How to remove and replace old decals?
 

I just snagged an early 70's Moto Grand Record and while the paint is in decent shape, the top tube decals (some of my favorite ever in that 'jet' font), are nearly rubbed away.

Any experience gently removing the remaining to make room for replacements (from Cyclomondo I suppose)?

-Jesse

IMO the best you can do is to sand the decals u have in there right now. 600 grit wet sand paper and be careful ok?

Second option maybe goo off, but all depends on what type of decal, are u talking about vinyl decals or water slide decals???

Hot air hair dryer, and fingernail or old driver's license, carefully.
As the decal or sticker gets hot, the glue gets soft, and it's removable.

Extreme Goo Gone works well afterwards.

I've also soaked a rag in Mineral Spirits and gotten the decal good and wet with it, then wiped it off.
A few seconds later, the decal will often start to deteriorate. Be careful, or it could take paint, too.
You can repeat that process a few times.

Basically, diligence and perserverance, and you can have a nice frame with no decals.

I have had really good experience with using a hot air gun used for model planes followed by the goo be gone for any little goo left behind. Some times you learn by a little trial and error. I would be careful if you decide to sand. Pretty easy to take off to much or go into an area you don't want and have to do a full repaint.

Are you sure it is a decal? My Grand Record is painted.

From Stronglight's flickr:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/stronglight/2495201981/

If it's truly a decal, try Bestine (rubber cement thinner) for cleaning up the residue. Works like a charm and won't harm the surface. (But use gloves and ventilation because it is a solvent.)

You know - I believe you are correct, Mr. Parker. My GR is the same, but in a fraction of the condition of Stronglight's. I suppose delicate solvent use is the way to get it off. Dang...now I'm going to want to paint on new lettering. A super sharp Exacto and some airbrushing frisket as a stencil maybe?

I've had good luck with nail polish remover.

If you could pull that off you're a better man than I am Gunga Din. One of the slickest looking fonts ever, in my opinion. If you must replace them, I'd buy some from Greg Softley. I believe I'll have to disagree respectfully on them being painted on, however. They sure look it, but I find it hard to believe Motobecane would have done that on so many production bikes. That's one tricky paint job. On all those different models. I believe they're transfers of some sort. But I am going to take a closer look at these with my little 20 x glass , and see if I can tell.
http://i1227.photobucket.com/albums/...love/Moto7.jpg

[QUOTE=mparker326;13776689]Are you sure it is a decal? My Grand Record is painted.

+1

My Le Champion lettering was paint. Same on my Grand Jubile'.

[QUOTE=dck;13777709]It is very possible the "paint" you are seeing is silk screen. That would meet the needs of production (i.e., replication of the Art Deco font consistently, over and over again) and result in a look that appeared to be painted. If that is the case it still leaves the OP having to make a decision on how to proceed. That font, by the way, is available. I'd have to check my font library to see what the name is, but it's in at least one of my collections.

Really Azorch? Very interesting. I'd be very curious to know what it's called. Just because I like it so much. I think it's one of the coolest graphics on any 70's bike. I think you may be right. Silkscreen. Though I'm trying visualize how they did it. Spraying paint would require a very sophisticated mask. One set for each bike. It's possible that after they sprayed the main frame color an adhesive mask was applied to the frame and the graphics were sprayed. And then the mask removed and discarded. Quite involved. A screen would have been used over and over again, but it's still interesting to contemplate how they might have done it.

I absolutely don't know for certain - this is pure speculation on my part - but silk screen meets that requirement. The same screen gets used over and over again and is easily re-created when one screen wears out from too much use. Unlike most other forms of printing, silk screen can be printed onto a variety of irregular and curved surfaces. Not sure about spraying and using a mask - that's outside my experience, but I agree that it seems sophisticated for this purpose. (Obviously, I could be completely wrong about that though.)

I'll wander through my font library when I get a chance and dredge up a name, a sample, and the font house for you.

It could be a solvent-transfer decal, which is basically paint, silk screened onto a carrier film then wetted with a solvent and applied to the frame. It makes the transfer look painted on.

Yes, that is a distinct possibility.

This is what I was thinking. Is this the same as Varnish fix transfer?

Varnish fix decals use an adhesive (varnish, shellac, or ?) painted on the back of the dry silk screen transfer. Then the excess varnish is carefully removed from the area once applied.

Solvent transfer uses a solvent to slightly soften the decal and/or frame finish so the image will stick. Given the font on the decal is so fine, I was guessing a solvent transfer.

Sooooo - blowtorch?

Kidding. This is an enticing mystery. My money would be on the most cost efficient method which would seem to be solvent transfer. The stuff still on my top tube is pretty crusty. I'll try some nail polish remover and a scrapey credit card or something.

Agreed - the font is tops. ROOTBOY - is Greg Softley one of the Ebay guys like J R Restore or Cyclomondo? I purchased Ciöcc decals from Cyclo before and was very pleased with them.

Is that your Team Champion? Ooooh boy. Where can I find more pics? Beauty.

-Jesse

Jesse,

Yes, Greg Softley is Cyclomondo on ebay. He does good stuff. Yes, that is a Team Champion. Thanks.
You can see more pics here:
http://s1227.photobucket.com/albums/...cpZZ1QQtppZZ16