Removing Decals/Striping December 11, 2019, 10:56:33 pm My 2008 MB has a tape trim, 2 7/8" wide, with a mix of gold and dark blue or black in three bands each, that runs around the RV between the charcoal and the silver paint. It is badly faded. I have tried to resuscitate it in several ways, without success. At this point, I have three options. If I can remove the tape, I have a source to replace it. If I can't remove it, I may be able to cover the old tape with new tape. Finally, I can mask and paint it.My preference is to remove and replace the tape, but my efforts in that regard have been fruitless so far. I have tried lifting a corner with a knife, and peeling it. I managed to separate the color from the base, but nothing else. Using a heat gun, I was able to separate the color from the base more easily, but I was unable to make any headway with the base.I called the factory, and Todd advised that they grind it off, and that it is a BIG job.So, before I abandon the option of removing the tape, I figured I would ask if anyone has had any success in removing that verschluggen tape?Ken F in NM
Re: Removing Decals/Striping Reply #1 – December 12, 2019, 01:31:16 am I've wondered how careful I should be when washing and waxing over the tape. After reading your post it seems I needn't worry. Sorry I don't have any suggestions.
Re: Removing Decals/Striping Reply #2 – December 12, 2019, 01:33:09 am Ken, I am interested in your replies/experiences doing this as we have that same project to do also.I did some internet searches with interesting results.The best information seemed to come from professional car detailers that were "debadging" the car - e.g. taking off decals and strippingSeveral car detailers talked about a 3m stripe off wheel (they called it a 3m eraser but their links/the product was really the 3m stripe off wheel)One guy said a MBX vinyl zapper was better for very large decals. All of these leave some adhesive/glue behind, several of these sites talked about using rapid remover to take that off.Two video talked about using citrol and said it was half the cost of rapid remover and does the quality jobVideos are:Video 1 6 min in he talks about issues/problems then does into using the 3M tool (note the first part he took off the decal that was put on with double stick tape). video 2 Mentioned the 3M stripe off wheel but highlighted the MBX vinyl zapper Same guy as above, video on citrol shows taking off a decal using fishing wire, 3m stripe off wheel, and citrol Same guy showing pin stripe removal with tipsOne video used a razor blade not 3M tool (at the end of the video they showed their efforts with other items that didn’t work well).Jane 1 Likes
Re: Removing Decals/Striping Reply #3 – December 12, 2019, 11:39:09 am Most paint shops use the 3M erasers to remove decals, the spinner heats the plastic tape, causing it to become soft and peel off. There is an art to it, not letting the surface get hot enough damage the underlying paint.Our trucks at LAX had wide stripes and decal signage applied, when the tape went bad or the truck needed paint, the auto painter used a 3M spinning rubber eraser to remove any of the decals.Let us know how it work, our 2003's wide stripes are in sad shape and could use replacement. Does the Mothership have the rolls of stripes in various colors or will it be supplied by an aftermarket supplier? I might make a winter project out of repainting the lower stripe and then applying new tape. A couple hundred dollar worth of materials could make a big difference in the rig's appearance.Larry 1 Likes
Re: Removing Decals/Striping Reply #4 – December 12, 2019, 12:48:32 pm I bought a 2001 MB for a friend, but it had what I considered cosmetic defects. Namely a vinyl map of the US with some states visited. I could peel off some of it. I tried Methylene paint remover, very dangerous stuff to humans also. It removed the vinyl all right, and the paint down to base aluminum in seconds! Well heck! The rubber eraser wheel did take off the vinyl but slow painstaking work. Larry is right, need to not get it too hot in spots, but it doesn't harm the paint if you are careful. I think the wide side stripes would take quite awhile, and use up several wheels. I had three hand drill batteries, charging in the background and two drill motors. They would get pretty hot, so I'd have to take a break. The bottom picture is after I painted it with rattle cans. Ford Competition White was a little yellower than the faded white on the motorhome. The Oxford White was a little too gray. It might have faded in a year or so to match better. You can see the transition just aft of the baggage catch. Many coats and not polyurethane. If I had time I was going to get the factory to repaint that panel, and a dent on the driverside front fender, but ran out of time. The new owner said that it was OK enough for him. RonB 1 Likes
Re: Removing Decals/Striping Reply #5 – December 12, 2019, 03:10:55 pm Quote from: Larry W - December 12, 2019, 11:39:09 amI might make a winter project out of repainting the lower stripe and then applying new tape. A couple hundred dollar worth of materials could make a big difference in the rig's appearance.LarryHmmm. I’ll keep an eye on this. My faded (gray) ‘06 lives not far from the Larry body shop. 😉 — Jon
Re: Removing Decals/Striping Reply #6 – December 12, 2019, 04:03:28 pm When I had the stripes repainted last year, I asked my body shop about the vinyl. They said it is a huge job and would take a couple of days. They were not interested, but said that I could use a 3M vinyl eraser tool. I went ahead and had the stripes repainted and clear coating both the stripes and the vinyl tape. BTW, the LD does have the vinyl stripes but they wanted a lot of money for them. It would have been $700-800. I looked online and can have custommade vinyl for a lot less. 1 Likes
Re: Removing Decals/Striping Reply #7 – December 12, 2019, 04:29:48 pm I suspect that the labor/time-intensive application of the vinyl striping to cover paint color change lines was one significant reason that LD went to the new paint scheme in 2009. (For a couple of following model years, the traditional paint scheme remained available.) AFAIK, the 'modern' paint scheme uses 'tape and shoot' templates (and a different paint composition); the process takes a lot less time than hand application of vinyl striping. Note: I was surprised not to see the paint scheme change mentioned in the 'Changes by Year' document; did I miss it?
