Removing decals/signage from a commercial van

boomerang · 06-08-2008 8:04pm #1

Went to look at a commercial Kangoo today - might be able to buy it at a bargain price as owner is keen to sell... Only thing is it's got signage all over it. I know the decals will peel off, but what's the best method? I heard you should use a hairdryer to soften the glue, pull them off letter by letter and then use a bit of petrol or white spirit to wipe off the the sticky residue. Will I be able to remove all traces of the signage, or will there always be that legible, shadowy imprint on the side of the van that says "Trotter & Co. Trading Co."

What I mean by that is this...

L1011 · 06-08-2008 8:16pm

Lad I work with used to work in van signage, and this topic came up over lunch (such exciting lives we live in...)

Apparently if you leave it fade in for a while after the vinyl is off and tcut it, it mostly removes the marks.

the magician · 06-08-2008 8:22pm

If you can get your hands on a heat gun it'll do a better job than a hairdryer. Methylated spirits is good for cleaning off the residue fom the adhesive.

Then a compund of some sort (as said above t-cut or maybe something a bit stronger) will help with the shadow. Also it depends how long the signage has been on . the longer it's been there, the more fading around the parts not sign written.

Steve · 06-08-2008 8:23pm

Hair dryer is the best bet - by that I mean a proper electric heat gun, not the girlfriends viddel monsoon one...:D
White spirit should get rid of the residue. Watever you do, don't use acetone or cellulose thinners.
Leave it for a bit and t-cut + wax should get rid of the fade.

Masada · 06-08-2008 8:41pm

if the sings have been on it for a long period of time its likely that you wont get it back to its exact condition., the paint under the sings will be almost new compared to the worn paint everywhere else, it'll take a lot of polishing too, use G3 on it. to get the signs themselves off, like some of the other said, use a heatgun or a hair dryer, then when thats off clean the residue with acetone.,

boomerang · 06-08-2008 8:47pm

It's a 2001 van, so those stickers have been on there for quite a while! It's a grey metallic colour - sorry for sounding dumb but can you get t-cut in that colour? Only ever seen it being used on red cars!

If I get it the van for song, then faded signage wouldn't be too much of an issue - gotta look at it in terms of practicality first and foremost.

Removing decals/signage from a commercial van

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