Didn't Chelly do a debadging how-to? I can't find it.
____________________ Project FocusFast
'06 ZX3- Intake, exhaust, mount
'01 ZX3- Salvaged, SOLD
'01 ZX3- Repo'd several years ago
'80 RX7 SA- Where the f*** did THAT come from?
I did, think it got lost...I had it on MFF.com too.
the pic files were on my other pc, which the ex-dick loaded w/ a virus and destroyed...blah, blah, blah
I'll poke around...
Basics begin w/ if you can do it as soon as you buy the car...easier - I take off the dealer badging immediately.
Warm weather is better - I actually did mine when it was in the upper 50's lower 60's and windy...pulled out the hairdryer. I considered the heat gun, but didn't want to scorch the paint accidentally and hairdryers usually have nice adjustable temp levels.
Warm it up nice and get yourself some dental floss. The badging can be different for all models. I know in 00&01 they were flat and rather ridgid - my 2k2 had 'puffy' badging - more foam backing to it.
get the floss or actually the waxed tape works wonders...wedge it in under the adhesive and start moving it accross - while against the paint and separating the two. You may need to heat repeatedly, depending on the temp you're dealing w/ .
peeling carefully of course, sometimes they'll come right off without any of these steps.
if you have decal residue, I used brake cleaner sprayed onto a cloth - just a dash - gasp if you must, but she got one heck of a wax job after that. A great 'tool' for removing adhesives from your paint - w/out damaging the surface (I'd still wash w/ soap and water, spot wax) is GOO GONE. works well on some tar/bug stuff too.
Make sure you clean whatever mess is left and polish or wax where it was removed.
VOILA! Much better w/ the pics, but I'll see what I can find.
____________________ Get in, Sit down, Shut up and HANG ON!
OK I was going to debadge my '06, and will be debadging the '01 when I go to paint. I just couldn't find how to do it
<3 Goo Gone.
____________________ Project FocusFast
'06 ZX3- Intake, exhaust, mount
'01 ZX3- Salvaged, SOLD
'01 ZX3- Repo'd several years ago
'80 RX7 SA- Where the f*** did THAT come from?
Scraper (plastic if possible, wrap the metal edge with masking tape if you must use metal)
Heat gun
Use the heat gun to soften the adhesive, slowly work the blade behind the badging while keeping the surfaces warm. Goo Gone will get the residue off with little effort.
Yeah I found a How-To in the Haynes Xtreme Focus book my brother gave me for Christmas. (hey, it's the thought that counts!)
____________________ Project FocusFast
'06 ZX3- Intake, exhaust, mount
'01 ZX3- Salvaged, SOLD
'01 ZX3- Repo'd several years ago
'80 RX7 SA- Where the f*** did THAT come from?
The book said to use a hairdryer. Soon as the weather gets nice, she's gettin done.
____________________ Project FocusFast
'06 ZX3- Intake, exhaust, mount
'01 ZX3- Salvaged, SOLD
'01 ZX3- Repo'd several years ago
'80 RX7 SA- Where the f*** did THAT come from?
I was using a heat gun to remove decals from cars when I was 15 and working at a detail shop so I wouldn't rank the risk very high for damaging the paint. Odds are that if you have a heat gun you know how to use it. Obviously a hair dryer is better than nothing but I'd still use a heat gun.
I'm not saying that our members are idiots in here, but I always err on the side of caution and give the fact that I've seen some dumb stuff done to vehicles...
I highly recommend hairdryer for those who don't have the confidence in the heat gun.
You can still scorch paint w/ a hairdryer, but it's going to take more to do it.
I know Dan has a heat gun that gets crazy hott and has no temp control...I wouldn't use it on paint.
just my
____________________ Get in, Sit down, Shut up and HANG ON!
____________________ Project FocusFast
'06 ZX3- Intake, exhaust, mount
'01 ZX3- Salvaged, SOLD
'01 ZX3- Repo'd several years ago
'80 RX7 SA- Where the f*** did THAT come from?
well i didnt use a heat gun.....the only removal of decals was the dealer one that was from a used car lot. well i used a razor blade, and made 3 tiny scrapes in the paint on the trunk so im picking up touch up paint to fix it.
____________________ You can't FOCUS on my car cuz its soo blurry when i pass you!!
Using a heat gun to take the badges off a car is a little overkill, most badges are foam backed and you can remove them by carefully starting them with a thin one-sided razorblade, then gentle pulling pressure will get the job done. Removing dealership decals and all other vinyl is super easy, just heat it up with a heat gun. don't worry too much about marring the paint. You'll bubble vinyl before you ever bubble paint. I wouldn't recommend de-badging a brand new car because the paint hasn't cured yet. All paint takes a good 6 months to fully cure and harden. I use a heat gun all the time for vinyl. No worries there.
WD-40 always worked for me. Just spray some on a cloth and then hold the cloth to the decal for a little while. The foam backed badges are a bit different. Just let a little of the WD40 drip in from the top against the paint and be patient.
____________________
A man is not old until regrets take the place of dreams...John Barrymore
WD-40 Eh? Never thought of that, but i'm thinking that's because there's probably silicone in it, and silicone in a paint and body shop is BAD NEWS. I think though it's a great idea for at home in the garage.
