Removing decals from Snap-on tool boxes

[deeno]

I'm in the market for a used box and I'm finding some KRA4114 & KRA4107 combos, but some have the large NASCAR or Drag racing theme decals on them.

Has anyone successfully removed these large factory decals from a Snap-On box? If so, how did you do it? Was the paint underneath damaged or a different shade than the exposed paint?

Thanks in advance for any help.

Dean

 

[Keep]

Peel off what you can then use some "Goo gone" that stuff will clean off anything left.

I cannot answer as to the fading paint.

 

[Stephenw]

Warm the stickers up with a heat gun. Keep the heat gun moving and do not get the paint too hot. This makes the stickers easier to pull off. Use an adhesive remover such as Goo Gone to remove the glue residue.

 

[hades02]

Goo Gone and a hair dryer works great. I removed the emblems from
my motorcycle's tank using this method. Do not try to peel
it off cold and without goo gone or wd-40, it will just rip
in pieces and drive you crazy sort of like wallpaper.

 

[back2class]

go gone will most likley damage the paint. WD-40 will work slower but be safe for the paint.

 

[jimmycrackcorn]

Warm the stickers up with a heat gun. Keep the heat gun moving and do not get the paint too hot. This makes the stickers easier to pull off. Use an adhesive remover such as Goo Gone to remove the glue residue.

I would go with this method, It can remove stickers in one piece, and glue goes with it, i would try goo gone on area first.

 

[Stephenw]

go gone will most likley damage the paint. WD-40 will work slower but be safe for the paint.

I've used Goo Gone on lots of things. I use it all the time to remove adhesive residue from price tags. I've never noticed any damage to paint.

 

[Jokeman]

Goo Gone will not damage the paint. Its a citrus based cleaner. I think you might be thinking of Goof-Off. That stuff is nasty.

 

[ron in sc]

The best remover for taking of adhesive with no paint damage is 3M General Purpose Adhesive Remover.

 

[Jiffycake]

I have used a hair blower (not heat gun) and dental floss to remove lettering on cars.

 

[J.A.F.E.]

Plain old naphtha (aka lighter fluid) works well for removing most pressure sensitive adhesives. It is generally harmless to paint, but test first.

 

[ricleh]

Snapon CrudThug or similar tool with the eraser wheel.

 

[-B-]

90% rubbing alcohol and a heat gun will do it fast and cheap.

 

[Merkava_4]

Just to elaborate on the previous recommendations:

You're gonna start at one corner of the decal and heat up a small 3"x3" area with the hair dryer to soften the adhesive underneath; then you're gonna lift up one edge and start pulling on it. It'll pull up easy when the adhesive is soft from the heat.

You're gonna keep pulling until it's hard to pull again; that's where you're running into cold adhesive. Heat up another small area and pull. You're gonna heat and pull, heat and pull, until you get the whole decal off. The adhesive residue left behind is what you can remove with Goo-Gone and a towel.

 

[autoace]

Goo Gone and a hair dryer works great. I removed the emblems from
my motorcycle's tank using this method. Do not try to peel
it off cold and without goo gone or wd-40, it will just rip
in pieces and drive you crazy sort of like wallpaper.

Gas tank, hair dryer

 

[nissan_crawler]

Gas tank, hair dryer

Big deal, like you could ever light off gas inside a metal tank with a hair dryer. If you're that scared, fill it up first.

 

[USMCvet]

Gas tank, hair dryer

What do you do if it's a hot summer day with temps in the 90's or above, and it's sitting in the sun all day?

 

[fatfillup]

Definitely do not overheat paint and don't use a razorblade. Merkava 4 has most thorough directions, fllow his advice.

 

[back2class]

Goo Gone will not damage the paint. Its a citrus based cleaner. I think you might be thinking of Goof-Off. That stuff is nasty.

Yes. I was thinkin goof-off

 

[autoace]

Big deal, like you could ever light off gas inside a metal tank with a hair dryer. If you're that scared, fill it up first.

