Uh oh probs with pinstripe removal.. Need some help!

**UKMyers** · 01-20-2003, 07:32 AM

Well I took the plunge today and bought a heat gun to remove my factory stripes. The front fender and the front door came off effortlessly like they were vinyl.. However when I got the back door it left behind the glue and that stuff is not coming off!! Rubbing alcohol won't even phase it. Goo gone will kinda take it off.. I spent 30 minutes and managed to get an inch cleaned off. I need something more powerful!!!! Any ideas.. My truck looks pretty funny with 1.5 pinstripes on it!!!! I am starting to worry about hurting the paint! Please help!

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YotaGrl · 01-20-2003, 07:49 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by UKMyers
Well I took the plunge today and bought a heat gun to remove my factory stripes. The front fender and the front door came off effortlessly like they were vinyl.. However when I got the back door it left behind the glue and that stuff is not coming off!! Rubbing alcohol won't even phase it. Goo gone will kinda take it off.. I spent 30 minutes and managed to get an inch cleaned off. I need something more powerful!!!! Any ideas.. My truck looks pretty funny with 1.5 pinstripes on it!!!! I am starting to worry about hurting the paint! Please help!

3M Adhesive remover works well.. just get some type of adhesive remove and try.. stinks like crap and it prob will take a while but you'll see it will loosen the glue gunk and will be easier to scrape off.

**UKMyers** · 01-20-2003, 09:30 AM

Dang it!! Still no luck on the glue here's what I've tried so far:

Rubbing alcohol (didn't even phase it)

Goo Gone ( worked a little but pretty much worthless)
Peanut Butter ( nothing)

Tar remover (melted the glue a little but not much)

Went to the local body shop and he poured me some stuff in a bottle that they use and it worked some. I got about 6 inches of one door done after much scrubbing

Even tried a little good ol Gasoline.. That seemed to be the best but since it is dark and I can't see very good I didn't persue that for fear of screwing up my paint for life if I haven't already done that!!!!:eek:

I'm really at loss of what to do here. I thought this would be a quick and painless process but I guess I should have known better than that.

What do you think gas will do to my paint?? Anybody have any other ideas??

It's really strange that the ones on the front doors and front fenders came off so easily. You can see in the pic there is no difference in the paint. If all of them would have come off like the first two it would have taken me about 20 minutes to do the whole truck.. Boy was I wrong.. I like the look without the stripe I just gotta get that damn glue off....

94 First Responder · 01-20-2003, 09:38 AM

Use gasoline. Its not an acid just use it with caution

Also use a good soapy sponge to wide off the gas after the sticker has peeled away.

**UKMyers** · 01-20-2003, 09:43 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by 96_First_Responder
Use gasoline. Its not an acid just use it with caution Also use a good soapy sponge to wide off the gas after the sticker has peeled away.

Thank god someone said that! Anyone else?

***Corey*** · 01-20-2003, 09:51 AM

Joey, have you also tried the Rosignol ligher fluid that comes in the little yellow plastic bottle?

I use that for taking off sticker residue, and it works great.

Your case though, I'm not sure.

kerrs · 01-20-2003, 10:01 AM

Joey,
Have you tried T-Cut ?

Its pretty good for removing most things

This is what to LOOK for

Kerr

**UKMyers** · 01-20-2003, 10:13 AM

Kerr ya I had my bottle of T-cut there with me and it didn't phase this stuff.. I mean this glue is serious!!

4runner4life · 01-20-2003, 10:51 AM

i use to work at a sign shop and have encountered that problem way too many times, especially if its baked into the paint caused by age or coated with wax over a period of time. the only thing to do is be patient and slowly work the adhesive off. even with an industrial heat gun and industrial fluids; its still hard to remove. you can go by your local sign shop and see if they will sell you a bottle. its the same stuff as GOOP OFF cept way more concentrated. ive also used surf wax remover, hand goop with the citric acid will work. sort of. gasoline?? i dont know. good luck.

butnut · 01-20-2003, 11:05 AM

Be careful with the heat gun. It can take your paint off too. :eek: Sounds like the glue has baked on. Try heat a section. Use one of the solvents to soften the glue, an use an old credit card to gently scrape the goop off. Take your time, you got lucky with one part of the removal

