Decal Removal from PVC (1 Viewer)

[aldhp21]

Last weekend we enjoyed a three day stay at Plough Lane campsite, Chippenham. Very nice and friendly site and the cleanest showers and toilets I’ve ever seen on a campsite.

Anyway when we arrive, they’re already two other IH’s on site and both of the 630FL variety, same as ours. So I got talking to the owner of a silver one and noticed the lack of decals on the vehicle. He’d removed all of them, and to my mind the van looked a lot better. So I’m thinking, I want to do the same.

Now the decals are mainly around the windows and I’m assuming if you apply a small amount of heat, with a hairdryer, I should be able to gently peel them away.

Questions.

• Am I right in using a hairdryer approach?
• Any there any potential problems I should be aware of?
  
• Will there be any visible signs after removal? I’m thinking of paint discolouration from sunlight.
  

Many thanks
Alan

 

[ambulancekidd]

A hairdryer or carefully used electric heat gun would do the trick if you insist on removing the decals. The paint under the decals will invariably be a bit brighter. These decals might run under the window rubbers etc, so great care when getting close to them. Don't be tempted to use a sharp blade to trim them, you'd be certain to go through the paint & cause rusting. this is a common mistake with vehicle wraps that are so popular just now. A decent polish followed by a decent coat of wax would make the change almost impossible to spot.

 

[PhilG]

I would think twice , as once you start , there is no stopping... My recent experience of removing door stripes on my 7.5t MH was a long and painful one.

IF you get them the right temperature, they will come off, but will likely leave a glue residue , sometimes that's easy to remove , or in my case it was an absolute arse , I have proper glue remover from a contact in the sticker business, and it took 2 full days to remove all the glue, on an area the size of half a door.

Its like deciding to polish something , and then finding out its too much effort , but you cant stop , because it will look worse unless you finish it properly.

learn to love what you have.

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[scotjimland]

Removing may also reduce the van's resale value.. and also make it more difficult to sell

If I were buying an IH.. I'd want it to look like an IH.. decals and all ..

I suppose you could always have new ones put on before selling ..

I'd save myself any agro.. leave well alone

 

[jockaneezer]

You got a picture of the other van without the decals ?

 

[Ralph-n-Bev]

We've noticed on quite a few ih's the decals are a bit gappy around the Windows. As though they don't tuck them under the seals/windows. You can often see paint between window and decal in areas.
We've been told by other owners that they scratch easily too, when cleaning.
I recon if you removed them it would look like a self build. Would you be able to sell it on to someone wanting an ih ?
When Ralph finished our self build "Pug" we chose not to put decals on.

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[Minxy]

This is something I've been thinking about for our Globecar and yesterday I did a mock-up of ours with the decals removed (both the 'globe' and the slabs above the windows), just leaving the name on the sliding door, before and after images below, whilst I'm not a fan of the globe I don't think removing the slabs does the van any favours.

 

[Minxy]

I actually think your van looks good with the decals on the side, the only thing I'd get shot of is the 'ih' on the door which I think looks weird!

 

[aldhp21]

I would think twice , as once you start , there is no stopping... My recent experience of removing door stripes on my 7.5t MH was a long and painful one.

Thanks Phil

I'd save myself any agro.. leave well alone

Thanks Jim.

After giving it a lot more thought and on reviewing the window sealant around the decals I'm going to take your advise and leave it as it is.

Thanks again all.
Cheers
Alan

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[aldhp21]

View attachment 118561
I recon if you removed them it would look like a self build. Would you be able to sell it on to someone wanting an ih ?
When Ralph finished our self build "Pug" we chose not to put decals on.

Pug looks really nice, love the colour.

 

[klaatu]

I actually think your van looks good with the decals on the side, the only thing I'd get shot of is the 'ih' on the door which I think looks weird!

I agree.

 

[jonandshell]

I am disappointed reading this thread.
The title suggested the subject might have been about removing a price tag from a garment from Ann Summer's 'specialist' department!

