3G TL (2004-2008)
Sponsored by:
Sponsored by:

THE BEST Way to Remove Pinstripes?

Thread Tools
 
Search this Thread
 
Old 02-28-2010, 06:52 PM
  #1  
Moderator
Thread Starter
iTrader: (3)
 
CLtotheTL32's Avatar
 
Join Date: Sep 2008
Location: Charlotte
Age: 35
Posts: 36,679
Received 9,508 Likes on 6,177 Posts
THE BEST Way to Remove Pinstripes?

Yes I searched but I couldn't get a definitive answer.

I hate the damn gold pinstripes down the side of my car and I would like to remove them.

Has anybody here successfully removed theirs?

I've read that using a hairdryer and/or a heat gun is best since the pinstripes are held on using an adhesive. Is this true?
Old 02-28-2010, 07:04 PM
  #2  
3rd Gear
iTrader: (1)
 
jb_supermoto's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jan 2010
Age: 63
Posts: 3
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
I took mine off first thing when I got the car.. Heat gun on low.. I found if you get it too hot the striping stretches when you are peeling and breaks. If it isn't hot enough the stuff chips off in tiny pieces. You will find the right temp. It took me a fender and a door to figure it out.. Then you will have a slighty shiny place that your stripes used to be. They protected your paint from the car wash etc.. Just a quick once over with some good cleaner/wax and you're all set.. Good luck and have patience.. it takes a little time.. It's just a long skinny decal..
Old 02-28-2010, 07:10 PM
  #3  
Wiggy Wiggy Wiggy
 
powerflow's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jan 2008
Age: 44
Posts: 1,363
Likes: 0
Received 45 Likes on 41 Posts
Not all pinstripes are the adhesive type. Some are painted.

Check to see if it is the adhesive type, that would be step one. You should be able tell if you look up close and if you can pick away the edge with your finger nail.
Old 02-28-2010, 09:25 PM
  #4  
Racer
 
t3hanarchist's Avatar
 
Join Date: Oct 2009
Age: 32
Posts: 359
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
use a heatgun and continuously spray soap/ water mixture onto the spots
Old 02-28-2010, 09:31 PM
  #5  
Senior Moderator
iTrader: (1)
 
ggesq's Avatar
 
Join Date: Sep 2006
Location: Tampa, Florida
Posts: 12,452
Received 2,182 Likes on 1,210 Posts
i put in "remove pinstripe" in the search and came up with these threads:

https://acurazine.com/forums/showthr...move+pinstripe

https://acurazine.com/forums/showthr...move+pinstripe

https://acurazine.com/forums/showthr...move+pinstripe

https://acurazine.com/forums/showthr...move+pinstripe

the last thread linked above discusses pinstripes that are painted on.
Old 02-28-2010, 10:16 PM
  #6  
Advanced
 
UNC96XJ's Avatar
 
Join Date: Oct 2008
Location: Raleigh, NC
Age: 39
Posts: 81
Likes: 0
Received 1 Like on 1 Post
If you need a heatgun, Harbor Freight sells for $10.
Old 02-28-2010, 10:20 PM
  #7  
Suzuka Master
 
Jesstzn's Avatar
 
Join Date: Oct 2005
Location: Trail BC CanaDUH
Age: 79
Posts: 7,424
Received 293 Likes on 253 Posts
Originally Posted by jb_supermoto
I took mine off first thing when I got the car.. Heat gun on low.. I found if you get it too hot the striping stretches when you are peeling and breaks. If it isn't hot enough the stuff chips off in tiny pieces. You will find the right temp. It took me a fender and a door to figure it out.. Then you will have a slighty shiny place that your stripes used to be. They protected your paint from the car wash etc.. Just a quick once over with some good cleaner/wax and you're all set.. Good luck and have patience.. it takes a little time.. It's just a long skinny decal..
This is about the best .. you need to watch the heat gun as it can get hot enough to bubble the paint .. even a hair dryer at the right distance from the surface will do it.

If you have residual adhesive left over use Rubbing Alcohol or Goo Gone then the cleaner wax.
Old 03-01-2010, 08:09 AM
  #8  
Moderator
Thread Starter
iTrader: (3)
 
CLtotheTL32's Avatar
 
Join Date: Sep 2008
Location: Charlotte
Age: 35
Posts: 36,679
Received 9,508 Likes on 6,177 Posts
Thanks for the responses everybody. I usually quote everybody and then type back, but I'm too lazy

It sounds like I need a heat gun. I would like to buy one so I don't have to deal with borrowing one and such, but I'm not sure I would use it ever again. It sounds like I may have to get out a hair dryer and sit out there for a while.

