removing decals without damage

[markyp]

ok peeps we all know the hair dryer technique for removing decals but if they are really old they tend to get distorted under heat either stretching or shrinking rendering them useless to scan to reproduce,so ladies how does one remove them without totally fookin em up,at least good enough to reproduce??

[stidds]

I have used lighter fluid to good effect Mark, it slowly disolves the glue.  Only problem is that it is potentially dangerous so no having a ciggy and the fluid will make the skin on your fingers turn white (until you wash them).

[monkian]

I had to do this a while back. This might help
http://www.radbmx.co.uk/forum/index.php'topic=125497.0

[markyp]

cheers chaps,del has pm'd me about the lighter fluid technique,wont it damage it at all though

[Del]

no its only disolves the adhesive, the decal will be fine unless you do it near a naked flame 

[markyp]

no its only disolves the adhesive, the decal will be fine unless you do it near a naked flame 

ok del,you is da man,are you any good with jigsaw puzzles

[stidds]

no its only disolves the adhesive, the decal will be fine unless you do it near a naked flame 

ok del,you is da man,are you any good with jigsaw puzzles

Hang on, why is Del the man considering I posted the same thing.  Why am I not the man also 

[markyp]

no its only disolves the adhesive, the decal will be fine unless you do it near a naked flame 

ok del,you is da man,are you any good with jigsaw puzzles

Hang on, why is Del the man considering I posted the same thing.  Why am I not the man also 

ok sean you can be da man too if you want

[markyp]

it just dawned on me that to get the lighter fluid to disolve the glue you need to have lifted the decal off slighty?is this correct? otherwise how do you get it underneath the decal to disolve it

[motomagII]

yep bit of fluid on the edge of decal and scalpel blade to just lift the edge a tad then seriously gently does it .if seen del do quite a lot of these and the trick is patience and fluid ,slowly slowly

[750Rush]

If this technique is used, how can the decal be reapplied if the adhesive is gone?

[Del]

If this technique is used, how can the decal be reapplied if the adhesive is gone?

it cant (well not very well anyway) this method is used so they can be scanned or sent to someone for reproducing.

[750Rush]

Got you. Thanks.

Does the hairdryer technique render the decal unsable too? Could it be reapplied if taken off with care without stretching? I've never tried and just wondered out of interest.

[Del]

the hairdryer makes removal easier by heating up 7 softening the adhesive, the only trouble i find is that it also makes the actual decal extrememly soft and prone to stretching, although application of heat again should cause the decal to return itself to near is normal size... it'll stil be sticky and you probably be able to use it again but it wont look too great.

[pickle]

bang them in the over afterwards and have some shrinkydink decals 

[Dannywhac]

bang them in the over afterwards and have some shrinkydink decals 

Didn't know stickers had an 'over' and why would you want to bang them in it 

[pickle]

Doh!  meant Oven