remover, i guess the big question is: what exactly is the glue like that holds the emblem on? is it really tough to get off, or is it easy?...will bug and tar remover work, or will i need something stronger, etc.

I would try your bug and tar remover first, then some WD40 then move up to some acetone.

Honestly, acetone wont hurt your paint at all. I've used it for years to remove dealer emblems. I even used it to remove the dealer emblem off of my black Cadillac in 95 when it was brand new, no damage. Just wax real good afterwards.

There is a product called Goo Gone, which works wonders, it is specifically made to remove adhesive, HOWEVER, I don't have the bottle in front of me, so I don't know specifically if it is safe for painted surfaces.

OK, I came back to edit this. According to the following, http://www.magicamerican.com/googone.shtml it is safe for paint. Like I said, an amazingly effective product IMO.

That being said, I would just wax it off. It takes a few applications, but I have never had anything on the paint that a slightly abrasive (yet safe for clearcoats) wax wouldn't take off.

Just thought I would throw that into the mix.

FWIW, the stickers/emblems vary in composition, some are easy to get off, some are a bear, at least in my experience.

Good luck, let us know how it turns out.

I have used "Goof off" or "goo Gone" on my paint with no trouble before.

wow, thanks guys. from what ive got so far, i think im gonna try bug and tar remover, then if that doesnt work, mineral spirits, and if that doesnt work, maybe ill try some acetone.

for guys who use acetone, like stephen, how should i apply it?...and if you can, try to give me plenty of details.

thanks guys.

Originally posted by tbomb
for guys who use acetone, like stephen, how should i apply it?...and if you can, try to give me plenty of details.


I use acetone as follows:" simply soak a cotton wash cloth with the solvent and then rub in on the "mess". Rub till the residue of the adhesive is gone. Then I apply Zaino polish products in the recommended order.

Can't tell you ever had an emblem there.

Good luck....

cool, thanks al. that sounds like a plan to me. ill get the emblem off, clean off the 'goop' then ill probably just run a clay bar over the area (just for the hell of it), and then ill probably put two coats of wax over the area. im gonna be claying and waxing my entire truck this weekend, so ill try to get the emblems off before i start.

when im all done, ill post before and after pics, and ill describe in full detail exactly what i did.

thanks everyone for your help.

guys, one more thing, where can i get some acetone? (i wanna have it on hand in case i need it.)

Originally posted by tbomb
guys, one more thing, where can i get some acetone? (i wanna have it on hand in case i need it.)

Home depot or any paint or hardware store.

well, i just ran to walmart and i got fishing line for $1.50, mineral spirits for $1.00, and my sister had some pure acetone - she uses that instead of nail polish remover. i plan on trying this out on friday. ill keep everyone updated.

well, the emblems are off. it looks awesome. took about 45 minutes total. i used fishing line to get them off after i heated them up with a hair dryer, then i used mineral spirits to clean away the goo. i started with bug and tar remover, and it was working, but it was going so slowly. mineral spirits worked amazing. i didnt put new wax on yet, cuz tomorrow im claying and waxing the whole truck. ill have pics up later this weekend, and thanks to everyone who replied here.

cool tbomb

Good deal, looking forward to pictures.

he buddy, why did you take the emblem off in the first place. Whats the point????

Some, including me, find the smooth, sleek of a badgless truck more appealing. To each his/her own.

Also, it makes for a much easier job of polishing your truck ( with Zaino, of course ).

what an interesting thread. look forward to some pics tbaum. anyways on a somewhat related note...are there holes in the back of the emblems on the 96 xlt

Also, what would be the easiest way to buff out small thin white scratches on my hood. i have a few thousand of them that i need to get rid of. they dont go deep and look like they are only surface scratches

p.s. look forward to posting pictures from the lake michigan dunes trip i just got back from. it was a blast!

Yes I do believe that there are holes behind the emblem on a 96.

As for your scratches first try some Meguiars No. 9 Swirl Remover, see if that does the trick.

Originally posted by jas84
Also, what would be the easiest way to buff out small thin white scratches on my hood. i have a few thousand of them that i need to get rid of. they dont go deep and look like they are only surface scratches


I would resort to the magic of Zaino.

Give their Z5 a try

>>Z5 POLISH FOR SWIRL MARKS & FINE SCRATCHES

FACT. The only way to remove, heavy swirl marks and fine scratches from a clear coated surface is to have the car professionally machine buffed with an abrasive compound. This should be the last resort, as factory clear coat is very thin and you can break thru it very easily. Also, most polishes and waxes contain abrasives, they remove some swirl marks but create new swirls. Kinda of catch-22. Z-5 is the first non-abrasive polish that will eliminate swirl marks, fine scratches and spidering, without hurting the integrity of the clear coat. It does this in stages, anywhere between 1 to 3 applications. This in itself is a major technological breakthrough. With each application of Z-5 polish, you will see the swirl marks and fine scratches gradually lessen, until the marks are no longer visible. Although this procedure may seem time consuming, the results are well worth it. This is the only way a swirl mark problem should be addressed and corrected.

Z-5 is the safest, most cost effective way of repairing the paint, so to speak. After you are satisfied with the way the paint looks. Switch to Z-2 Show Car Polish to achieve an even higher wet-looking, optically perfect paint finish. Follow up with Z-6 "Gloss Enhancer" spray. Z-6 "Gloss Enhancer" spray should be used between every coat of Z-5 or Z-2. It is an extremely high, optical enhancing product and dramatically increases light refraction and reflection. The results will knock your socks off! All Show Car Polish products are molecular crosslinking and are 100% compatible with each other.

