Removing decals from car

[robatman]

Hi all,
My wife has a mazda 121- the bubble!! she bought new in '94, and now its time to sell cos we just had our first baby.

It used to have these bubble stickers all over it (factory ones!), and now they have persished and i want to remove them before we sell.

did a bit of googling and came up with WD40 or turps, but not sure if this will affect the paint job. any other suggestions?

Any help would be appreciated.
Robert

Attachment 31995

[Stuart]

Probably be fine - after all petrol hasn't destroyed the paint below the filling cap I assume! However, you can always do a check on a bit of paint that doesn't get seen (inside the wheel arch, bottom of the door etc), just to reassure yourself.

Usual discalimer on this one however - all advice, no responsibility!!!!!

[Felder]

I had a dodgy looking decal on a Hilux that I bought second hand.

I removed it by using a hairdryer to warm up the adhesive on the back.

It was in pretty good nick, though. Don't know if it would work on perished decals.

[scooter]

Hairdrier or ( very carefully :eek: ) heat gun to soften the adhesive would work I'd reckon, just go very gently. Otherwise, ask a panel beater for the hot tip.

[felixe]

My dad used a metal scraper on a 1986 mazda 323 to remove the decals:eek: :eek: :eek: - not recommended!!

[bennylaird]

Give Eucalyptus oil a go, removes most stickers easily by disolving the adhesive.

[scooter]

Worth a shot benny, de-solv-it citrus based stuff is another idea.

[AlexS]

Govt. garage used to use heat lamps to remove departmental stickers before sale.

[savage]

Hair dryer or turps is the go, but be aware that there may be a shade difference in the paint color as the paint under the decal will not have aged at the same rate as the exposed panel work!....

[E. maculata]

A while ago I came across a neat little trick that (some)detailers use, it's so basic it's embarassing, no chemicals just a rubber on a drill.
It's a rubber disc about 85mm dia mounted on a 1/4 shaft, put in a drill and rub out the graphix, used it on mine and my kids big$$$ BMX bikes, no problems, used it on SWMBO's pride'n joy ford, excellent no marks at all.
Best little trick around, bought it from a trade paint suppliers, about $12 from memory, and it's still got heaps of meat (rubber) left on it.

[Harry72]

Heat gun and scrape the decal off, then grab some proper decal adheasive remover from your local auto parts shop.

[Shannon]

I agree with savage, you may find that the paint is a different shade, might need to weigh that up, or maybe look for some new bubble decals via supercheap, or autopro etc.

Maybe try on an out of the way sticker, or peel a small section off to check.

[Harry72]

Nothing that a decent buffing wont fix.(unless the paint is on its last legs)

[rrich]

If they're really "Decals" try warm soapy water.