Community Forums

Mike Canter · 03-17-2016, 03:34 PM

Has anybody ever tried removing the front protective film with a pressure washer starting at the edges?

Robert T · 03-17-2016, 04:38 PM

Please do not do this as the paint will come off. I recently had to replace my 3 m film due to a collision .

I removed some myself and the shop removed the rest. I had success by using some heat from a heat gun on low and peeling back in very small pieces.

At times I was able to peel enough back and was able to grab onto a piece and pull on it while using some heat and remove a large piece.

Be careful!! If too much heat is used the film becomes brittle and or the paint will lift.

It will take at least 12 to 16 hours to get this film off. A 30% chance that some paint will peel.

If you trying to hide a worn out film,I would suggest purchasing a vinyl bra and the old film would prevent chaffing of the cover on the front cap.

Mike Canter · 03-17-2016, 05:57 PM

Thanks, but I know how to take it off with heat and/or steams do have done that before. So I don't need to cover that procedure again. There are many posts on it The question was if anyone has tried a pressure washer using a wide angle nozzle and low pressure. No theories if it will take the paint off or not. I need to know if anybody has tried it

jacwjames · 03-17-2016, 06:01 PM

I used a good size steamer, working in a small area. I would use the steamer in conjunction with heavy plastic scraper. Sometimes I could heat & scrape ~1/2 wide strip for 10-12 inches.

After I got a ~2' X 2' area free of the mask I worked on getting the adhesive off. I found straight gasoline worked the best. My wife had puppy training pads in the coach, absorbent on one side, I'd pour gas on the absorbent side and the lay it across the area I wanted to clean and wait a couple minutes. I could then scrape the adhesive off.

It took me ~40 hours to take my 3M mask off. I only had a couple place where the paint came off, mostly caused by rock chips.

Mike Canter · 03-17-2016, 06:56 PM

Please, don't want to know other ways to take it off. I amtrying to find out if anybody has tried a pressure washer to peel it off

Dupdyke · 03-17-2016, 07:02 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mike Canter

Please, don't want to know other ways to take it off. I amtrying to find out if anybody has tried a pressure washer to peel it off

So who has anyone hired to do the job

NHRA225 · 03-17-2016, 07:06 PM

Mike-- I don't think a pressure washer will do the job your looking for, I remove mine every 4 to 5 yrs or so with a Heat Gun.

IlliniCathy · 03-17-2016, 10:10 PM

Yes , we are in the process of taking ours off with a commercial, heated pressure washer. Yes it does take the paint too, but it does strip the mask off. We will repair and NEVER EVER put another one on!

10Boomer · 03-17-2016, 10:17 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mike Canter

Please, don't want to know other ways to take it off. I amtrying to find out if anybody has tried a pressure washer to peel it off

Mike the long and short of the process in NASCAR we used to use the 3M mask to protect the front from the tires balls that hit and mark the front. ( this is when we use to paint the cars) now we do overlays. The pressure washer will work with heat, it will take the paint too. If you repainting you would care right. If your not it will be a mess. If you that way. If we had to remove from hood edge and front valance we used a heat gun. Hope that helps.

Sent from my iPhone using iRV2 - 2008 Monaco Camelot 40 PDQ

nodine · 03-18-2016, 03:16 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dupdyke

So who has anyone hired to do the job

We used these folks in January:
Florida Applied Films – Tampa, FL – HOME

Two guys took off the front mask in a little less than two hours using two commercial wall paper removers and about 100 plastic razor blades. They had something they sprayed on and wiped the glue off. When they finished the paint looked like new. I could not believe how good it looked. They would not tell me what was in the spray bottle to remove the old glue.

Bob

H. Miller · 03-18-2016, 06:10 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by nodine

We used these folks in January:
Florida Applied Films – Tampa, FL – HOME

Two guys took off the front mask in a little less than two hours using two commercial wall paper removers and about 100 plastic razor blades. They had something they sprayed on and wiped the glue off. When they finished the paint looked like new. I could not believe how good it looked. They would not tell me what was in the spray bottle to remove the old glue.

Bob

Bob,
What did they charge?

nodine · 03-19-2016, 04:46 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by H. Miller

Bob,
What did they charge?

PM sent.

Bob

MikeandJan · 03-21-2016, 02:52 PM

I'd also like a ballpark number of what it costs to have the film removed. I have a vinyl bra to cover the mess up but I'd like for it to be gone.

Mike

bigjim8499 · 03-22-2016, 05:32 AM

I had this done a few months ago by Dazleing Detail out of florida. It was 750 to remove and 750 to reinstall.This included repainting the damage. I chose to reinstall because if it last another 10 yrs I wont need to worry about it. The new film is 4th generation. Why is it no one wants to post the price they paid for something????

Jim E
06 exec