Removing a decal

[G19Tony]

I have an old Ford gumball machine. I'm trying to replace the sticker on the glass bowl. I've tried: hot water, heat, WD40, MEK, and Goo Gone. Didn't make a dent. Does anyone have a better idea?

Thanks.

 

[29Sedanman]

You might try some laquer thinner and a new razor blade.

 

[ihrescue]

I have an old Ford gumball machine. I'm trying to replace the sticker on the glass bowl. I've tried: hot water, heat, WD40, MEK, and Goo Gone. Didn't make a dent. Does anyone have a better idea?

How about submersing the globe in boiling water, maybe the decal or its adhesive is water soluble.

I remember seeing similar decals that because of years of exposure began to crack and peel.

Maybe freezing it to make it brittle and take an E-xacto or razor blade to it while after removing from the freeze.

I wonder of they screen printed and baked it on?

 

[countryroad82]

Laquer thinner and a razor blade will make short work of that. Or if you want to get fancy a pinstripe eraser will do it too.

 

[gayler]

Laquer thinner and a razor blade will make short work of that. Or if you want to get fancy a pinstripe eraser will do it too.

+1 it may be paint and not a sticker.

 

[G19Tony]

I kind of thought it was paint, when I couldn't get a blade under it. MEK should have made short work of it, but, MEK these days is pretty diluted. I wish I had a can of the MEK we used in the Air Force, back in the 80's. That was some ******** chemical.

I'll try the lacquer thinner idea.

 

[LS6 Tommy]

I have an old Ford gumball machine.

Does it leak oil?

Seriously, If none of those products did anything it's probably a water transfer decal, not a sticker. A good, sharp, double edged safety razor blade is your tool.

Tommy

 

[404]

May be a fired on glaze.. Like pottery glaze.

Good luck,
404

 

[LS6 Tommy]

May be a fired on glaze.. Like pottery glaze.

Good luck,
404

That's a very good point.

Tommy

 

[Falcon67]

None of the above.
http://www.eastwood.com/vinyl-eraser-and-arbor.html

I bought one of these at the local auto paint supply. Used it to take the race stickers off the car. Rubs the sticker and goo off and does not harm the paint. This is what the pro body shops use, not chemicals that can lift paint or otherwise damage a finish. Should work the same on your glass bowl.

 

[LS6 Tommy]

None of the above.
http://www.eastwood.com/vinyl-eraser-and-arbor.html

I bought one of these at the local auto paint supply. Used it to take the race stickers off the car. Rubs the sticker and goo off and does not harm the paint. This is what the pro body shops use, not chemicals that can lift paint or otherwise damage a finish. Should work the same on your glass bowl.

I hope the globe doesn't break under the pressure...

 

[wagzilla]

Could you post a picture??

thanks
James

 

[G19Tony]

Could you post a picture??

thanks
James

 

[404]

Wow that looks like the stickers I used to put on plastic models as a kid.. Floated them off with water onto the plastic.

Doesn't mean that is what it is though.

What a nice resto on the machine. Looks like it might be the original paint on the base? Back when we made cast iron bases in the USA.

 

[rburke65]

No help here but I really like the Ford machine....and the garage color combination.

 

[Zrexxer]

Why are you trying to replace it? The one that's on there looks pretty good.

 

[G19Tony]

Wow that looks like the stickers I used to put on plastic models as a kid.. Floated them off with water onto the plastic.

Doesn't mean that is what it is though.

What a nice resto on the machine. Looks like it might be the original paint on the base? Back when we made cast iron bases in the USA.

It's the original base.

Why are you trying to replace it? The one that's on there looks pretty good.

There is printing missing on the white area. Also, I can't leave anything alone.

 

[stealthmagic27]

maybe its on the inside of the bowl just kidding. Try aircraft paint stripper

 

[WhoWhatNow]

I just picked some of these up for removing gasket material from aluminum parts. They may allow you to put more pressure on the glass without scratching it.

http://www.amazon.com/dp/B004623NU2/?tag=atomicindus08-20

 

[vintagespeed1956]

razor blade then some steel wool?

 

[zable9]

Goof Off from any big box store--cleans up almost anything...

 

[Zrexxer]

There is printing missing on the white area.

Probably happened when you soaked it in methyl ethyl ketone!

 

[G19Tony]

Probably happened when you soaked it in methyl ethyl ketone!

Nah, it was missing when I got it.

 

[Erampu]

A hammer will do the trick.

 

[Falcon67]

I hope the globe doesn't break under the pressure...

Very little pressure required. It's a big spinning rubber eraser. No need to press hard. Works better than heat or any chemical I tried. And I have lots of chemicals. I lost paint on one door trying the chemical approach. I also lost paint using the heat approach. And heating stickers also leaves goo that even Goo Gone/Goof Off/etc won't dent. With the eraser - comes right off.

