Community Forums

sgtjoe · 09-06-2015, 08:04 PM

I'm thinking of having my old decals removed and new ones installed. Will the 3m wheel eraser damage the Gel coating?? The place I'm looking at uses the wheel to remove the old decals and I was just wondering if the wheel could damage the Gel coating and fiberglass on my MH??

Steve1313 · 09-06-2015, 08:10 PM

The decals are probably installed before the gelcoat is applied, so guess you would damage gelcoat. You may want to test an inconspicuous area with the wheel.

ChasA · 09-06-2015, 08:32 PM

Now there's an erroneous answer. Gelcoat is the second thing sprayed into a mould, the first is a release agent. Fiberglass assemblies are built from the outside to inside. After the unit is built, the decals are applied.

dpinvidic · 09-06-2015, 08:34 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Steve1313

The decals are probably installed before the gelcoat is applied, so guess you would damage gelcoat. You may want to test an inconspicuous area with the wheel.

That is not how fiberglass components are made.
They are made bg spraying (or hand laid) into a mold.
The gel coat goes on first, then followed by fiberglass shot through a chopper gun.
Decals are put on after the coach is finished.

3m wheel is is probably best if used properly. Heat gun is too easy to damage the fiberclass.
Hair dryer should be ok.

Regards,
Dan

fredtoo · 09-06-2015, 08:36 PM

Check Amazon for wheels less expensive than 3m. (AES Industries)

ronspradley · 09-06-2015, 09:04 PM

My decals were very very cracked and faded. I tried the 3M wheel on a drill and it was very slow. Then I tried 3M - 7517 LASR DISC LG AREA REMOVAL. Expensive but effective. Use with a variable speed buffer/polisher.

Best of luck.

ronspradley

kustom · 09-06-2015, 09:09 PM

going to watch this

Scarab0088 · 09-06-2015, 09:53 PM

We just paid for a professional decal removal and detail.

They used a mix of straight blade razor to gently remove the most supple decals (like using a putty knife) peeling by hand, then they added a heat gun with the straight razor on the less supple decals, then used an eraser wheel for the most stubborn decals.

The eraser wheel did leave some marks on 2 areas of the fender skirt skins, but only visible if looking for it.

When using the heat gun, the foreman was constantly reminding the crew to keep the gun moving, to avoid too much heat in any one area = preventing delamination of the fiberglass and wall.

The decal removal was the largest part of the job, but the glue residue removal was just as important and was the main job of 1 of the 3 man crew. If missed, any leftover adhesive would prompty collect everything from dirty fingerprints to dust in the wind.

The next step was the detailing - started with a complete cleaning with a pressure wash then complete handwash using BarKeeper's Friend powder cleaner and rinse.

The last step was a total wipedown with 4 layers of a liquid wax.

We were so happy with the job that we had them come back later for a recaulking of all external seams and aluminum wheel polish.

The RV looks almost new in all-white (signature photo needs to be updated). We know all white is not for everyone, but I am not willing to ever reapply decals and a paint job requires we design something to our taste...'cuz the GIANT swoops and loops that are SO COMMON, are just not to our liking.

Best luck

sgtjoe · 09-06-2015, 10:21 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Scarab0088

We just paid for a professional decal removal and detail.

They used a mix of straight blade razor to gently remove the most supple decals (like using a putty knife) peeling by hand, then they added a heat gun with the straight razor on the less supple decals, then used an eraser wheel for the most stubborn decals.

The eraser wheel did leave some marks on 2 areas of the fender skirt skins, but only visible if looking for it.

When using the heat gun, the foreman was constantly reminding the crew to keep the gun moving, to avoid too much heat in any one area = preventing delamination of the fiberglass and wall.

The decal removal was the largest part of the job, but the glue residue removal was just as important and was the main job of 1 of the 3 man crew. If missed, any leftover adhesive would prompty collect everything from dirty fingerprints to dust in the wind.

The next step was the detailing - started with a complete cleaning with a pressure wash then complete handwash using BarKeeper's Friend powder cleaner and rinse.

The last step was a total wipedown with 4 layers of a liquid wax.

We were so happy with the job that we had them come back later for a recaulking of all external seams and aluminum wheel polish.

The RV looks almost new in all-white (signature photo needs to be updated). We know all white is not for everyone, but I am not willing to ever reapply decals and a paint job requires we design something to our taste...'cuz the GIANT swoops and loops that are SO COMMON, are just not to our liking.

Best luck

Where did you have it done and how much? Also, our's is white, could you post some pics of what she looks like all white?

Scarab0088 · 09-06-2015, 10:43 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by sgtjoe

Where did you have it done and how much? Also, our's is white, could you post some pics of what she looks like all white?

The work was performed on-site by a mobile detailer/RV repair shop in San Diego. $1,950 for all 4 jobs (decals, detail, recaulk, and wheel polish) They have a warehouse shop too, but came to us for the same price. PM if you're interested in more detail about them.

We have not downloaded the photos from our camera yet, but it looks exactly like this (a friends) Outlaw:
http://www.irv2.com/forums/f121/outl...ml#post1649909

Here's a pic from the cell phone...you might be able to see a bit of adhesive residue on the front cap (the crewman was about the turn the corner as he worked around the RV behind the decal removers)