Is there an easy way to remove decals from a bike (without taking paint with it)? I have a twelve year old bike that I'd like to use for "winter/rain" riding. The decals are nicked up & ugly - and I'd like to remove them. Any suggestions would be appreciated.
Thanks
Steve

i too would like to know the answer to this. i can be a little helpfull here though, once the stickers are off, to remove the left over sticky glue on the frame, use WD-40 or acetone and a sponge with one of those plastic net covers (most auto shops carry them to remove bugs when washing car)

Just an idea but I'd try heating them up with a blow dryer. Might work!

Lighter fluid works wonders for removing decals and the associated glue residue.

Derek
Think

A lot depends on the painting and finishing technique. Some bikes have a base-coat clear-coat system, with decals underneath the clear coat. In that case, it's better to leave the decals in place.

>Is there an easy way to remove decals from a bike (without taking paint with it)?

No.

Aye, but there is, if the decals are ontop of the clearcoat. This of course does nothing for stuff under the paint but...


On Home Depo there is a pretty yello-orange liquid (smells great too) called Goo-Gone!, buy a bottle and liberally slop it onto a rag, wrap the rag around the frame where the decal is, pour on more googone so it's almost dripping, and then wrap the whole setup with plastic wrap, solid sheet, no seams on the downwards edge, to keep it wet...walk off and do something else for 24 hours. When you come back the decal should come off cleanly, leaving a solid sheet of glue on the bike. The glue should also come off in one stretched, soggy, violated, nasty mess, leaving a perfectly clean and perfect tube underneath.

I've never seen googone pull off paint of any type, but it's miraculous with adhesives.

I would like to remove the decals, too, on my Litespeed's seat tube. The rubber surfaces of the workstand clamp are of the sticky kind. Chips of the decals are now on the clamp.

Got a surly fork put on my bike (I like to spend money.) and the mech dude said that if I didn't like the stickers I could just cook them off with a lighter. Not going to try it.

Working at a burrito shop kicks ass.

Are we talking about decals, or stickers? Technically, decals are the screen-printed ones that slide off the backing paper with either water or laquer -- like the ones that come with plastic model kits. The other sort are really stickers, or labels, or appliques -- depending on how snooty you feel. These are thin sheets of plastic -- usually mylar, and have a pressure sensitive adhesive on the reverse side.

Stickers aren't too hard to get off; all you have to do is dissolve the adhesive under the sticker. As was mentioned, Goo-Gone is good. 'Goof-Off' is better. It's a mixture of xylene and toluene, and can dissolve most petrochemical products. Be careful though -- your paint is also a petrochemical product; don't leave it on too long. Fairly carcinogenic as well, so resist the temptation to bathe in it.

What is the best way to remove the decals, mswantak?

Bead-blasting the frame works well.

Decals can be a lot tougher to remove without collateral damage to the finish. As was already mentioned, if they're underneath a clear topcoat, you can just about plan on a repaint. If they're only sitting on top of the color coat, some gentle wet-sanding should do the trick. But you'll have to compound the paint after you're done.

that's the advantage Googone has...it takes patience, but you can't damage your paint with it.

Oh, I agree; you've gotta have as many weapons in your arsenal as possible. If I don't know for certain what sort of adhesive I'm faced with, I usually start off with Simple Green, then step up to Nature's Orange, Goo Gone, mineral spirits, lacquer thinner (toluene), then Goof Off.

If after all that, I still can't get the things off, I'm usually too stoned from the fumes to care...

Get a razor blade to pick the edge of the sticker up, and then peel it off. Clean off the residue with a paper towel and WD40.

edit:

Considering that stuff turned the black paint on my old bike to charcoal gray, I'm going to have to go ahead and disagree with you there.

denatured alcohol.