painted letters removal

[nonmaster]

ive recently purchased a van which has painted letters on all sides/ back etc and am trying to get them off. Does anyone know a quicker/easy way to remove them without damaging the original paintwork underneath?
many thanks
gareth

[Scragend]

Hi Nonmaster - I am a signwriter so I am responsible for writing stuff on things that other people then have to try and get off!

I have never had to deal with this, but considering the sign paint will be almost certainly oil based, and most vehicle paint is cellulose or solvent based, you could try a product that dissolves oil based paint. Something like Nitromors (read the label thoroughly because this is all theoretical - I am assuming Nitromors only dissolves oil-based coatings but it's not definite). perhaps try dabbing a little Nitromors on a hidden area of van paint and see what it does? Sorry I can't be of more help!

[nonmaster]

hi scrag,
thans=ks for your response, i have some nitromors so might give it a go. A friend of mine suggested oven cleaner. Ill give them both a go on an inconspicuous area, thanks

[derekpara]

Sorry, Scragend and hold hard, Nonmaster !!

I am fairly certain that Mitromors will remove cellulose as well as all other surface finishes. If, as you say, the letters are in fact painted on, then you have an extra layer of paint on the panel. It may only be a micro - millimeter in depth but would need sanding ( wet and dry) to remove it. This, of course, would mean a respray. I hope I'm wrong but I don't think so.
Good luck !

[SeaJayPea]

Look, I know this may be teaching my grandmother to suck eggs, but are you absolutely certain this is painted on?

Only, most truck and van signwriting these days is pvc stick-ons. If this is the case, a hot air blower will soften them sufficiently to be able to peel them off. Then wash off the glue residue with white spirit.

You will, however, probably find that the paint under the signwriting is brighter than the rest as it won't have faded with sunlight

[biggles124]

At work we had an Escort van with painted writing on it when we came to sell it we just used T-cut and Mer polish plus plenty of elbow grease but soon came off.

[terambulan]

We had sign-writing on our steel sections. They were removed with a hair-dryer.

[derekpara]

Terambulan. They must have been stick-on vinyl letters. The questioner said ' painted letters' so I don't think a hair dryer would work. Come on, nonmaster, paint or vinyl ?

[nonmaster]

its paint!! hand painted letters, definately not stickers cheers

[Mrs_Pegasus]

T-Cut or if you have any Duraglit knocking about it will do the same job. Do not use Nitromors!! I have stripped enough varnished pieces of furniture and gloss paint to know it will damage the paint underneath the letters!!

[derekpara]

Phew !!