Hair Dryer - how close and for how long

[rickfen]

I'm finally getting to the rear "wing" change and I've looked at the tutorial and it's terrific, however, I'm wondering if someone can give me a good idea of how close and how long I should use my hair dryer (not heat gun) to soften the adhesive without softening the paint.

thanks

 

[KDMzilla]

I'm finally getting to the rear "wing" change and I've looked at the tutorial and it's terrific, however, I'm wondering if someone can give me a good idea of how close and how long I should use my hair dryer (not heat gun) to soften the adhesive without softening the paint.

thanks

I just debadged my emblems this weekend. I used my wifes hairdryer and thread. I heat up the surrounding area for about 30 seconds and then used the thread to cut back and forth until it slid all the way through from one side to the other. You can also use dental floss, but i havent been to the dentist in years lol. Once the emblems were removed there was some double sided tape left over. I used my finger and just rubbed it off. Then I washed the area and used a little wax to remove the rest. Pretty simple.

PS. Dont use agressive solution (paint remover, nail polish remover, etc) to remove the left over adhesive.

 

[dareckibmw]

I just debadged my emblems this weekend. I used my wifes hairdryer and thread. I heat up the surrounding area for about 30 seconds and then used the thread to cut back and forth until it slid all the way through from one side to the other. You can also use dental floss, but i havent been to the dentist in years lol. Once the emblems were removed there was some double sided tape left over. I used my finger and just rubbed it off. Then I washed the area and used a little wax to remove the rest. Pretty simple.

PS. Dont use agressive solution (paint remover, nail polish remover, etc) to remove the left over adhesive.

+1 ....What he said.

I re-badged and de-badged both of my cars 1G/2G exactly this way.

 

[LarryJM]

I'm finally getting to the rear "wing" change and I've looked at the tutorial and it's terrific, however, I'm wondering if someone can give me a good idea of how close and how long I should use my hair dryer (not heat gun) to soften the adhesive without softening the paint.

thanks

A much, much safer way is to use "GOO GONE", several round toothpicks and a length of nylon fishing line/dental floss/extra heavy duty nylon thread. It takes maybe 30min to an hour, but is very easy. You use the GOO GONE to soften the adhesive and the toothpicks as "WEDGES" to pull the emblem away from the surface and the nylon fishing line/dental floss/ extra heavy duty nylon thread to "CUT THE ADHESIVE." It takes several applications of the GOO GONE waiting about 10 to 15min between applications and slowly "CUT THE ADHESIVE" with the line/thread and keep jaming the toothpicks between the emblem and the surface to keep the adhesive away from the surface and stretch it so the line will cut it easier. You can even speed the process up by making a wedge out of a 1" wide length of acrylic with the end "chiseled" to assist pulling the emblem away from the car surface. To keep the acrylic from damaging the paint surface use a piece of some flat heavy "clam shell" plastic folded over to cover the acrylic as you "push it" under the emblem so the acrylic wedge is rubbing along the "clam shell" plastic and not the paint surface.

Larry

 

[Midnightsun]

I have done several of these including other badges on the car. Heat it up good and hot, almost too hot to touch and just peel it off with my hands and rub the residue off. Simple as heck and no tools required. Only thing I needed to do after was remove the light glue residue with lighter fluid. Just be careful not to burn your fingers as the badge will get quite hot.

That being said, I seriously doubt a hair dryer could get it hot enough to do any damage. I personally use a heat gun on the high setting to get it hot quickly however with a heat gun you need to be a somewhat careful as to not overheat.

 

[Nikgen]

A much, much safer way is to use "GOO GONE", several round toothpicks and a length of nylon fishing line/dental floss/extra heavy duty nylon thread. It takes maybe 30min to an hour, but is very easy. You use the GOO GONE to soften the adhesive and the toothpicks as "WEDGES" to pull the emblem away from the surface and the nylon fishing line/dental floss/ extra heavy duty nylon thread to "CUT THE ADHESIVE." It takes several applications of the GOO GONE waiting about 10 to 15min between applications and slowly "CUT THE ADHESIVE" with the line/thread and keep jaming the toothpicks between the emblem and the surface to keep the adhesive away from the surface and stretch it so the line will cut it easier. You can even speed the process up by making a wedge out of a 1" wide length of acrylic with the end "chiseled" to assist pulling the emblem away from the car surface. To keep the acrylic from damaging the paint surface use a piece of some flat heavy "clam shell" plastic folded over to cover the acrylic as you "push it" under the emblem so the acrylic wedge is rubbing along the "clam shell" plastic and not the paint surface.

Larry

That is way too complex and could result in some scratches. I just put a small hot air portable space heater on a step ladder blowing "hot" air on the badge for about 5-10 minutes until it was quite warm (but not too hot to touch) - a hair dryer would work fine too (used that on my 2015).

Then use nylon fishing line to saw right through the adhesive (pull the line towards you and it doesn't even touch the paint). You have to saw from both sides due to the pegs. Once you're through you can pull on the fishing line and pop the badge right off in one piece. Clean up the residue with your fingers and and adhesive remover (I used a 3M product).

Then wipe with a damp cloth and finish with an isopropyl alcohol wipe and you are ready to apply your wings to a nice clean surface. Whole process took about 30 minutes.

 

[LarryJM]

That is way too complex and could result in some scratches.

Your opinion, but mine is if you can't do what I described w/o messing it up or think it's "TOO COMPLEX" then...

1. You shouldn't be attempting to do this simple removal in the first place AND;

2. IMO you have a much higher probability of messing something up using a hair dryer or heat gun on you expensive car finish or damaging the paint with whatever you plan to use to "SAW" thru the adhesive to begin with.

The OP was obviously concerned with using heat on his finish and I gave what I think is a MUCH SAFER way w/o using this much more intrusive method. I just know I wouldn't be using things like hair dryers or heat guns that can melt solder against my car's finish and would be looking for less potentially damaging methods to do what needs to be done.

Larry

 

[LandoAWD]

I agree with Nikegen, here.

I'd also never put "Goo" products on my paint.

Heat, pull, 3m Decal Remover, apply new emblem, done. I've used this method for decades without a toothpick to be found.

 

[Alwaysforward]

Use Turtle Wax Label Remover. Stuff works great and won't effect the paint.