NOTE: For any future swirls or scratches you may get, just reapply Z-5 to the affected area or the whole car if you prefer. Z-5 can be used right over Z-2. They are completely compatible and interchangeable. For the highest optical paint enhancement always follow up Z-5 with a coat of Z-2. One eight ounce bottle of Z-5 Polish will yield approximately eight to ten coats on a mid-size car.<<

Zaino is good stuff....

Was the paint under the emblem darker than the rest of the car? and if so how did you match it up?

nope, the paint under the emblems wasnt any darker. there was a little bit of dirt buildup around where the emblems were, but it came off with bug and tar remover.

heres the final pics guys (sorry theyre so big, but ive been running around like a madman lately and didnt have time to shrink em.)

http://www.personal.psu.edu/users/j/m/jmt204/other/shavedemblem1.jpg

http://www.personal.psu.edu/users/j/m/jmt204/other/shavedemblem2.jpg

http://www.personal.psu.edu/users/j/m/jmt204/other/shavedemblem3.jpg

Hey TBomb, now yours looks like the back of mine!!! I took the lettering off of the back of mine too. Makes it a heckuva lot easier to wash and wax.

Nice, clean looking ride. You did good....

thanks guys :)

Looks good Tbomb.

tbomb You're just gonna have to do something about that ugly green license plate.

I guess i'm still not clear on this one question.. Which year Explorers will leave holes after you take off the emblems? I have a 95 sport, and i want to remove the emblems, but i definetly dont want holes to fill. Please let me know thanks

Slick

ok, this is just a guess, but i believe you DO have the holes. starting in 98, they used different emblems, where on my truck, each letter was separate. but my mom has a 97 and my sister has a 96 which is just one big emblem, so i think they have the holes to hold the bigger/heavier emblem.

hopefully someone with a 95 will reply here to get a definate answer.

Jas84....I know from experience that removing the "Ford" emblem on the 96 XLT does leave three holes. Two out wide and up a little and one in the middle and a little lower - kinda like two eyes and a nose. I replaced my ford with a "5.0" badge. I painted the "." with my touchup paint (it was red) and then lined it up. It didn't cover the holes perfectly but almost. I was able to cover two completely and the third one fell in the open space in the bottom part of the "5" Hope this helps...and if anybody knows if the "Explorer XLT" badge has holes could you let me know please. Thanks!

There is a product that you can use that is safe for paints and all clear coats. You have to get it from a parts store that sells paint. It is wax and grease remover called paint prep. It will remove all adhesives and wax without harming the paint. It's also great to use before claybarring the finish.

kilroy, thats exactly the answer i was looking for a few weeks ago, but oh well. the mineral spirits worked great anyway :)

shoot, sorry I didnt see this when it was first posted, would have saved a lot of hassle eh?

OH well S**T happens :-)

does my 1994 xlt have emblem holes if i take them off?

jim why do you care if it has holes?
You don't even have a hood or fenders :)

jim why do you care if it has holes?
You don't even have a hood or fenders :)

thats a very good point :)

How would you go about putting emblems on? What kind of adhesive would work best? Prep work?

Clean the area with alcohol then apply 3M Double sided Adhesive Tape. Usu. Can pick it up at a local auto parts store - Advance Auto, Auto Zone, Pep Boys. I have used it for emblems, window vent visors, etc. and never had it fail.

isnt that stuff pretty thick thought? or is it paper thin? I need something that will be paper thin. What about silicon?

Acetone works better than Goo Gone on the sticky stuff, I've used both on PAINT. Just use only as much as you need (you wont need much), and wash & wax the area when youre done and you should be fine.

anyone know how to get the FORD emblem out of the black piece on the tailgate?

98FordX24 Use a small flat head screwdriver to pry out the emblem on the black piece I did this last year on my 98 it was held on with adhesive.

Use some Floss or Fishing line. My friends have used that trick several times. Takes most of it off.

2 Birds with one stone. I used spray wax and sprayed it all around the "Explorer" and "Ford" then I used a piece of string yard to work behide the emblem, it came right off. No harm to the paint. Then I use Goo Gone to remove the sticky film. Agin no probs, it took awhile but the ddoor looks like they were never there, except for the holes the embelms were in. I'm gonna sand the paint off and bondo it, then repaint that area.

Thanks. Did you heat it up at all? Any tips? Did it come off easy? What did you use to put it back on (if you did)?

I would use a hairdryer to heat it up a bit then take it off. it will be easier that way. DOnt use a heat gun though cause you can melt the paint.

Nope, no heat was used and I have never tried to put them back on. Came off fairly easy, Had to use two pieces of yarn, The first one ware away, thats becuase the plastic pegs on the back on the emblem where being warn away, but the yarn never damaged the paint in any way. If you wanted to put the emblems back on you would prob have to get new ones. I love my paint too!

I cant remember if I used a hairdyer or not but it wont hurt it if you do. I do remember that it came off easy. Also take off the black piece off before you do it. It is easier and it is held on by 2 10mm bolts if I remember corectly. I used 3m double sided tape to put it back on that you can buy at walmart or most auto part stores.

yous have a product called goof off you can get from the hardware store its great for getting any sticky stuff off i use it to clean glass with ,works great

Explorer XLT 98... what did you take it off for? Did you paint the black piece?

Yes I painted the black piece to match the color of my truck.