>Goof Off from any big box store--cleans up almost anything...
Almost is right. Anything - not so much.

 

[RAMBIN]

soon as I read the head line I thought goo gone,,,and then read that you tried it with no luck which really surprised me... my trick on it is I soak a paper towel with it and put it over the sticker and let it sit for 20 or so..keeps it wet and lets her soak in a bit... ive had great success with it so you must have some kinda super power sticker on your hands there...

 

[MarkG]

I'm in the sign biz and never met a sticker I couldn't remove cleanly (if it doesn't, maybe it's screen printed) The adhesive from almost ALL stickers can be softened with a heat gun, so that's the first thing I try. Give it some heat and try peeling it right away before it cools down. You have to use some common sense though----I suppose in theory you could crack it if you got it too hot. If the bowl really is glass, as you said, you won't hurt it or scratch with a new single-edged razor blade, since glass is harder than mild steel. (unless you use carbide razor blades!! :s)

Between the heat and the blade and some thinner afterwards, you should have that thing slick as new in a few minutes.

 

[G19Tony]

I'm in the sign biz and never met a sticker I couldn't remove cleanly (if it doesn't, maybe it's screen printed) The adhesive from almost ALL stickers can be softened with a heat gun, so that's the first thing I try. Give it some heat and try peeling it right away before it cools down. You have to use some common sense though----I suppose in theory you could crack it if you got it too hot. If the bowl really is glass, as you said, you won't hurt it or scratch with a new single-edged razor blade, since glass is harder than mild steel. (unless you use carbide razor blades!! :s)

Between the heat and the blade and some thinner afterwards, you should have that thing slick as new in a few minutes.

I tried the heat gun and a blade. No dice. It may be screen printed on. I thought they were water slide decals and I would have it off in a minute also.

It really is glass.

 

[Falcon67]

>The adhesive from almost ALL stickers can be softened with a heat gun,
You should ask TCI what they use on their sticker (converter/transmission parts). Thinner, Goo ???, MEK, Berrymans, etc - not a dent. When the sticker finally got hot enough to start releasing the glue, the paint delaminated from the primer. The Melling and Auto Meter stickers did the same thing. Heat-test-heat-test-heat-test to sneak up on it and when the stickers let go, so did the paint under them. I used the eraser on the other side of the car - no problems, nice and clean. Learned the hard way, have to paint a door to fix one side of the car.

 

[MarkG]

Well being glass, you're not going to hurt it, so try some aircraft grade stripper from a paint store----that would be my next course of action I guess!

 

[LS6 Tommy]

If it is silk screened, hit it with some good brake cleaner. I've never seen any type of regular paint stand up to it...

Tommy

 

[404]

It's the original base.



There is printing missing on the white area. Also, I can't leave anything alone.

I used to mess with things that I should have left alone.. After a few disasters I am much more relaxed about non perfect things in my life.

 

[ihrescue]

If it is silk screened, hit it with some good brake cleaner. I've never seen any type of regular paint stand up to it...

Tommy

Tommy's right, brake cleaner takes off the stuff you didn't want to remove.

 

[G19Tony]

I used to mess with things that I should have left alone.. After a few disasters I am much more relaxed about non perfect things in my life.

I know. But redoing something is half the fun! I know I'm not going to do any damage.

 

[Tader82]

Use this all the time on painted and glass parts love them, they make my life WAY easier.

http://www.grainger.com/product/2EX...2EXZ7&ef_id=VK1fLgAAAHvKxhw5:20150204225552:s

 

[toplessHO]

If it is silk screened, hit it with some good brake cleaner. I've never seen any type of regular paint stand up to it...

Tommy

I do pad printing and I use an "ink" that 2 part like epoxy and is impervious to most solvents.
However a new razor blade will make short work of that.
be careful of the heat you could crack the glass

 

[ScottsGT]

Hey guys, I think that is a kiln fired on decal. It's now embedded into the glass. About the only way to get it off is to grind down the glass in that area and polish it. And good luck with that little task. Maybe a reproduction globe is in order?

 

[G19Tony]

Hey guys, I think that is a kiln fired on decal. It's now embedded into the glass. About the only way to get it off is to grind down the glass in that area and polish it. And good luck with that little task. Maybe a reproduction globe is in order?

I have a feeling you may be correct. Leaving it alone is probably the best idea. I may try a little dab of brake fluid on a corner.

 

[404]

I know. But redoing something is half the fun! I know I'm not going to do any damage.

My hat is off to you Sir, for your bravery!

 

[G19Tony]

Brake fluid didn't faze it. When the new sticker shows up, I'm just going to put it over the old one and be done!