removing emblems

[tbomb]

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.

 

[rydinhigh]

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.

 

[aldive]

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....

 

[tbomb]

good tips guys, thanks. its too bad you guys dont really know me in real life, im so ridiculously **** 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.

 

[aldive]

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.

 

[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.

 

[jimbo74]

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

 

[ok89]

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

 

[aldive]

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...

 

[aldive]

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.

 

[tbomb]

jim, why you bringing up old sh*t?

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

 

[tbomb]

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.

 

[jimbo74]

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

 

[aldive]

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....

 

[tbomb]

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.

 

[JulieEx]

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,

 

[tbomb]

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.

 

[rockymntnhi]

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

 

['96explorereddiebauer]

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.

 

[tbomb]

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.