Removing a bumpersticker

[lawlesseyes]

My Beast has a bumper sticker on the rear bumper. I want to remove it. Any idea's on what I can use to do this? What's the best product etc etc.
Thanks!

[Lmhansen]

Plastic razor blades. Sharp enough to get under the sticker, dull enough not to scratch your paint.

If there's still "gunk" on there after the sticker is gone, rub it with car wash soap, and use the plastic razor blades again to scratch off the gunk. And, if that doesn't get it all, you'll need to bring out the claybar...

[kcfoxie]

I use acetone for the sticky stuff, it works really well. Put the acetone on a washcloth, rub away the goo, then use soap and water *immediately* on the areas the acetone touched. acetone can and will remove paint if it sits long enough, but it's also one of the only solvents i've found to remove practically any gooy substance known to man.

[FineExampl]

If it's sticky, goo-gone should work just fine. Any kind of mild sovent. Grease Lightning might help if you let it soak, but be sure to wash and wax afterward to save your paint. I would advise not to scrape it with anything other than your fingernail. You might scratch the paint. Light surface scratches can be buffed out though.

If the adhesive is dried on, that'll be more difficult, but you would just have to soak longer.

I wouldn't use acetone as it may harm the finish if left on. WD40 might work as well, but you'd have to wash it off

Might even want to try a "cleaner wax". I've been using that a bit lately and find it helps.

[lawlesseyes]

Thansk everyone! I'll go with the picking it off and then trying goo-gone or some other lite solvent on any residue left on. If that fails, I'll go with the other.
I'll let you know how it comes out.
Beastmaster.

[Billsbug]

Goo Gone works gr8 on any residue: http://www.magicamerican.com/googone.shtml

[kcfoxie]

make no mistake: acetone WILL hurt the paint and clear coat if left on. Thats why I said to apply it to the cloth first, then wipe, and immediate disolve it in water (acetone is deactivated, basically, by water). I keep it stockpiled for other projects; I find it to be great. I wouldn't recommend using it on plasics like what is found on the inside of the car, but I've used it to remove 3M Badge glue residue with 100% success and no damage to the clearcoat (and it's been more than 6 months with sun beating down on it -- no discoloration I can see).

But, the milder stuff probably would be best to try first

[Billsbug]

Originally Posted by kcfoxie

make no mistake: acetone WILL hurt the paint and clear coat if left on. Thats why I said to apply it to the cloth first, then wipe, and immediate disolve it in water (acetone is deactivated, basically, by water). I keep it stockpiled for other projects; I find it to be great. I wouldn't recommend using it on plasics like what is found on the inside of the car, but I've used it to remove 3M Badge glue residue with 100% success and no damage to the clearcoat (and it's been more than 6 months with sun beating down on it -- no discoloration I can see).

But, the milder stuff probably would be best to try first

Don't get acetone within a mile of your car. Use mineral spirits if u need something strong.

[geezerb]

After you get the sticker off, you can remove the adhesive with peanut butter. Just leave it on over night and you will be able to just wipe it off in the morning. The oil in the peanut butter does the work.

[Shutterbug]

Acetone is fingerpolish remover! Paint thinner! Its great if dealing with glass but don't get it near the paint!

This is too simple:

Use about about 2 tablespoons of Blue Dawn dishwashing liquid in a quart of very warm water. Soap up the gooey part and rub with your fingers in circles. Some will remain, rinse and repeat but this time use your thumb and fingernails, in stroking motions and it will pile up and be easy to pull off. If you have an old cotton diaper its gentle enough but can remove the hardest goo and bug gunk.

Never use any type of razor unless working on glass.

Rinse and dry

[Billsbug]

Originally Posted by geezerb

...you can remove the adhesive with peanut butter.

Smooth or crunchy?

[Lmhansen]

plastic razors are perfectly safe for use on cars. I used these to get rid of decals all over my NB without leaving any scratches.
http://www.scraperite.com/Product%20Uses.htm

[neko]

Do not use acetone if you are not 1000% sure of what you are doing it will strip the clear coaat and the paint.
Goo-gone is what I use too, I have a reserve at home near the car. I also use it to remove tree sap when necessary.

Should goo-gone not be availabe try grappa [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Grappa]. It works great and the leftover can be used as fuel for a tractor if you have one ( http://www.thewavemag.com/pagegen.ph...rticleid=25954 )
I'm ovbiously kidding about the fuel, not so much about the use to remove the glue, probably any alchool based product will do, but once grappa worked for me (and then I drank the leftover )

[geezerb]

Originally Posted by Billsbug

Smooth or crunchy?

Granted, the smooth would apply easier but I only keep crunchy in the house. A man can't go around wasting perfectly good peanut butter!!!

[Shutterbug]

Originally Posted by Lmhansen

plastic razors are perfectly safe for use on cars. I used these to get rid of decals all over my NB without leaving any scratches.
http://www.scraperite.com/Product%20Uses.htm

True, they may work but if your not absolutely sure what finish you have, the slightest pressure could leave a visible difference and not give an even look when removed.

And chances are....you already had Blue Dawn in the kitchen, nothing else to buy



When in doubt....JUST ASK ZAINO!

http://www.zainostore.com/

Nothing better

[lawlesseyes]

Thanks to all the helpful tips.
In the end, picking it off with my fingernails and then using Dawn to wash away any left over residue worked out just great.
Thanks again,
Beastmaster

[from Margaritaville...]

Originally Posted by geezerb

Granted, the smooth would apply easier but I only keep crunchy in the house. A man can't go around wasting perfectly good peanut butter!!!

Brilliant!! Just smear some peanut butter all over that bumpersticker and I'm sure some dog will come by and just lick that thing right off!!!

[QQQ]

I was doing a search on bumper replacement instructions and came across this thread. I know I'm resurrecting an old thread but could not help but add my $.02. If you have an adhesive sticker or emblem you want removed, heat it up with a hair dryer. This is how I remove stickers, especially dealership emblems and other stickered stuff (UPC stickers for rebates too . Once you remove the sticker, use WD40 to remove the remainder of adhesives and finally wash it off.

[yeller beetle bug gal]

this works with dealership emblems? heating with a hairdryer then spraying WD40 on it? will WD40 mess up your paintjob? i really want to get Mike Patton Auto off my car, which is in black lettering on my bug.

will using something like TarnX be safer -which is used to get tar and grease off the paint work???

[wawalker]

I realize this thread is an old one, but I want to post for future reference. I used to work in a sign shop where we removed vehicle graphics and lettering MORE times than I care to remember--lease returns, logo changes, etc.

The best thing to use is HEAT--get out your hair dryer and warm it up really good, get the adhesive soft, keep the heat on it, grab a corner and peel it off. Then use Goo Gone to remove any adhesive residue--it is not necessary to use more aggressive solvents.