How to remove pinstripe

**shoeless89** · 02-22-2012, 02:06 AM

Hey guys, Spring is just around the corner! I have some gold pinstripe and I'm planning on taking it off in a couple weeks or so. Anyone have any tips? I know they have pinstripe erasers on other sites but are they really worth it? I have some plastic razorblades which should help out and I plan on polishing it afterward any. Thanks guys!

**Rix6** · 02-22-2012, 02:59 AM

Heatgun or hairdryer. Goof off, 3m adhesive remover, or something similar to remove any adhesive residue. In a pinch if you have some old school high solvent content cleaner wax lying around (something nice and stinky with a strong petroleum smell), that will work too on the residue.

Whatever you use on the residue, it should remove easily. If what you're using is having a hard time dissolving or removing the residue, the more you try to make it work, the more likely you are to damage the paint IMO. Actually I mean this advice more for people with nasty tree sap. The pinstripe adhesive shouldn't give you too much trouble.

**Ted S.** · 02-22-2012, 03:21 AM

How old is the pinstripping?

**dsottum** · 02-22-2012, 04:00 AM

If hair dryer and adhesive remover don't work (stubborn pin striping) try either plastic razor blades or my personal favorite, eraser pad on a drill.

**tuscarora dave** · 02-22-2012, 05:24 AM

I use the eraser wheel on a slow drill and very lightly work it against the pin stripe (vinyl type) keeping the eraser wheel moving across the paint at all times. You think it's easy to burn paint with a rotary? Wait until you allow an eraser wheel to spin in one area for any length of time. IME there is always a shadow or impression left behind where the stripe used to be that will normally fade out over time but not always. For painted on pin stripes I've had good luck removing them with lacquer thinner on a cotton terry towel wrapped around a finger tip and lots of elbow grease, some had to be wet sanded in conjunction with using the lacquer thinner. Sand, wipe with thinner, sand, wipe remaining stripe with thinner, allow a day for things to dry (thinner may make the surrounding paint soft) then polish sanding marks out.

**Deep Gloss Auto Salon** · 02-22-2012, 09:41 AM

Are they painted on or tape stripes... If painted I have tried many things and the best method is wetsanding them off

**shoeless89** · 02-22-2012, 10:42 AM

Originally Posted by Ted S.

How old is the pinstripping?

They came on the car and its a 2007

Originally Posted by tuscarora dave

I use the eraser wheel on a slow drill and very lightly work it against the pin stripe (vinyl type) keeping the eraser wheel moving across the paint at all times. You think it's easy to burn paint with a rotary? Wait until you allow an eraser wheel to spin in one area for any length of time. IME there is always a shadow or impression left behind where the stripe used to be that will normally fade out over time but not always. For painted on pin stripes I've had good luck removing them with lacquer thinner on a cotton terry towel wrapped around a finger tip and lots of elbow grease, some had to be wet sanded in conjunction with using the lacquer thinner. Sand, wipe with thinner, sand, wipe remaining stripe with thinner, allow a day for things to dry (thinner may make the surrounding paint soft) then polish sanding marks out.

Any particular one you recommend?

**RhetoricMixes** · 02-22-2012, 11:05 AM

Im in the same boat as soon as spring gets here, i have a black car with grey pinstripes

. Subbing for info since mine are painted on.

**shoeless89** · 02-22-2012, 01:26 PM

Oh yeah they are the stick on kind on my car. If they are painted on I would wet sand them off

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**Lasthope05** · 02-22-2012, 03:21 PM

If the are painted you can usually compound it off or use lacquer thinner. if its vinyl the eraser wheel is the best but you can make due with a heatgun.