Decal Removal

[sanwin17]

I just picked up a used Yamaha RBXA2. Someone stuck a flame decal on the front of the upper horn. Looks like it could be an automotive decal. Any ideas on how to remove it without damaging the finish?

[Dave in LB]

Use a hair dryer on the decal in the hi heat setting.It will take a while to heat the glue to the point it dries out but it will and you can flake the sticker off at that point. Then touchup with a tine bit of mineral spirits or Goo Gone to get off any remaining glue. Work slowly.

[walterw]

that's your plan B.

first, get some naphtha (ronson zippo lighter fluid), which will dissolve glue without harming the finish. soak the sticker, peel slowly, then clean up the residue with more naphtha.

[sanwin17]

Thanks for the suggestions. I'll post before and after pics.

[jimbilly]

Yes, 'pure Naptha' is the stuff, I got a nice quart from the local Ace hardware for a couple bucks, it has removed a lot of stickers.
Some stickers are really evil, but you can usually get a corner up, and peeling very slowly sometimes helps. I wonder if keeping it in a warmer room (say 80 deg F in the bathroom) would make the really bad stickers come off easier.

[sanwin17]

Even before I got your suggestions I tried soaking a small area of the decal with Goo Gone. My wife uses this all the time to remove sticky labels from merchandise. I was able to peel off a portion of the decal. So I soaked the entire area for 3-4 hours. Then, using a razor blade to lift a corner, I was able to slowly peel off the entire decal. I cleaned the residual goo off with Kolstein Instrument-All cleaner. I have been using this product for years to remove resin residue from the strings and wood top of my upright bass.