Teran Marsell | Published on June 5th, 2017
We’re always talking about what it takes to design and install high quality vinyl vehicle wraps, because it’s what we do best. However, at best, vinyl vehicle wraps only last up to 7 years. This means, at some point, vinyl vehicle wraps have to come off.
Sometimes car owners simply want vinyl wraps removed. Other times they want the vinyl wraps removed and replaced. Either way, the removal process for vinyl vehicle wraps can be tricky.
Here’s everything you need to know about the removal of vinyl vehicle wraps:
Pulling Wraps Off Is Easier Said Than Done
Our group of expert designers and technicians do a lot to make sure that the vinyl vehicle wraps we install to cars hold up for a long time. Therefore, if removing vinyl vehicle wraps was as easy as simply pulling vinyl wraps off of vehicles, then we would be concerned.
The Tools Needed To Remove Vinyl Vehicle Wraps
Team Acme, Inc. approaches the removal of vinyl vehicle wraps the same each time. Our first step is to gather the tools we need to successfully remove vinyl vehicle wraps. We also keep in mind that different factors affect the swiftness of the removal process for each car we work with. Here are the tools we keep on hand for vinyl vehicle wrap removals:
- Cleaning Supplies, Soapy Water, Paper Towels, Method of Rinsing
- Heat Source—heat gun, hand held torch or the sun
- Blade, Xacto Knife, or Clicker Knife
- Citrus Degreaser
- Isopropyl alcohol
- Rapid Remover—breaks down and removes adhesive
- Vinyl Off—removes vinyl and adhesive in one step
- Power Stripe Eliminator—rubber wheel designed to attach to an air or electric power drill. This tool makes the removal of vinyl vehicle wraps from a large fleet of cars efficient.
- MBX Vinyl Zapper—25mm toothed rubber wheel that grinds vinyl away from clean metal, glass, or fiberglass without damaging the substrate or finish.
The Vinyl Vehicle Wrap Removal Process
Step One: Clean The Vehicle
It’s important to clean the vehicle before using a heat gun or hand held torch near it, because debris on the vehicle might be flammable. It’s not the end of the world if vinyl gets torched, but it can damage the vehicle and make the removal process more difficult.
Step Two: Heat The Vinyl
Heat the area of vinyl you are preparing to remove with a heat source that is approximately 125 degrees Fahrenheit. If the temperature exceeds 125 degrees, then the vinyl might delaminate and leave the adhesive behind.
Step Three: Lift Edge Of Vinyl
Lift the edge of the vinyl with your blade. Once you remove enough vinyl to get a good hold on it, lift the vinyl by pulling away from the vehicle at a 15-degree angle. If you pull the vinyl away from the vehicle at a greater angle than this, then it might cause the vinyl to delaminate and leave adhesive behind.
The age and type of vinyl on a vehicle affects this step in the process. The younger and more pliable the vinyl is, the easier it is to pull off in big sections.
Step Four: Remove Leftover Adhesive
If adhesive is left behind, then bath the adhesive with degreaser. Let the degreaser stand for 45 seconds to 1 minute so the adhesive absorbs the degreaser. Next, wipe the adhesive away with a cloth saturated with the adhesive remover. Rinse the surface of the car with soapy water to neutralize the adhesive remover.
Remove Your Vinyl Vehicle Wrap With Team Acme, Inc.
Call us today at 702-566-8326 to make your. You can also fill out the online contact form on our website to get in touch with our team.
