Removing pinstriping

Topic: Removing pinstriping (Read 2327 times) previous topic - next topic

Removing pinstriping

January 18, 2008, 05:08:12 PM

Never liked my pinstriping and I'd like to remove it but up til now I've been to busy/lazy to peel it off. In a similar post I dug up here someone recommended a special rubber disc on a drill for removing factory "painted on" pinstriping. I believe I know what he was referring to, I used one in my uncle's garage once to remove gasket residue from my engine parts. I'm cautious though, I don't believe mine is painted on, I peeled off a few inches of it once and stopped because it seemed to be leaving a red stripe in its place. Basically I'd like to remove the worst of the pinstriping without damaging the surrounding paint. Will one of these work for that?

Removing pinstriping

Reply #1 – January 18, 2008, 05:14:39 PM

There is a rubber type wheel made just for removing stickers,pinstripes,etc.It's not a gasket remover.I've seen them through the Eastwood Co.

Removing pinstriping

Reply #2 – January 18, 2008, 06:04:58 PM

Eastwood's site is a maze. Could take me hours to find anything. I'll check one of the local body shop supply stores and see if they have one. Would make the whole thing alot easier.

Removing pinstriping

Reply #3 – January 18, 2008, 06:34:45 PM

The rubber wheel would have been my suggestion. :)

Since that post I've actually gone through pinstriping removal myself with my '84. The stock pinstriping was cracked and half gone anyway. While I was wet-sanding down the chrome window trim, I had put some 3M tape across the pinstriping. When I peeled it off, most of the striping came with it...I was thoroughly amazed. It still wasn't enough to remove everything but not a bad job.

From there I tried a barrage of different chemicals and the only one that worked perfectly was--no surprise--lacquer thinner. Factory striping is lacquer so that makes sense. Of course, this makes the paint underneath the striping hazy and appearing damaged. To get back the shine I hand applied some medium-duty 3M compound. Everything looks good as new now.

A few things to note:
- I have base/clear paint. Getting the shine back was easy for me...I haven't tested this on non-clearcoated paint. It's possible a buffer might be needed for that.
- If you're going to try the lacquer thinner route, test a small section first and BE SURE it doesn't pull off any of your factory paint.
- Since the pinstriping was applied to very fresh paint at the factory, it sort of "eats into" the paint underneath. There will always be an indication that striping was there...sort of an indentation. The only way to fix that is by repainting the whole car in those areas. In my case you can even see the teeth marks from the roller wheel on the pinstriping tool. They're only visible from less than 5 feet away though.

As for the rubber tool, I personally have never used one. It was tempting to get one for my situation, and if I hadn't accidentally removed most of it with the tape, I probably would have bought one and given it a shot. You can find one anyplace that auto paint and supplies are sold.

Removing pinstriping

Reply #4 – January 18, 2008, 06:41:52 PM

I had to sand the factory painted on pinstriping off my 'Bird, but I was prepping it for paint anyway. As Eric said, even when the pinstriping is removed there will still be signs of it. Because I was sanding anyway I just sanded until the indentations were gone.

You should also consider that the paint under that pinstriping is not going to show the same level of wear/fading that the rest of the 20+ year old paint will show. Even if your pinstripes are stickers instead of paint you will be able to see where they were.

Removing pinstriping

Reply #5 – January 18, 2008, 10:09:43 PM

Stopped by Auto Value on the way home and it turns out they do stock that tool normally. Not at that branch but I'm stopping by another one tomorrow to pick one up. Whatever marks it leaves, some wax and the fact that it's black paint will probably hide the worst of it. I'll soon find out.

Removing pinstriping

Reply #6 – January 19, 2008, 10:45:54 AM

that rubber wheel is just like an eraser. i tell you to give it full speed in the drill or 1/2 speed in a die grinder. then use very little pressure. i like to let the tool weight be the pressure. let the tool slowly work through the stripe. then move it along the stripe slowly while you remove it. the less pressure you use the less damage to the paint below. then wash and go from there. might need just a light buffing to blend it back in.

Removing pinstriping

Reply #7 – January 19, 2008, 06:25:26 PM

My painted stripes got buffed off years ago.
My adhesive stripes came off easy with a razor blade at the right angle. Ive had some that i've just peeled and end and pulled, and they came right off.
I've heard that the pinstripe buffer off-er thing is supposed to work real good. I see it in the Eastwood magazine all the time.

Removing pinstriping

Reply #8 – January 19, 2008, 06:27:54 PM

Got one today. Not the tool I was picturing but I can't wait to try it.

Removing pinstriping

Reply #9 – January 19, 2008, 06:58:09 PM

Thats cool, give us some pics during the job.
I'm interested to see how it works

Removing pinstriping

Reply #10 – January 19, 2008, 09:43:31 PM

diggin the grill there buddy! When did you get it? they had me re-fax stuff to them last week?

Removing pinstriping

Reply #11 – January 20, 2008, 01:01:24 AM

Thought I sent you an email

When I came back from vacation Jan 3 there was a delivery notice. Don't ask me how but Canada post got a hold of it. Picked it up safe and sound the next day...with $17 postage due. Damm US Postal service. Anyway the paint doesn't perfectly match my car yet but come spring I'll see to that. It alters the whole personality of the car, now I can get away with some other visual mods. It was good doing business with you :D

Removing pinstriping

Reply #12 – January 20, 2008, 06:55:17 PM

Well today wasn't the best day to test it because there was fresh snow on the car but I cleared about an inch just to see what it would be like. It slipped on the wet surface but the stripes still came off pretty good and didn't damage the paint. I'll try to get some more of it done this week.

Removing pinstriping

Reply #13 – January 20, 2008, 07:36:50 PM

nice it looks good, cant wait see more pics. take pics at like 1/3 intervals. that ways we can see the "progress" of the job. try to use reflections or what have you to show if it leaves a raised area n what not. looks like its ganna end up looking pretty good.