Polishing out remnants of previous company branding from the side of a van.

[CamperJack]

The walls of my van still have the faint (but quite visible in some lights) outline of where there was once company branding. I'd like to try and remove this.

Any tips?

At the moment my plan is a drill, some buffing drill attachment (see link) and some polish.

Amazon product ASIN B07SQZ875Y
Any better methods?

Which polish do you use?


EDIT:

I don't see my own link?

These:

 

[Geo]

Not the safest option a slower polishing mop would be better.
Sorry to say no matter how goid a job you do they will re appear.

 

[CamperJack]

Sorry to say no matter how goid a job you do they will re appear.

At least the butterfly that appears in the bright sunshine is quite pretty. Just reducing it would be good. It's quite obvious in the light.

 

[Landy Andy]

If it doesn’t go to plan, it gets serious, you can easily go through the paint. Especially if it’s been resprayed and high spots. I’ve done it myself.

 

[CamperJack]

If it doesn’t go to plan, it gets serious, you can easily go through the paint. Especially if it’s been resprayed and high spots. I’ve done it myself.

I don't think it's had a respray?

How hard were you pressing? If I manage that I'll have to get the spray paint out.

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[Badknee]

Personally I would get a detailing company to have a look at it.

 

[pappajohn]

A respray is the only way to delete the old signage.
It will be engrained in the paint.

 

[Jake vE]

Taking your time you should be able to improve it with a good polish with a fine cutting compound. You're better off with a dual action polisher so that you reduce the risk of generating too much heat in one spot. I suppose what you're actually doing is polishing the rest of the panel to match the areas that haven't been exposed to UV, scratches etc

 

[CamperJack]

Personally I would get a detailing company to have a look at it.

Probably best / easiest however I don't think I care enough to pay the sort of money a professional would want. Not that I have any idea how much it would be. Do you know, out of curiosity?

 

[CamperJack]

A respray is the only way to delete the old signage.
It will be engrained in the paint.

I'll give it a go and see what happens. I'll post before and after pics too. Nothing to lose other than the cost of the pads and a bottle of T-Cut. If I don't polish through the paint as Landy Andy says I might...

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[CamperJack]

Taking your time you should be able to improve it with a good polish with a fine cutting compound. You're better off with a dual action polisher so that you reduce the risk of generating too much heat in one spot. I suppose what you're actually doing is polishing the rest of the panel to match the areas that haven't been exposed to UV, scratches etc

Slow and steady to minimise heat. Good tip.

 

[Scotch mist]

the body shop I rented a unit too used an angle grinder with a polishing head on it , I imagine it’s much easier to control

 

[Grummyb]

I'd start with a rubbing compound, something like farecla and a microfibre cloth you will have more feel of what's happening what you are trying to achieve is basically removing a very thin layer of paint and a drill with a polishing bonnet and polish will just make it shinier

 

[Jake vE]

Where are you in Cheshire? I'm in Chester and have a dual action polisher plus farecla G10 which is a fine finishing compound and you can give it a try? Can't recommend a method as I'm still experimenting with it myself!

 

[CamperJack]

Where are you in Cheshire? I'm in Chester and have a dual action polisher plus farecla G10 which is a fine finishing compound and you can give it a try? Can't recommend a method as I'm still experimenting with it myself!

A kind offer. I may take you up on it when Boris lets us out to play again if I have no joy with the pads and a bottle of T-Cut I have laying around in the shed. Chester is about 30 minutes away.

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[Jake vE]

A kind offer. I may take you up on it when Boris lets us out to play again if I have no joy with the pads and a bottle of T-Cut I have laying around in the shed. Chester is about 30 minutes away.

No worries offer is there if needed

 

[CamperJack]

I'd start with a rubbing compound, something like farecla

So farecla is a different thing to polish like T-Cut and more appropriate for this job?

 

[pappajohn]

the body shop I rented a unit too used an angle grinder with a polishing head on it , I imagine it’s much easier to control

It resembles an angle grinder but it's a tad slower.
Angle grinder running at 10,000 rpm will certainly remove the paint AND some of the metal.
I believe the proper tool runs around 300 rpm.

 

[CamperJack]

It resembles an angle grinder but it's a tad slower.
Angle grinder running at 10,000 rpm will certainly remove the paint AND some of the metal.
I believe the proper tool runs around 300 rpm.

That's some speed difference!

 

[Gromett]

The other option to consider is vinyl wrap material. On my van the signage is within the recess completely so this year I will be putting vinyl wrap within the affected panels.

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[Scotch mist]

It looks like 3000 rpm max , but you get the idea

 

[Winger]

How about getting a suitable sized Camperjack decal made and lay it over the offending area?

 

[Grummyb]

T cut isn't a polish it's what is known as a cutting compound and it's the most rubbishy sort, Farecla is the main 1 used by bodyshops and it comes in different grades like sandpaper

 

[DBK]

You could have a look at claying, which is a more aggressive form of polishing. There are threads on here about it if you do a search.

 

[CamperJack]

T cut isn't a polish it's what is known as a cutting compound and it's the most rubbishy sort, Farecla is the main 1 used by bodyshops and it comes in different grades like sandpaper

If I have no joy with the T-cut I have laying around what grade farecla should I use?

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[CamperJack]

How about getting a suitable sized Camperjack decal made and lay it over the offending area?

Would be a perfect but I don't want to stand out too much.

 

[Grummyb]

I dont know what I've got because its down ths yard but Boris is using g10 so that is probably ok or if you ask the bodyshop supply company they will give you the right stuff

 

[Grummyb]

Silly statement but if are you building a stealth camper I'd leave the faded livery there it will stand out because people are used to seeing deliveried vans

 

[Landy Andy]

I don't think it's had a respray?

How hard were you pressing? If I manage that I'll have to get the spray paint out.

Not very hard, and using a proper polisher. Car had a bit of bodywork done in the past, unknown to me. Cost me a good few hundred to get it put right.

Good luck with yours.

 

[Just smiffy]

Depending how long the signage was on the van. it could be that underneath the signs it hasn’t been sun bleached where as the rest of the van has... polishing won’t make much difference..

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