How to Remove Side Strips on VT/VX etc?

[finnbe]

Hey there. I have a VX II Executive, and as all Executive's do, this particular car has black strips on all four doors (in other models, such as acclaims - they are the colour of the car), as well as having them on to extra panels at the front of the car. I'll post some pictures below.

<img src = "http://i20.photobucket.com/albums/b215/finnbe/untitled-3.jpg"


Basically when these side strips are ripped off, two substances remain which were used to stick these strips on to the car. The first is a grey like double sided tape which is able to be removed by just peeling it off.

It is the second substance that I am having trouble removing. It is a black silicon like substance, which is definetly water proof, used for outdoors, and goes extremely hard when set.

I have tried removing this black stuff using heat (a hairdryer), which does not work because it also peels of the paint behind the substance. I have also tried cutting it off, and then using a scourer to clean it nicely, the problem is these cuts have to be made with precision, and one small mistake results in a nice cut in the paint behind. And after a hundred cuts or so, this seems a bit difficult.

Here's a few pics of it (I've combined it into one pic).

<img src = "http://i20.photobucket.com/albums/b215/finnbe/P1010129.jpg">

So I am appealing to anyone that has any idea how to remove these strips!! Please suggest anything that you might no of!!!

Thanks in advance, Benjamin.

[dufus]

use a caramel wheel in an electric drill to remove the skidaflex (the black silicone substance).

[kinga]

U tried to use a good wax and grease remover (like the one u use before painting), or maybe metho?
THinners will just rip the paint off, so dont use that.
I de-badged and took the same strips of my vs and used a GOOD razor blade ( get a scraper blade from bunnings) Wax and grease remover to get rid of most of it, then used a cutting compound to get rid of the rest and take out the minor scratches i put in it!

[1991_Vn2nV]

use a caramel wheel in an electric drill to remove the skidaflex (the black silicone substance).

Sikaflex Exactly right about the caramel wheel though.

U tried to use a good wax and grease remover (like the one u use before painting), or maybe metho?
THinners will just rip the paint off, so dont use that.
I de-badged and took the same strips of my vs and used a GOOD razor blade ( get a scraper blade from bunnings) Wax and grease remover to get rid of most of it, then used a cutting compound to get rid of the rest and take out the minor scratches i put in it!

Wax and grease remover etc. wont remove sikaflex, as said it needs to be a caramel wheel.

[hitman1979]

i just used petrol with a rag. just let the petrol soak in to the stickerflex and rub with a rag

[1991_Vn2nV]

i just used petrol with a rag. just let the petrol soak in to the stickerflex and rub with a rag

Petrol on a rag might get 'stickerflex' off but it wont remove the amount of sikaflex that he has on his doors. A caramel wheel is cheap and easy.

[Boganhunter]

use a caramel wheel in an electric drill to remove the skidaflex (the black silicone substance).

I've tired using a rubber wheel but it is a bit too harsh on the paintwork - where would I be able to find a caramel wheel?

[dufus]

Try a body shop supply store or go to a crash repairer and ask if you can buy one off them because places like autobarn and repco wont stock them.

[Boganhunter]

Are they a special type of rubber compound? What do they look like?

[1991_Vn2nV]

Repco etc. do sometimes stock them but bunnings etc. may have them also.

[dufus]

They look like this:

[Boganhunter]

Cool, I'll check out a few places and see if I can get one tomorrow.

Thanks for the help guys!

[jasonx]

I know this is an old post. I work in signage and we use these wheels to remove vinyl etc. So you can try most signage suppliers, they will stock them.

Conect Enterprises have them also.
Accessories - Conect, The Vinyl Digital Media Specialists, Melbourne. Stockists of Roland Printers & Cutters, Eco Sol Max Ink, Avery vinyl, Calon Vinyl, Metamark vinyl

Link for future reference.