Lettering Removal

[muley]

Has anybody ever removed painted lettering from your doors?

[Jurassic-1]

It is not easy if you are trying to save the paint. If not you should sand them with a flat sander and prime and block the area with 2K primer. In the old days lacquer primer would sometimes allow the lettering to still be visible as if it bled through. if you are trying to save the paint you could try lacquer thinner on a rag and hopefully someone used sign paint and it may wash off. Follow with a buffer. If the truck is faded it will be visible .

[dfj73]

easy off oven cleaner works great

[muley]

The lettering itself was vinyl, but the black underlining was sign painted on. I'm trying to get enough people to tell me oven cleaner works, so I can get up the courage to try it.

[kcsa75]

Have you tried a buffer and some rubbing compound? That should take it off and if your careful (and lucky) you will be able to save the paint. Borrow your wife/girlfriend's hair dryer and peel the vinyl letters off first. ;-)

[dfj73]

vinyl lettering will come off with a heat gun or hair dryer with a little more time but the painted letters will come off with the oven cleaner. The problem with buffing is you might burn thru the paint before getting it off. When I was younger I worked at a used car dealer and got lettered trucks in all the time and i never hurt the finish, just needs a little buffing after

[muley]

The vinyl lettering has been removed, this is all I have left.

[cdowns]

people spend much big money to have that done for the fake faux patina craze

[68gmsee]

^ I agree. If you intend to leave the truck as stock as possible, leave it on. It adds authenticity, hence, more value.

[muley]

Well, I'm not worried about resale because it won't be for sale.
But I never thought about leaving it. I don't know even if I can get it all off, I think there will still be shadow letters. ... pondering...

[Prematuregrey]

If it were me, I'd leave it on. Looks pretty cool and would take me back to when I used to do tires growing up. I'd just use some Meguires Cleaner/Wax and spend some time smoothing it out. Just make sure and do the rest of the truck as well or you may wind up with only the doors being shiny. If they are real rough, use a light rubbing compound but be careful not to cut into the paint and you'll have to follow it up with a good polish and wax to seal it back up. You'll never go wrong with Meguires products on paint IMHO.

[muley]

The paint is pretty dull. Would rubbing compound be best first, then the Meguires? Can you use a low speed grinder of sorts with a soft pad, or should you just do it by hand?
Haven't done a car finish before, just asking.

[terry b]

You should take your time and think it thru. I always jump to quick then wish i could do it over.

[Tinkermc]

I have used Easy-off as someone else said with A 1 results

[Prematuregrey]

I do all my buffing by hand. Too risky for me to possibly burn it in. Try the Cleaner/Wax first with some elbow grease then if that's not enough go to the compound. Lotsa votes on here for easy-off though, may wanna give it a try. I have used Zippo lighter fluid before for tar removal with good results. Just make sure and wash it off quickly so it doesn't effect the paint. I usually scrub a spot with the fluid then clean it off and start over. Patience and elbow grease are your 2 best tools.