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[aldhp21]

I am disappointed reading this thread.
The title suggested the subject might have been about removing a price tag from a garment from Ann Summer's 'specialist' department!

Sorry Jon but gave up wearing PVC after that terrible accident.

 

[Gizmouk]

I think you're 'van looks pretty damn good with the decals

 

[wiljoy]

Removing any decals can be a lengthy process depending on vinyl quality. In MOST cases warmth from the sun is enough to allow easy removal. Excessive heat from a hair dryer could cause the glue to activate more or seperate from the vinyl which leaves a messy glue residue. I've removed decals from thousands of vehicles over the years and it can be a lengthy job. When we supplied graphics to the leisure industry they wanted them to look nice but use rubbish vinyl. This was fine but after a year the colour faded and removal was a nightmare. I assume that IH must fit the window surround decals after the window is fitted which will cause a gap, best to fit them before. You should not have a massive colour difference when they are removed and a tcut to blend it in should work ok.
Good luck. Wilf

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[Charlie]

Colour fade..... Beware.

You may think all that is required if the colour under the decal you remove is a polish. Sometimes it is but not always.

It is possible for a colour to fade to the extent that no amount of polishing will match the two colours. One colour being the exposed paint the other under the decal. It is possible for a colour to fade beneath the lacquer and when this happens you will always be able to see if you look close or from an angle where the decal was.

So the main area may have faded but under the decal will not have done cos its been covered up.

The newer the vehicle the less likely a problem but even 18 to 24 month old vehicles can show the above.

Your choice ..

 

[Minxy]

Not sure if it applies in this case but when we had an Autocruise Accent and had problems with the decals which needed to be replaced (these were massive black ones all round the van), we found that where they had started to come away on one side, under the decals there was a painted vertical strip on the van itself at each end ...

 

[Rob and Val]

The decals on our 22 year old 'van are now faded quite badly - the dark blue stripes in particular. Would it be recommended to (very carefully) paint over them?

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[Charlie]

The decals on our 22 year old 'van are now faded quite badly - the dark blue stripes in particular. Would it be recommended to (very carefully) paint over them?

IMO no.... Replacing them from a good sign writing studio where a good one can and will make anything for you should not cost much.

I was referring to the paint or finish fading around the decal where the paint or finish under the decal may and very likely will not have faded at all .

 

[Minxy]

We notice whilst at Malvern that some of the large black 'oblong' decals on our PVC have shrunk away at the edges and are likely to continue to do so, I mentioned to hubby about this thread and the discussion going on and we've had a good wander round Malvern looking at PVCs with and without (or with minimum) decals on and are seriously considering removing them from our Globecar, just leaving the bit above the cab doors, and the small curve and dotty ones lower down at the rear side along with the globe, and not do anything with those on the rear doors as they aren't shrinking at all. I've always felt that the large black oblongs were OTT, one thing that has always put me off Globecars generally, but not enough to prevent me buying one.

What do you think?

As it is now:

As it would be with minimal decals:

 

[LadyBea]

I think your van looks better with them removed, you've even removed the small piece above the cab door, which I think would look a bit odd leaving it there.

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[deleted-member02]

Personally, I'd leave them alone.
If I was a potential buyer, I'd be dubious of the vehicle's history with them missing, even if the owner had a credible story.
It was many years ago at a show, I was keenly looking at a van, a knowledgable old boy pointed out the decals were upside down !
We walked around a few vans and he pointed out several with clues/faults. I've been vigilant ever since.
I do accept that the majority buy blind though !

 

[LuCamper]

Not sure if it applies in this case but when we had an Autocruise Accent and had problems with the decals which needed to be replaced (these were massive black ones all round the van), we found that where they had started to come away on one side, under the decals there was a painted vertical strip on the van itself at each end ...

 

[Gromett]

View attachment 118694

Sorry Jon but gave up wearing PVC after that terrible accident.

Reminded me of this one.

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