How to Remove Pinstripes From Your Car

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By aerle1
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Nothing accents the sensual curves of your vehicle like an elegant pinstripe. Painted pinstripes on a beefy hot rod can draw attention at a cruise-in or car show. However, some people think that pinstripes should be like a mural. If you have a vehicle that has more color than a tattooed carny, then we can help.

Difficulty: Moderate

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

Razor blades/razor blade scraper
Solvent based adhesive remover (SEM's SEM-solve or 3M's General purpose adhesive remover work the best. Available at your local auto supply store or paint supplier.)
Lacquer thinner or enamel reducer (automotive)
Chemical resistant latex or nitrile gloves (mechanics and auto painters use them to protect their skin from solvents and chemicals.)
Rubbing compound (3M or Meguiars)
Heat gun (A hair dryer will work in a pinch)

Step 1

Determine if your vehicle has vinyl or painted stripes. Some of the larger stripes that run down the side of the vehicle are actually air-brushed decals.
Step 2

If your vehicle has vinyl stripes, are they the thin accent stripes or the larger stripes, 1" wide or more? If they are the thin ones, take the razor blade scraper and hold it sideways to the panel. Starting at the end of the stripe, slide the razor blade under the stripe along the panel. Basically, you are cutting the stripe off the panel, between the stripe and the adhesive. Be extremely careful; if the razor blade catches the paint, it can skip. If you're going too fast, you can seriously take a chunk out of yourself. Try to go slow and steady. If you get to curved area, you may just have to try to pull the stripes off.
Step 3

Once the stripes are off, remove the remaining adhesive with the solvent. Make sure you are in a well ventilated area. If not, use a respirator with organic vapor cartridges. Put your gloves on and wet a rag with solvent. Rub it over the adhesive until it soaks in and starts to remove the adhesive. The adhesive will start to come off in big, slimy goobers that stick everywhere you don't want it to. When the adhesive is all off, your panel may have areas that are different colors. Use rubbing compound to try to make these areas look better.
Step 4

If you have the larger stripes, you can use the same process. Just do smaller areas at a time. You may need to use a heat gun to soften the stripes or decals. Autobody shops have air tools with stripe "erasers" that make short work of these types of stripes. Sometimes they leave marks or remove poorly applied paint jobs.
Step 5

If your vehicle has painted stripes, use the lacquer thinner or enamel reducer to test a spot and see if the paint comes off. Most vehicles have clearcoat paint that prevents the stripe paint from staining. Some older cars may have a non-clearcoated surface that stains easily or comes off with the lacquer thinner or enamel reducer.
Step 6

If the painted stripes come off without leaving marks or stains, use the solvents to wash off the remaining painted stripes. Try to avoid getting the solvent on molding and emblems. It can ruin them. Some people have tried to use Easy-Off oven cleaner on the painted stripes by spraying it on, letting it sit, then washing it off. This process has had limited success, but is not recommended.
Step 7

Clean up, polish, enjoy!