You are technically right but..........I remember telling a buddy, not to use a hairdryer, to get bubbles out of non-dry urethane once..it was the electrical sparks, not the heat...that sent his floor ablaze. I know not quite the same thing......

I'm the type of guy that always uses saftey glasses at the grinder, always uses jack stands, won't aim an unloaded gun at someone, always "wrapped before railing" when I was single....if my caution seems stupid, well it only take one goof to make a real mess. IMO

 

[nissan_crawler]

You are technically right but..........I remember telling a buddy, not to use a hairdryer, to get bubbles out of non-dry urethane once..it was the electrical sparks, not the heat...that sent his floor ablaze. I know not quite the same thing......

I'm the type of guy that always uses saftey glasses at the grinder, always uses jack stands, won't aim an unloaded gun at someone, always "wrapped before railing" when I was single....if my caution seems stupid, well it only take one goof to make a real mess. IMO

if his floor was inside a capped steel tank when it went off, I could see your point. Otherwise, not so much.

P.S. I use safety glasses and a faceshield. Still wouldn't have a problem with a hair dryer and a gas tank. Heck, I've welded 3-4 tanks. Each to their own.

 

[autoace]

Reminds me of an old welder I know. One day I stopped by his shop, he was welding under an old car, he shut down and stepped back. He said "I hate it when that happens, the damn gas is boiling in the tank" he let it settle down before restarting......he has more trust than I do.

 

[RAYJAY]

The best remover for taking of adhesive with no paint damage is 3M General Purpose Adhesive Remover.

+ 1 here also great on tar removal ......

 

[Vinko]

Peel off what you can then use some "Goo gone" that stuff will clean off anything left.

I cannot answer as to the fading paint.

Also, Lift Off (a type formulated for adhesives) works on some decals and labels. I've used it where Goo gone hasn't worked. Don't know what's in it, but it's worked for me.

 

[StanBo]

The best remover for taking of adhesive with no paint damage is 3M General Purpose Adhesive Remover.

I agree 110%. I strip off pinstripes and sticker kits with mine all the time. Doesn't damage the paint and is actually pretty damn easy to use.

I removed the huge stickers toyota installed on my pickup from the factory quickly with my wheel.

Nothing but eraser grindings left over to clean up.

 

[RAYJAY]

I agree 110%. I strip off pinstripes and sticker kits with mine all the time. Doesn't damage the paint and is actually pretty damn easy to use.

I removed the huge stickers toyota installed on my pickup from the factory quickly with my wheel.

Nothing but eraser grindings left over to clean up.

you do know that were talking about this product .....

 

[bushhawg73]

I have used ether many times to remove the glue left behind by stickers. I have never had it damage the paint.

 

[jdcompman]

you do know that were talking about this product .....

That stuff WILL damage the paint if you are not careful. I'm pretty sure it says right on the back of the can, that it can damage the paint. Whenever I've used it, you can always see some of the paint on the rag after you wipe something off.

Personally I use Goo Gone the most and it seems to work great!

 

[StanBo]

you do know that were talking about this product .....

**** I should have clicked the link.

This is what I was talking about:

 

[RAYJAY]

That stuff WILL damage the paint if you are not careful. I'm pretty sure it says right on the back of the can, that it can damage the paint. Whenever I've used it, you can always see some of the paint on the rag after you wipe something off.

Personally I use Goo Gone the most and it seems to work great!

i used it for years and never had a paint problem with it, it will take off paint oxidation you may be seeing that on the rag

Jeff

 

[mkdive]

I have herd some good stuff about this, (i haven't used it myself yet).

Here is the link: http://www.hardlineproducts.com/stickeroff.html

 

[Rusty Kustoms]

the 3m adhesive remover will not damage paint, it is almost the exact same solvent as auto body wax and grease remover

 

[Flash21]

Heat Gun and 3M General Purpose Adhesive Remover...although, I have used Goo Gone and that works well too.