And I looked at my car once again this morning and it looks like the pin stripes are the sticker type, not paint.
Old 03-01-2010, 08:37 AM
  #9  
Suzuka Master
 
Jesstzn's Avatar
 
Join Date: Oct 2005
Location: Trail BC CanaDUH
Age: 79
Posts: 7,424
Received 293 Likes on 253 Posts
Hair dryer isn't going to take that much longer .. you'll be ok .
Old 03-01-2010, 08:47 AM
  #10  
Too Fast TOO FURIOUS
iTrader: (4)
 
enigmaos's Avatar
 
Join Date: Sep 2006
Location: Long Island, NY
Posts: 6,571
Likes: 0
Received 2 Likes on 2 Posts
Keep us posted.
Old 03-01-2010, 09:28 AM
  #11  
3rd Gear
iTrader: (1)
 
jb_supermoto's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jan 2010
Age: 63
Posts: 3
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
I forgot about the Goo Gone..I did have to use that as well.. Just go to Harbor Freight and get the cheap heat gun. You will find many uses for it later.. Like anytime you want to remove a sticker. Good luck..
Old 03-01-2010, 09:30 AM
  #12  
Drifting
iTrader: (13)
 
dwb993's Avatar
 
Join Date: Sep 2005
Location: Shrewsbury, PA
Age: 60
Posts: 2,957
Received 209 Likes on 170 Posts
I removed mine last Fall. Let it sit in the strong sun for a bit, then hit it with a hairdryer. It takes some time and patience, but they will come off. As mentioned earlier, Goof-Off, Cleaner/wax will remove the lines in the paint for the most part. No need for a heat gun---let the sun and the hairdryer do the work for you.
Old 03-01-2010, 11:35 AM
  #13  
Intermediate
iTrader: (1)
 
BestKeptSecret's Avatar
 
Join Date: Feb 2010
Posts: 32
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Originally Posted by jb_supermoto
I forgot about the Goo Gone..I did have to use that as well.. Just go to Harbor Freight and get the cheap heat gun. You will find many uses for it later.. Like anytime you want to remove a sticker. Good luck..
youll find plenty of uses for goo gone later on also
Old 03-01-2010, 12:45 PM
  #14  
Moderator
Thread Starter
iTrader: (3)
 
CLtotheTL32's Avatar
 
Join Date: Sep 2008
Location: Charlotte
Age: 35
Posts: 36,679
Received 9,508 Likes on 6,177 Posts
I have a huge bottle of Goo Gone that I'm sure I'll put to use.

It sounds like I need to wait for a warmer day and then put the hairdryer to work.
Old 03-01-2010, 12:58 PM
  #15  
Wiggy Wiggy Wiggy
 
powerflow's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jan 2008
Age: 44
Posts: 1,363
Likes: 0
Received 45 Likes on 41 Posts
I would do something like this:

- Eraser wheel on a drill at low speed, or die grinder at low speed
( this will remove the stripe very quickly )
- Wipe with wax/grease remover solvent
- Clay bar
- Machine polish
Old 03-01-2010, 04:28 PM
  #16  
Moderator
Thread Starter
iTrader: (3)
 
CLtotheTL32's Avatar
 
Join Date: Sep 2008
Location: Charlotte
Age: 35
Posts: 36,679
Received 9,508 Likes on 6,177 Posts
Hm, never heard of an eraser wheel. That sounds a lot easier than picking it at it with my fingernail.
Old 03-01-2010, 04:54 PM
  #17  
Too Fast TOO FURIOUS
iTrader: (4)
 
enigmaos's Avatar
 
Join Date: Sep 2006
Location: Long Island, NY
Posts: 6,571
Likes: 0
Received 2 Likes on 2 Posts
^don't clip your nails for a week before you start. Get some nail polish while at it to make the them stronger for the pinstripe.
Old 03-01-2010, 05:01 PM
  #18  
Moderator
Thread Starter
iTrader: (3)
 
CLtotheTL32's Avatar
 
Join Date: Sep 2008
Location: Charlotte
Age: 35
Posts: 36,679
Received 9,508 Likes on 6,177 Posts


As much as I want that pinstripe gone, there is no way in hell I'm putting on nail polish and shit like that. If I have to, I'll get my mom and my girlfriend out there
Old 03-01-2010, 08:41 PM
  #19  
Registered but harmless
 
Will Y.'s Avatar
 
Join Date: Aug 2005
Location: Los Angeles, CA
Age: 59
Posts: 14,857
Received 1,148 Likes on 775 Posts
Use a hair dryer in the p.m., after the car has been sitting in the sun for the day; do NOT use any grinder or eraser wheel, esp. if you've never used one before.

Originally Posted by enigmaos
^don't clip your nails for a week before you start. Get some nail polish while at it to make the them stronger for the pinstripe.
FWIW, the proper way to put on tape pinstripe in the old days was to lay it onto the car, then put a coat of clear nail polish over the ends of the stripe sections to keep the ends from coming up due to heat, etc.
Related Topics
Thread
Thread Starter
Forum
Replies
Last Post
iRaw
ILX Photograph Gallery
30
08-05-2016 04:41 PM
CL-S progression 01
Car Parts for Sale
65
01-26-2016 04:15 PM
dainmezron
4G TL (2009-2014)
16
10-16-2015 06:56 PM
detailersdomain
Wash & Wax
3
10-09-2015 10:13 PM
lowgrowl
3G TL Tires, Wheels & Suspension
2
09-26-2015 05:18 PM



Quick Reply: THE BEST Way to Remove Pinstripes?



All times are GMT -5. The time now is 12:52 PM.