Removing water slide decals

[oliver1850]

Working on a Serotta Nova Series that has pretty decent paint (and rare "Nova Division of Serotta" decals that are in good shape) but the Serotta decals are badly cracked. What works to remove them but won't hurt the paint?

[Plum Hill]

You might try decal setting solution from the local hobby shop.
Look for Solvaset or MicroSol.

[Steve in SLO]

IIRC, Serotta factory sprayed clear coat over decals, which complicates things a bit.

[ultraman6970]

Mark, the only way is just sanding them off... the issue is that you might see the serotta letters like ghosting in that tube till you put new decals on top, add clear wont help, the ghost will be there always one way or another

Once you sand and if you dont want new decals just polish the thing back to life.

[oliver1850]

Originally Posted by Steve in SLO

IIRC, Serotta factory sprayed clear coat over decals, which complicates things a bit.

No clear coat on this bike.

[ultraman6970]

If no clear then goo off will do the clear... just do it very gently, try in a tiny corner as a test 1st ok?

Personally i would have just sanding them off and then polish the area.

Or... if you have paint polisher around just use that on top and start polishing the sticker should go out, did that in a pinarello long time ago.

[oliver1850]

Originally Posted by Plum Hill

You might try decal setting solution from the local hobby shop.
Look for Solvaset or MicroSol.

I'm a bit confused about MicroSol vs. MicroSet. MicroSet says "decal remover" on the front of the bottle. MicroSol appears to be the stronger version, but doesn't mention removing decals.

https://www.ebay.com/itm/Microscale-...frcectupt=true

[oliver1850]

Originally Posted by ultraman6970

If no clear then goo off will do the clear... just do it very gently, try in a tiny corner as a test 1st ok?

Personally i would have just sanding them off and then polish the area.

Or... if you have paint polisher around just use that on top and start polishing the sticker should go out, did that in a pinarello long time ago.

Seems that they should come off without having to sand. I wiped half the Columbus logo off just by bumping the frame and rotating it a bit in the clamp.

[Plum Hill]

Originally Posted by oliver1850

I'm a bit confused about MicroSol vs. MicroSet. MicroSet says "decal remover" on the front of the bottle. MicroSol appears to be the stronger version, but doesn't mention removing decals.

https://www.ebay.com/itm/Microscale-...frcectupt=true

I didn’t know it said Decal Remover but I agree Sol is stronger.
Any hobby shops nearby?

Have you tried masking tape?
Put tape over decals, burnish down, and rip off.

[ultraman6970]

duct tape even batter

[oliver1850]

Originally Posted by ultraman6970

duct tape even batter

That might have worked up to a point.

I tried a couple of things that were handy tonight. Enamel thinner on a paper towel with some thumbnail pressure stripped both DT decals off in about 10 minutes. Kind of surprised me, I would have thought something water based or alcohol would have worked well. Bike looks a lot better without the cracked decals. I hope to get them replaced after touching up the scuff. Thanks all.

[berserk87]

Nice work. Thanks for the update. This thread had me curious as to what would actually be effective for you.

Please post some pics after the refinishing and decal application.