, don't muck up your truck because ya got impatient. Wax your truck under the stripe to give a little more protection from the solvents. Good luck.

butnut

**UKMyers** · 01-20-2003, 01:42 PM

Well I did it. What a freaking pain that was!!! 1 hour for each back door to get the glue off.. I'll tell you what seemed like 1 day for each one. Ended up using the stuff from the body shop. I still have the factory decals on the back by my TRD. That will have to wait for another day. Them are going to be the worst since they are the thickest part. Both sides have the same amount removed so it shouldn't be too Ghetto looking. Awwww my poor elbow!! There's gotta be an easier way to do that!

dajabr · 01-20-2003, 02:22 PM

Isn't lighter fluid Naptha? In that case would charcoal starter fluid work?

Cebby · 01-20-2003, 03:17 PM

If you can't get an end going with the HG, try the long edge in the middle. A body filler plastic squeegie thing will help it along. If you can get it started, soak it with WD40. Let it sit a while. It will breakdown the glue. That's what I typically do. HG then WD for the stubborn goo.

pinoy · 01-20-2003, 03:28 PM

Yay you're finally taking it off. I've looked at your rig for a while and wondered why you never removed it.

trystjr · 01-20-2003, 04:00 PM

Elbow Grease Man.... Took me about a day to remove my stripe, elbow grease and goop off. It was pretty slow going but I kept patient so I would not phase the paint.

jtree007 · 01-20-2003, 07:40 PM

Anybody tired this on a Black or dark color.. If soo how much difference in the paint color do to faiding? I want to take off my factory pin stripes but worries about the pain matching (the rare times it is seen

)

jimber00 · 01-20-2003, 10:18 PM

I have found lacquer thinner to be the best solvent for most types of decal adhesives. I've used it a lot on auto paint and have never seen any paint damage on a good surface. You can find it in any hardware store in the paint department, and it's cheap! It's probably worth a try. I've been planning to take the stripes off my 91 runner one of these days. Let us know if you try it.
jimber

pinoy · 01-20-2003, 10:19 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by jtree007
Anybody tired this on a Black or dark color.. If soo how much difference in the paint color do to faiding? I want to take off my factory pin stripes but worries about the pain matching (the rare times it is seen )

What year's your rig? Are these pin stripes or wide stripes? I have a red 95 myself and removed the 2nd gen stripe in september. With all the elbow grease and actual grease (WD40, 3M, and others) i got it off. The color difference was only visible by staring at short distance (1 foot). Beyond that, our eyes have a good sense of color blending and it shouldn't be noticable to the average viewer. All i mostly notice now is a hair thin line where the stripe's edge was. however, the color on both sides of the line is the same. I've drivin' by black rigs with the 2nd gen stripe removed and i couldn't notice a discoloration. And since i've only noticed stripe removals recently, i think that the owner did it within' the past 2 years. So that's 5+ years old fading and discolorization.

jtree007 · 01-21-2003, 12:48 PM

i've got a '94 , and the stripe is wide,the typical on that is an most 2nd gen runners. it is not that bad looking but I still don't like it

**UKMyers** · 01-21-2003, 01:02 PM

Jtree you can't tell at all on my 94. Mine is white though.. Might make a difference.

pinoy · 01-21-2003, 02:07 PM

Hey UK, where's your finished result?

**UKMyers** · 01-21-2003, 11:48 PM

Pinoy not done yet. Still have the stripes behind the back door. I ran outta time and I am swamped with and upgrade class during the week. I'll have it finished by Saturday and post some pics.

nags · 01-22-2003, 09:26 AM

I've been thinking about removing them on my tacoma... Has anyone done it before on a silver tacoma and have pics??

pinoy · 01-22-2003, 09:29 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by UKMyers
Pinoy not done yet. Still have the stripes behind the back door. I ran outta time and I am swamped with and upgrade class during the week. I'll have it finished by Saturday and post some pics.

Is it saturday yet in the UK? Time Zones man... j/k

Lurch · 01-22-2003, 01:00 PM

3M makes a rubber wheel (made of eraser-like material) that you put in a drill and literally erase the pinstripes.

