Remove rear panel decal? Replacement?

twsnagel · Post by **twsnagel** » Sun Jan 07, 2007 6:29 pm

I need to remove the large decal from a Spree rear panel before I repaint.

I've tried all the old tricks - plastic putty knife, GooGone, etc. but no dice. Does anyone have any tricks to get this #$@*$( thing off? I've gone through three plastic putty knives and only got off maybe 1 square inch in an hour.

On another note, does anyone know a source for replacement Spree decals?

Paw Paw's Scooter · Post by **Paw Paw's Scooter** » Sun Jan 07, 2007 9:31 pm

Have you tried a hair dryer or one of those heat guns that are used to remove paint from houses? Be careful with a heat gun--they get really hot & can melt the plastic. Don't know where to find o.e.m. decal, but a graphics shop should be able to reproduce one. Would help to take a close up picture of one & also some measurements.

Farfignugin · Post by **Farfignugin** » Sun Jan 07, 2007 9:58 pm

Ok. Two things for you to know, because I have done this:
1. DO NOT USE A HEATGUN. It will not work, it will just melt your sidepanels.
2. The only way I got it to look nice is to tear the stcker off (doesn't have to be nice), and go through the sandpaper grits, 80, 120, 320, 600, 800, 1200(optional), and sand it till it's white.

Hope that helps, I did the same thing with mine and it came out nice.

twsnagel · Post by **twsnagel** » Sun Jan 07, 2007 10:18 pm

Thanks, Farfignugin!

Were you able to sand out the edges of the decal enough to blend with the paint?

-T

MySpree · Post by **MySpree** » Sun Jan 07, 2007 10:25 pm

or use a hair dryer!!! iv done it many times.

Post by **noiseguy** » Sun Jan 07, 2007 10:57 pm

New, clean razor blade will remove most of it. Goof-Off (liquid decal remover) or laquer thinner to remove goop, then sand. You'll pull paint from the sidepanel doing this but not a biggie for a repaint.

Farfignugin · Post by **Farfignugin** » Mon Jan 08, 2007 9:51 am

Yes, it's not too much of a deal to sand, but I wanted to emphasize not using a heat gun because I tried and now I have a small (about 1" diam.) dip in my sidepanel. Also it didn't really help with taking off the sticker.

Post by **noiseguy** » Mon Jan 08, 2007 9:27 pm

Heat guns do do a good job of straightening the tupperware-like plastic pieces i.e. legguard. I've roughed out several dimples from them with a heat gun and heavy leather gloves.