What is the best way to get pinstriping off? I am getting ready to start prepping for some paint and was wondering what is the easiest way to get this old striping off.

Thanks,

Mark

If the pinstriping was of the vinyl tape variety, then a heat gun and a razor blade/putty knife will work great. Be careful when using a raxor blade as you need to keep the blade almost flat to the surface of the paint.

If the striping is paint, then you just have to sand it off.

Both with the heat gun AND the razor blade.

When using the heat gun, use it at it's LOWEST setting, keep it moving and do not under any circumstance keep it on one spot for longer than a second or so. Most heat guns out there can readily produce heat in the hundreds degree farenheit and will literally BURN the paint, primer or stripe. Using the gun at it's highest setting will cause problems as the amount of time between Ready and BURN is about half a second.

Your intent with the heat gun is to cause the adhesive on the vinyl stripe to soften enough to allow you to peel up an edge and then with slow and constant tension pull up on the vinyl and remove it.

The razor blade needs to be used very carefully. Especially if you've used the heat gun as then the paint has been softened some by the application of heat. It does not take much for the cutting edge to BITE into the paint. Personally I would avoid using the razor blade.

You can also look into a couple other products. There is a product out there sold specifically to remove the paper price stickers adhesive. It is basically a penetrating oil, but the advantage is that it soaks the label and the adhesive and ~cuts~ it. WD-40 will also do this, although if your intent is to eventually paint the car, be aware that WD-40 has silicone in it and you need to be aware of it's proclivity to producing fish eye.

2¢

Thanks for the replies! It is the tape kind of pinstriping so I'll pick up a heat gun and go at it.

Thanks,

Mark

You've probably already removed your pinstipes and I hope you didn't screw up the paint in the process.

For future reference. The safest way [for the paint finish] is to buy an eraser wheel at your local body shop supply place. These fit on a drill and will cost anywhere from $10 to $20. They won't hurt the paint finish at all as long as it's fully cured paint.

I've heard that a hair dryer can work instead of a heat gun.

I did not get to removimg it yet, but I will check into that eraser wheel. Thanks for the tip!

Mark:classic:

I second the eraser wheel - did it 3 times - works great!

- Jeff