I bought one last weekend to erase my stripes and just tried one front corner to see how/if it works and what damage it might do to the paint (black.)

With some patience, it seemed to peel the stripe off rather quickly with NO noticable damage to the paint.

When the weather warms up enough for me to wash the rig and stay in the garage for more than 10 minutes at a time, I'll do the rest of the stripes!

-- Don

01-20-2003, 09:38 AM	#4 (permalink)
94 First Responder Registered User Join Date: May 2002 Location: Richmond VA Posts: 315	Use gasoline. Its not an acid just use it with caution Also use a good soapy sponge to wide off the gas after the sticker has peeled away. __________________ Pictures 94 SR5 5spd (sold) Downey 1.5's,bushwackers,hella fogs,maglight,k&n, bfg ko's on outlaw II's,optima redtop 4.56's,cobra cb,NGK high output wires and more 96 4Runner SR5(sold)

01-20-2003, 09:51 AM	#6 (permalink)
*Corey* Co-Founder/Administrator Staff Join Date: May 2002 Location: Auburn, Washington Posts: 26,077	Joey, have you also tried the Rosignol ligher fluid that comes in the little yellow plastic bottle? I use that for taking off sticker residue, and it works great. Your case though, I'm not sure. __________________ Corey 2007 FJ Cruiser Built for 4wheelin', expedition, camping, and overlanding use PNW FJ Cruisers ☺ Detailing 101 ☺ Join Topsites ☺ Muffler Comparisons ☺ Maggiolinas In The Wild FJ Cruiser Buildup ☺ New Roof Top Tent ☺ Video Of My Penthouse Part II ☺ Rehinge Your ARB/Engel Fridge Blog About Roof Top Tents ☺ FJC Magazines Online Review Of My Tent ☺ 2009 Specialized Rockhopper Pro

01-20-2003, 10:01 AM	#7 (permalink)
kerrs Registered User Join Date: Oct 2002 Location: Oxford, England Posts: 85	Joey, Have you tried T-Cut ? Its pretty good for removing most things This is what to LOOK for Kerr __________________ <:::MY SITE:::> '95 UK spec 4Runnner 3.0 Turbo Diesel Safari Snorkel Tinted Windows Tinted Light Lenses 55W Reversing Lights 130W KC Dayliters Aluminium Mats Inclinometer OME Springs & Shocks

01-20-2003, 11:05 AM	#10 (permalink)
butnut Registered User Join Date: May 2002 Location: The Aloha State Posts: 989	Be careful with the heat gun. It can take your paint off too. :eek: Sounds like the glue has baked on. Try heat a section. Use one of the solvents to soften the glue, an use an old credit card to gently scrape the goop off. Take your time, you got lucky with one part of the removal , don't muck up your truck because ya got impatient. Wax your truck under the stripe to give a little more protection from the solvents. Good luck. butnut __________________ Brian B like dat den... 2006 DuB CaB Tacoma Speedway Blue TRD Sport

01-20-2003, 02:22 PM	#12 (permalink)
dajabr Contributing Member Join Date: Jul 2002 Location: US somewhere Posts: 875	Isn't lighter fluid Naptha? In that case would charcoal starter fluid work? __________________ Former trucks- 89 & 86 4Runners http://www.va4roc.com

01-20-2003, 10:51 AM	#9 (permalink)
4runner4life Registered User Join Date: Nov 2002 Location: Folly Beach, SC Posts: 98	i use to work at a sign shop and have encountered that problem way too many times, especially if its baked into the paint caused by age or coated with wax over a period of time. the only thing to do is be patient and slowly work the adhesive off. even with an industrial heat gun and industrial fluids; its still hard to remove. you can go by your local sign shop and see if they will sell you a bottle. its the same stuff as GOOP OFF cept way more concentrated. ive also used surf wax remover, hand goop with the citric acid will work. sort of. gasoline?? i dont know. good luck.

