SMC Discussion Areas

Just your thoughts on removing a decal from a machine.
I bought a machine last week, and its a pretty good condition RT, one that I have NO plans on restoring.
It has a fairly large decal on the machine that I wanted to take off.
My detailing guy said that IF it's even possible, it would take him a week (meaning a LONG TIME lol) to take it off, and with no guarantee that it would not rip the paint off underneath.

Any of you here have any experience taking off these decals (as I think it was a 70's decal) where its a foil type material, not vinyl or paper (if it is paper, then its of a heavy kind)

Any thoughts or tricks that I can pass on to him? Or one that I can do myself when he doesnt want to.
(I will post a pic of the machine when I get it back from detailing)

Here is a pic of the decal... its not in bad visual shape, but its a rough feeling sticker, and one that has rippled due to sun damage.

Thanks all
 :happydrinkers:

I think the sticker adds character to your machine...but If you really want to take it off, use a hair dryer on high or a heat gun (be careful with the heat gun) and heat up an edge for 30 seconds...take a credit card or something similar and try to peel up a corner without scratching it...once that's done, heat up just past the corner and then pull on it and continue...I'm not sure what others do, but I have had a lot of success doing it this way.

I would try heating it up with a hair-dryer to see if you can get the adhesive pliable again.  Hopefully that will work and the paint will not be affected because the temp won't be too high.  After you get the decal off, Goo Gone will clean up any adhesive residue.

Lets see a picture of the whole machine Ed!

 :drinking: Tim :drinking:

PS--I see that ccman posted the same idea as me at the same time.  I have to agree that I like the old Fanta decal and that was a Coca Cola brand!

I would first try a damp steaming hot towel laid over the decal for 5 min or so. If it is paper based top layer should then come off. Goo gone soaking overnight to get the adhesive as mentioned.
Biggest thing is to not scratch the paint. I just use my fingers and a soft sponge. If it was in the sun the paint may be brighter where the decal was. I'd test a lower corner first.

Creighton

I have had good luck using a steam cleaner not commercial grade but just a household cleaner.  Steam it all over for 2 or 3 mintues and then start working a corner.  If it releases just keep pushing the steam behind the decal.  Small corner will show you the color difference..

Thanks guys for all the advice!!

My wife mentioned to me about the Goo Gone stuff.... I've never tried that stuff before, where she has.
I was also thinking about using a steam cleaner (as we have one)

What I never thought about though was the fact that the paint underneath may be different in colour because of the decal on there for so long, compared to the rest of the machine.
What I do have going for me though is that this machine was an indoor machine its entire life, or most of it anyways, as it was in a family run business.  I purchased the machine from the lady who ran the store with her late husband.
So the fact that it may not have seen much sun, is a plus.

And last, I too have thought about keeping the decal on.  Although it looks MUCH better in pictures than it does in real life.  Its very faded, very brittle (not falling off brittle).
It is perfectly placed though, and it might be an option.

As for posting the pic of the machine (Tim) :smile: I will post the before and afters together when I get it back from detailing, I promise!!!

 :happydrinkers:

Be careful with too much goo gone I have had it take off the paint

goo gone or heat gun lowest setting.  I have spent hours with the hair dryer.  I like the heat gun better.

Just be a little careful.


BC

You must be one dapper guy!!  :laugh: :laugh:

I removed a decal from a machine today that had been on there 23 years,Used a heat gun worked great.

I had a few decals removed today off of a pepsi machine :smile: MEDIA BLASTED  :biggrin:   OH Wait !!! you want the paint .

  Heat gun low heat, that has worked for me . :smile:

i have also used 3m adheisive remover and it releases the sticker with no damage to the paint