Removing old transfers from GRP hull?

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ChasB

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Old, cracking and flaking thin blue and brown strips all the way around a 80s white GRP Carver hull. Time they went!

But how? So far the only technique that works is
1 - scraping with a flat thin wallpaper scraper (a heat gun seems to help a little, but it's diffilcult to do both at once and I'm worried about damaging the hull)
2 - removing the leftover gunk with white spirit (acetone also works, but it would take a gallon!)
3- sanding down the surface lightly.

Looks good, but it takes forever!

Who's got any ideas? Thanks! :)
 
I did this to remove a pinstripe a few months ago, using a hairdryer as a paint stripper is far too hot. I used my thumb nail but after one side I had to wait a week for the brusing to disappear to do the second side. That side was less sun damaged and mostly peeled off in longer pieces. Once removed the acetone easily removed the glue left and I didn't use much for the whole of the boat all the way along both sides, plus a few logos. I found an excellent website to make the logos and supplied new pinstripe. I wil see if I can find it again for you.

Leonie at this website Vinyl Boat Lettering - Art & Sea - Custom Vinyl Graphics, Boat Graphics
 
Hairdryer and a Halfords ice scraper worked well for me. A wall paper stripper can have very sharp corners that can damage the gel layer. And then acetone to remove the glue residue.
 
Thanks.

The heat gun has several settings, and can be set on low. It also has a stripping attachment, which has sharp corners! I might try filing those down.

I like the ice scaper idea for a softer surface.

Time for a trip to Homebase.

I laready got my replacement lettering from Vinyllettering
 
Jamie Dundee said:
+1 for hot air gun on low setting. Once you get a feel for how much heat is required it’s reasonably easy.
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Agreed but never use paint stripper gun on GRP - you'll regret it. Patient softening with hairdryer is best and scraper with blade ends rounded off to prevent scratching.
Remove residual adhesive with window cleaner fluid. Residual colour difference after removal is somewhat harder to disguise.

PWG
 
An old credit card makes a reasonable scraper that's gentle on the GRP. But heat is what softens the glue if they're self adhesive plasticky vinylly things. It's a long job.

One complication is with the finished result. The GRP under the stickers will have been protected from the sun so probably it will be a different colour from the hull that's been exposed to sunlight.
 
jbweston said:
An old credit card makes a reasonable scraper that's gentle on the GRP. But heat is what softens the glue if they're self adhesive plasticky vinylly things. It's a long job.

One complication is with the finished result. The GRP under the stickers will have been protected from the sun so probably it will be a different colour from the hull that's been exposed to sunlight.
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Also - as I found - protected from years of cutting back the surface so standing up a little bit proud of the rest of the hull.
 
DJE said:
Also - as I found - protected from years of cutting back the surface so standing up a little bit proud of the rest of the hull.
Click to expand...
When I removed the name from my boat, I found where the lettering had been stood proud although to my knowledge, the hull had never had cutting paste used. I think it's just atmospheric erosion.
 
Used to remove a few large vinyl stickers from hgv trailers, wall paper steamer works wonders, and made the job very easy.
 
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