Removing decals from a carbon fork?

[Hepmike]

Specifically: from an Easton EC90, the decals (under some clear coat?) look hideous to me...if there was a relatively simple way to do it without challenging the structural integrity of the carbon?

Anybody try this- on a fork or frame?

[ultraman6970]

If under the clear the only solution is to sand them off with 600 grit wet sand paper, nothing will happen if you do it carefully. The only issues are these...

1 you have to clear the whole fork again, sand the whole fork a little bit and clear it all again to even the missing clear area.

2 if you do #1 right, the decal ghost wont be there haunting you every time you look at the fork in some specific angles.

[jonjones13]

Use Carbolift, done it a number of times and works great. Again, you do have to do the whole fork though. Then just apply some 303 Aerospace protectant and away to go...

[d_douglas]

reviving a 10yr old post, as I searched "Removing decals from a carbon fork" and this was what came up!

I have a WoundUp disc CX fork and the decals are both ugly and now scratched up from locking up, riding, etc.

Is it the case that you have to strip the entire fork or just strip the affected area, then clearcoat the entire fork? Stealth black is the look I am after...

[C40_guy]

Easy enough. Insert fork in box, ship to Jordan Low.

Receive fork back with gorgeous high gloss or matt or whatever you want, with appropriate logos, graphic, etc.

He did a fabulous job on a silver Moots fork with white lettering. Now it's black with subtle shiny black lettering and the Moots graphic.

Quick turnaround, reasonably priced.

Highly recommended.

[bob59]

Jordan Low?? Location - contact? Thnx

[kppolich]

Plastidip over it, so you can peel it off when you are done with the trial before paint/etc.

[d_douglas]

whoa there! I just want to ditch the tacky decals - the condition of the fork is fine. In my mind, I dont need it refinished. This is also my 4 season commuter / road bike, not a Moots!

[prototoast]

Originally Posted by d_douglas

reviving a 10yr old post, as I searched "Removing decals from a carbon fork" and this was what came up!

I have a WoundUp disc CX fork and the decals are both ugly and now scratched up from locking up, riding, etc.

Is it the case that you have to strip the entire fork or just strip the affected area, then clearcoat the entire fork? Stealth black is the look I am after...

You don't have to strip the entire fork, but in a lot of cases it can be easier to strip the entire fork than to get a patch of new clearcoat to blend seamlessly with the old coating.

[macaroon]

I'd try scraping off the decals with a razor blade/craft knife blade held perpendicular to the fork.
Once you've scraped them off, go over the whole area with wet and dry paper 1000/1500/2000. That should feather in any edges, but if not, try a high grade sandpaper, then wet and dry.
I'd then mask off the fork crown/dropout and spray the whole fork with clear coat. You can try flatting back between coats, but you need to make sure the clearcoat is dry before you do this - you're probably better off watching some youtube videos for spraying/flatting/polishing as I'm far from an expert.

[d_douglas]

Thanks Macaroon! And Mr Proto...

[C40_guy]

Originally Posted by bob59

Jordan Low?? Location - contact? Thnx

Here ya go:

https://www.jlcustompaint.com/

Highly recommended. He worked with Toby at Hot Tubes before he went off on his own.

[mhespenheide]

If it's a 4-season bike that you don't want to put a bunch of money into, I went the cheap and easy route and put black reflective vinyl over the decals. No ugly decals, extra visibility in twilight.

Amazon has many possible options: https://www.amazon.com/s?k=black+reflective+vinyl

I have taken SRAM logos off their carbon cranks. It needed two applications of carbolift, a good amount of sanding, and took more time than I expected. Worth it to me for a nice bike, but non-trivial.