Re: Removing Decals/Striping Reply #8 – December 12, 2019, 04:43:09 pm For what it’s worth, our 2009 does not have tape. Ken’s 2008 has tape stripping.
Re: Removing Decals/Striping Reply #9 – December 12, 2019, 04:59:05 pm Tape was used only with the traditional paint scheme; your 2009 is a 'modern' paint scheme, Ed. I saw a 31' that must have been one of the first to use the new scheme; the templates must not have been properly attached because the edges of several of the swoops and also of the larger paint areas on the bottom of the coach showed 'bleed', i.e., were not crisp/clean edges. Without vinyl striping to cover paint transition lines, LD had to work on getting clean, precise edge application; with few exceptions, paint jobs on later models (that I've seen) have been clean-edged.
Re: Removing Decals/Striping Reply #10 – December 13, 2019, 10:52:39 pm Has anyone replaced the LD decals on their rig? How did you go about it? Is it necessary to take the old one off ?
Re: Removing Decals/Striping Reply #11 – December 14, 2019, 12:34:29 pm Hi Bill. Currently there is a thread about replacing the main tape 'decals' along the sides. Removing tapeWhich decals did you want to take off? RonB
Re: Removing Decals/Striping Reply #12 – December 14, 2019, 01:24:36 pm Quote from: RonB - December 14, 2019, 12:34:29 pmHi Bill. Currently there is a thread about replacing the main tape 'decals' along the sides. Removing tapeWhich decals did you want to take off? RonBThreads/topics merged.Chris
Re: Removing Decals/Striping Reply #13 – December 14, 2019, 04:22:45 pm Hi RonI would like to replace the Back LD sticker on the fake spare casing. Also the specifications sticker and the LPG sticker...My front Lazy Daze Sticker looks ok... Thanks for combining the thread Chris!Bill
Re: Removing Decals/Striping Reply #14 – December 14, 2019, 05:29:34 pm "I would like to replace the Back LD sticker on the fake spare casing."I removed mine using a single edge razor blade scraper (as you would use on glass) and the wife's hair dryer (a commercial heat gun may be overkill). It's diligent and time consuming but it'll git er done! 1 Likes
Re: Removing Decals/Striping Reply #15 – December 15, 2019, 12:35:24 am "I removed mine using a single edge razor blade scraper (as you would use on glass) ..."I've mentioned this before, but let me put in a word here for plastic razor blades. They're much less likely than metal ones to damage the underlying surface, and for that reason they are widely used for removing decals and striping. 2 Likes
Re: Removing Decals/Striping Reply #16 – December 15, 2019, 10:00:16 am Knowing when to cut my losses... I have given up on re-doing the stripe. After a lot of research and watching some videos of stripe removal, I ordered a rubber erasing wheel and was working on deciding the next step - a single wide tape, multiple narrower tapes, or paint. I had pretty much decided on paint when a friend commented on the challenges I would face working around some of the detail areas such as the door edges (those multiple ridges up and down), the wheel skirt hinges, the water heater area, the license plate area and the battery box area. I slowly walked around the rig, looking at each and trying to visualize what would be involved in managing those areas without messing things up.I am not going to mess with re-doing the stripe.So - a rubber eraser wheel, for which I will have no use, is on its way to me. Does anyone want the wheel?Ken F in NM
Re: Removing Decals/Striping Reply #17 – December 15, 2019, 10:48:55 am "Does anyone want the wheel?"Procrastination is not always a bad thing!
Re: Removing Decals/Striping Reply #18 – December 15, 2019, 12:47:38 pm Well Ken, you could send that wheel to Bill Benson. As Andy said, the plastic razor blades work well for this. A heat gun, I already had one, on low with a lot of care not to get the area too hot, will take the rear decals off. Were you going to replace them? The 'propane' stickers are available from the mothership, along with the back and front decals. I replaced the propane one on mine, and the 2001 MB because the red had faded away. I'm drawing a blank on 'specifications' sticker. The one in the closet, or the one inside the driver door (Ford), or the one on the outside behind the driver side round out? I asked Todd about replacing that one. Mine had faded to become unreadable. Todd said it wasn't replaceable, or needed, so I just removed it. You can tell where it had been because the paint is like new. I included a picture of my LD sticker before I removed it. RonB 1 Likes
Re: Removing Decals/Striping Reply #19 – December 15, 2019, 09:52:09 pm Ron Thank you for this. I appreciate the potential offer for the wheel, but I do have a heat gun and some plastic razor blades so I think I will go that route. The specifications sticker I was referring to was the outside one behind the driver door....Bill
Re: Removing Decals/Striping Reply #20 – December 16, 2019, 03:54:24 am Hi Bill. That wheel I mentioned was the one that Ken had ordered, then decided not to use. He offered it to anyone who spoke up. The one I have has been used enough to be much smaller diameter now. It sheds a lot of debris as it is used. Just like the eraser on a pencil. Quite messy! (I have a spare wheel already.) RonB 1 Likes
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