Removing Vinyl Lettering When Selling a Work Vehicle
First appearances count, and that is especially true when you sell a vehicle. In fact, the Automobile Association states that giving the vehicle a full detailing, inside and out, can "really make a difference to the price and how easily you can sell your car." Advertising slogans and company logos stuck to the vehicle are not desirable selling points, so they should be removed before the vehicle is offered for sale. Removal must be done carefully so as not to damage the body and reduce the value of the vehicle.
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Instructions
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Removing From Glass Windows
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Wash the window with warm soapy water to remove dirt and grease that could scratch the glass.
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Apply a razor blade on a handle to one edge of the lettering. Keep the blade pressed firmly against the glass and pointing toward the letter. Scrape the blade back and forth, pushing it under the lettering, pulling back a little and pushing forward again. Continue until the letter is lifted from the glass.
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Dab the area with a soft cloth soaked in adhesive solvent to remove lingering traces of adhesive, and then wash the window.
Removal From Bodywork and Bumpers
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Wash the bodywork in warm water to remove dirt, mud and grease.
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Hold a hair dryer about 6 inches above the body work and direct hot air onto the vinyl lettering. Don't melt the vinyl; heat it until it begins to lose adhesion with the bodywork.
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Slide a fingernail under one side of the letter to lift an edge away from the bodywork. Pull gently to lift the vinyl from the surface. Apply more heat as soon as lifting the vinyl becomes difficult. Alternate the heating and lifting until the letter is removed.
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Clean the area with a soft cloth soaked in adhesive solvent to remove the last traces of the lettering, then wash the area with warm soapy water.
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Tips & Warnings
Lettering may have protected the paint beneath it, leaving it in better condition than the surrounding paint. Apply a cutting compound to the paint to blend the protected and worn areas together. Effective alternatives to commercially available adhesive solvent include denatured alcohol and penetrating oil.
Don't rush or use excessive force. Slips cause scratches.
References
- Photo Credit Ryan McVay/Photodisc/Getty Images
