Question: Removing decals/frame stickers - technique
06-19-11, 10:10 PM
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Question: Removing decals/frame stickers - technique
I'm building up a bike, a KHS frame - which is pretty nice but the front head tube badge is pretty... bleah. It's more of a sticker really. I'm thinking that I might just remove it and do some creative head tube badge (as the bike is being radically reconfigured anyway). I reckon I could just experiment, but what's the easiest way to remove the sticker? Hair dryer and a finger nail? it almost feels that I could get my fingernail underneath it right now.
06-22-11, 08:12 PM
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Heat gun/heavy-duty hair drier. It's like magic. Don't get TOO hot with a heat gun. Mine can remove paint quite well at the highest setting. Sneak up on it with the thermostat until it just starts to melt and peel up the sticker. That's where you want to be -it is possible to damage/peel the paint if you go too hot.
A little goo-gone after it has peeled up to get rid of any of the residue. There really isn't any other way that is as easy as that.
A little goo-gone after it has peeled up to get rid of any of the residue. There really isn't any other way that is as easy as that.
06-22-11, 08:38 PM
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You'll get higher temperature from a hair dryer by partially restricting the intake airflow with you hand, but it will never get hot enough to damage your paint like a heat gun can.
06-22-11, 08:49 PM
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A heat gun, especially a professional model, is a serious tool. It takes a fair bit of knowledge/experience to use one correctly. The biggest thing to remember is that good ones have a knob somewhere that controls the heat. Turn it one way it gets hotter, turn it the other way and it gets cooler. It's hard to wreck something with too little heat -but the reverse isn't always true. A high-power heat gun will melt paint at the top settings. Don't do that. If in doubt use a lower setting and work your way up slowly if need be. One needs to be smarter than one's tools.
06-22-11, 08:54 PM
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ill add (since i just removed the peskiest thin film sticker that was virtually painted on)... blow dryer heat and use any plastic credit card to scrape as you heat. try to get an edge and work the edge at a 45 degree angle, all the while keeping steady heat on. the plastic card will not harm the frame's finish.
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