01-20-2003, 03:17 PM	#13 (permalink)
Cebby Contributing Member Join Date: Sep 2002 Location: Pittsburgh, PA Posts: 11,246	If you can't get an end going with the HG, try the long edge in the middle. A body filler plastic squeegie thing will help it along. If you can get it started, soak it with WD40. Let it sit a while. It will breakdown the glue. That's what I typically do. HG then WD for the stubborn goo. __________________ UZswap.com A site dedicated to sharing info for swapping the Toyota/ Lexus UZ (V8) engines into Toyota Trucks and 4Runners. My 4Runner 1993 4Runner, 1UZ (V8) auto dual ultimate crawler, double locked, 35's on beadlocked SR5 alloys, low lift, hacked fenders, tubbed firewall, custom armor TOOLandFAB.com A discussion forum dedicated to tools, fabrication & workshops. See my JD2 Bender Hydro Conversion BUY THIS 2008 CALENDAR

01-20-2003, 03:28 PM	#14 (permalink)
pinoy Registered User Join Date: Oct 2002 Posts: 174	Yay you're finally taking it off. I've looked at your rig for a while and wondered why you never removed it.

01-20-2003, 04:00 PM	#15 (permalink)
trystjr Contributing Member Join Date: Dec 2002 Posts: 47	Elbow Grease Man.... Took me about a day to remove my stripe, elbow grease and goop off. It was pretty slow going but I kept patient so I would not phase the paint. __________________ aka - Tommy 93 4Runner - ARB Front Bumper - 31" BFG All Terrains - K&N Drop-in Filter w/ modded air box - SAW Torsion Bar (14.5" Fender to Rim) - Downey HD Rear Coils - Downey 3" Spacer Kit - Rancho 9000's all around - Rancho Steering Stabilizer- Magnaflow Muffler - 2.5" custom catback

01-20-2003, 07:40 PM	#16 (permalink)
jtree007 Registered User Join Date: Oct 2002 Location: Atlanta, GA Posts: 29	Anybody tired this on a Black or dark color.. If soo how much difference in the paint color do to faiding? I want to take off my factory pin stripes but worries about the pain matching (the rare times it is seen ) Last edited by jtree007; 01-20-2003 at 07:50 PM.

01-20-2003, 10:18 PM	#17 (permalink)
jimber00 Registered User Join Date: Oct 2002 Location: Minnesota Posts: 18	I have found lacquer thinner to be the best solvent for most types of decal adhesives. I've used it a lot on auto paint and have never seen any paint damage on a good surface. You can find it in any hardware store in the paint department, and it's cheap! It's probably worth a try. I've been planning to take the stripes off my 91 runner one of these days. Let us know if you try it. jimber

01-21-2003, 12:48 PM	#19 (permalink)
jtree007 Registered User Join Date: Oct 2002 Location: Atlanta, GA Posts: 29	i've got a '94 , and the stripe is wide,the typical on that is an most 2nd gen runners. it is not that bad looking but I still don't like it __________________ '94 Toyota 4Runner 4x4 v6 M/T '85 Toyota Truck SR5 4x4 22re M/T 2003 Daytona Blue 350z Track

01-21-2003, 02:07 PM	#21 (permalink)
pinoy Registered User Join Date: Oct 2002 Posts: 174	Hey UK, where's your finished result?

01-22-2003, 09:26 AM	#23 (permalink)
nags Registered User Join Date: Jan 2003 Posts: 321	I've been thinking about removing them on my tacoma... Has anyone done it before on a silver tacoma and have pics?? __________________ 2003 Tacoma DoubleCab Limited TRD TRD Supercharger URD Fuel Kit K&N FIPK Flex-a-Lite Electric Fan Hayden Transmission Cooler Magnaflow Exhaust Test Pipe Hellwig Rear Swaybar (and its still slow!)

01-22-2003, 01:00 PM	#25 (permalink)
Lurch Contributing Member Join Date: Nov 2002 Location: Northern Indiana Posts: 190	3M makes a rubber wheel (made of eraser-like material) that you put in a drill and literally erase the pinstripes. I bought one last weekend to erase my stripes and just tried one front corner to see how/if it works and what damage it might do to the paint (black.) With some patience, it seemed to peel the stripe off rather quickly with NO noticable damage to the paint. When the weather warms up enough for me to wash the rig and stay in the garage for more than 10 minutes at a time, I'll do the rest of the stripes! -- Don

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