Old stripe removal great success!!!

Z

Zklink5150

New Member
Apr 3, 2009
77
Weirton west Virginia. Ohio river MM 58
Boat Info
1983 sundancer 260
Engines
350 alpha
I can't believe I have the opportunity to post my success about a method I had heard people used that actually works. I had the 26yr old nasty cracked up, half worn away stripes everyone with an old dancer talks of. I decided to try the 3m decal removing wheel and I am seriously ready to call them and ask them if I could start an infomercial strictly selling this fine tool. I mean, you hook it up to a power drill, and it's done. All vinyl and adhesive are history. I am very relieved to say the least!!

Apparently some people have tried it with higher rpm tools and burnt the gelcoat, just passing info I heard along.

Thanks for listening, I told the wife and she said, that's nice honey...
 
Zklink,

Where did you get the 3M wheel? Sounds like just the thing I need...
 
I picked it up at a local auto body supply and paint shop. It's made of solid rubber, and burns apart in time, so buy a couple if your doing the whole vessel. Just remember the rpms have to be low. My brother took my advise and tried the wheel but with a grinder and burnt alot of gelcoat on his maxum. Take your time, and it will drop your jaw.
 
Link? Part No? Pictures? I've decided to remove the decorate strips above the gunwhale. The PO accidentally did this with a pressure washer. I guess I could try a pressure washer too, but this would be more fun! Sounds like a pencil eraser might work too, but it would be a LOT slower!!
 
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Sounds a lot easier than my method of using a hair dryer and a plastic scraper, then following up with solvent and paper towels and goo and sticky fingers and sore fingers and peeled-back finger nails and sticky goo and paper towels and such.
 
Hampton said:
Sounds a lot easier than my method of using a hair dryer and a plastic scraper, then following up with solvent and paper towels and goo and sticky fingers and sore fingers and peeled-back finger nails and sticky goo and paper towels and such.
Click to expand...

You forgot the burned fingers part! :grin:
 
I bought and used the 3M wheel a few years ago to remove the bootstripe on my 380DA. It worked on OK for me. It did get most of the stripe off, but honestly, what worked better for me was simply peeling and pulling. Now, that could have been because, at the time, the boat/bootstirpe were only 3-4 years old. Either way....congrats on getting the job done.
 
ZK not to steal your link but you were checking on hatch sliders for me. did you find out anything? By the way great job on the stripes I have to do mine this winter
 
Link Thief...(just kidding)-

I'm not super fluent on this site and wasn't sure how to find you. I checked out those sliders and I'm sorry, they were already scavenged. Although I couldn't help in that way, I did ask my local boat parts store about them and was told they were sold and that the channel is as well.

Yeah, I hear you on the burnt fingers!! I'm pretty sure these decal erasers are for a more extreme application. After using one I can see where newer stripes would gum up and make a mess. I'll tell you I'm convinced that the creator of this product must have owned a 1983 sundancer with stripes cracked to hell, cuz, it is perfect for it.
 
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