RE:[Paddlewise] Removing decals from fiberglass kayaks

From: Matt Broze <mkayaks_at_oz.net>
Date: Sat, 10 Mar 2001 01:40:43 -0800
Michael Daly <michaeldaly_at_home.com> wrote:
Amie got a new Shadow, but they put an Eclipse decal on it.  We got a proper
set of
Shadow decals in the mail and I now have the task of replacing the old with
the new.
Any ideas on how to remove the old ones without damaging the gelcoat?
I guess soaking in water won't work!

Once you are really sure the kayak is a Shadow and not an Eclipse, try
warming the decal up with a heat gun or hair dryer to soften it up some.
Next use a fingernail to get a corner of the decal up and try peeling it off
while warm. Keep the heat gun moving and try not to get the fiberglass
hotter than you can stand to hold your hand against. A solvent like Acetone
or gasoline will clean up the adhesive residue, but be careful not to use a
wool rag or anything that might make a spark from static electricity and
wear rubber gloves when using a solvent. If it doesn't look like you will be
able to remove the decals another option would be to use the acetone to
remove the printing on the original decal and stick the new decals right
over the old ones if they are the same size. Use a mist of water when
putting the new decal in place and then work the water out from the middle
to the edges (to avoid bubbles of air getting trapped under the plastic
decal and possibly to allow positioning it).
Matt Broze
http://www.marinerkayaks.com



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Received on Sat Mar 10 2001 - 03:08:15 PST

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