Removing Stickers Under Clear

[sbCountry]

I tried doing a search on this topic and didn't come up with anything but if one is out there sorry for asking again.

I have been asked to place a mural of skulls in place of the stock HD sticker on a set of tanks. The goal is the leave the stock color...

I heard that it is possible to remove stickers that are under the clear by using a heat gun and lefting the edge of the sticker and peeling it off, doing little to no damage to the basecoat. This of coarse would destroy the clear but that is okay because I am going to be repainting that area.

Any thoughts or suggestions would be great.

 

[TWISTED]

If you are painting the area anyway then you can try shaving it with a razor blade. The base may get scratched a little but it will be covered later by the mural.

 

[Duleyman]

why dont you just scuff the tank fully with 600 grit then tape off everything but the stock HD sticker that has clear already on it, spray adhesion promoter in the sticker area, then proceed with your painting process... basecoat, mural, peel off all tape, clear whole tank let dry, sand and reclear! It would save time, and probably headaches.

 

[sbCountry]

Duleyman, I thought about that but what I am worried about the fact that the stock clear is not that thick and to sand it down to smooth out the raised area (the sticker) I might go though anyway. If I don't sand it smooth I would hate to do this great painting and be able to see the outline of the sticker... maybe a couple extra coats of clear would hide that edge?!

I just want advice from some pros before I attack this things. Thanks in advance for the advise.

 

[rex]

If you want to save the decal scuff up the tank and 3or 4 coats of hi solids clear will be enough to block smooth,preferably 4.If you want to remove the decals and not screw up the base you're looking at meticulous work that will still probably ruin the base just trying to lose the edge of the clear,not to mention the color difference where it is and isn't cleared once the decal is gone.

 

[sbCountry]

Rex my goal is to paint over it to do some mural work inside the original oval pinstriping. So I jsut need to hide the sticker and its edge.
This is all so I don't have to repaint the whole tank.

Thanks again.

 

[rex]

Ahh,got ya.You can either remove the decal and feather out the clear edge or spot prime to cover the decal edge,the latter being more of a butcher job.I'd squirt a little primer over the feathered out clear if possible.

 

[sbCountry]

Thanks Rex, I had figured the best way would be to remove the decal and feature the edge but I just needed to hear that. So the heat gun remove would prove to be the ticket in my specific case?!

Thanks again,
Scott

 

[rex]

Yeah,partially.If it's cleared in you'll need to sand the clear off the decal with something fine like 320 on the DA to break open the edge.Then you can warm it up to peel it off.Just be carefull digging up the edge of the decal not to unduly scratch the base.I use my fingernail if I have any at the time to work up the edge but you might have to do a little digging since the clear is right there.A few minutes work but much less than other options.You're going to post pix of it when you're done right?

 

[sbCountry]

Rex,
Thank you very much for all the advise. Yes, I will post pics as soon as it is done. It will have a mural of skulls and metal objects. If it comes out like what is on paper it should be pretty cool...(lots of freehand airbrushing)...fingers crossed.