Sail numbers

pete32

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2 Jan 2007
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Hi All, Has anyone any experience of removing sail numbers from sail? Thinking about buying a second hand racing sail but need to get the numbers off and new ones on pretty quickly.
thanks
Pete
 

VicS

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If stuck on warm cautiously with a hair dryer to soften the adhesive.

If sewn on unpick the stitches
 

Eygthene

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I used to peel them off cold (though the heating suggestion may be better). The main problem is removing the sticky mess that remains. I used to use carbon tetrachloride and a copious supply of kitchen roll. Even then, some of the mess remains.
 

aitchw

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If you warm them gently as VicS suggests and be patient, peeling off just the immediately warmed area you stand a good chance of not having tons of adhesive left behind.

With a pad of cloth behind the sail cloth use lots of small pieces of soft absorbent cloth (old tea-shirts are good) moistened with the solvent you choose, turning the cloth frequently and discarding it when you have no part of it uncontaminated with glue. I use acetone or a solvent used for cleaning off resin from tools but test a small area first if uncertain. Don't try to clean of a big area at a time, completely cleaning each bit as you go.

When finished leave to evaporate off a little and then wash with lots of water, initially with a little washing up liquid in then fresh water. Allow to dry thoroughly and check for any bits you've missed.

It takes a while but only gets messy if you slosh too much solvent around.
 

PuffTheMagicDragon

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Carbon tetrachloride is dangerous stuff! Its use for the removal of oil-spots in the apparel industry was banned way back in the early seventies; IIRC, it had something to do with liver problems.

I regularly use lighter fluid (e.g. Ronsonol) for cleaning off the sticky residue left after peeling off the leatherette from old camera bodies during restoration. I do not know how it works but the goo quickly becomes non-sticky and may be easily rubbed / pulled off in strings.

Might be too expensive, however, for large numerals.
 
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