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View Full Version : Removing 3M tape residue?



digdug18
06-03-2015, 11:58 AM
My Ex-Wife's car had a pair Ventshade's on it when we purchased it about 5 years ago. The drivers side one was cracked in 2 places, the passenger side was cracked in one place.

I pulled them off, as they rattled when driving, but they always left plenty of residue behind. The residue is some kind of 1/16th in think black rubbery double sided tape.

I got most of it off, but some has remained, I have residue from it in areas as well.

I've tried good gone, 80% iso alcohol, and brake cleaner. I've since gone back with some compound, but it hasn't really made a difference.

The technique I was using was to wrap a delrin/plastic trim tool in a soft cloth, apply goo gone or similar from the above list, then scrape at it at an angle, trying to keep the tool as flat as possible.

What is the proper way to remove this stuff? I'm kinda out of ideas, short of using a buffer and polishing compound or something, but I don't want to get too aggressive with it and remove the clear coat or paint.

Andrew

TheAverageMan
06-03-2015, 01:18 PM
Have you tried soaking it in WD40? Get a paper towel, place it on the sticky stuff, spray to soak with WD40, let it stay a minute, then rub it with the same paper towel. Could use a MF if youre okay with soaking a MF with WD40. I prefer to have a disposable paper towel

fly07sti
06-03-2015, 01:30 PM
Whenever I remove emblems from a vehicle there is some sort of double sided tape residue left behind. What I usually do is use a blow dryer to warm it up and make it more plyable and use a cotton terry towel around my finger and work small sections in a back and forth motion. The bite from the terry is very good at pulling the residue off and they're cheap enough to just throw away after. Sometimes it goes quick and other times it can take a while. Any little fragments that might be left over can usually be wiped away with apc. Then polish the area to get it looking like the surrounding area.

BitterGreg
06-03-2015, 01:49 PM
I have never had an adhesive on a car I wasn't able to get off with this stuff.

http://shop.googone.com/getmetafile/79f8a684-b83f-4e4b-9e23-b2d8897756d0/Goo-Gone-Automotive-3-oz?maxSideSize=700

builthatch
06-03-2015, 01:53 PM
rubber wheel or prep solvent, like maxx solv. soak shop towel with it, saturate residual adhesive with the solvent, wipe away when softened.

letting WD-40 dwell should work as well, as mentioned, but personally i haven't used it for that purpose in years. adhesive technology has improved quite a bit.

North26
06-03-2015, 04:01 PM
Same as de-badging a car, use a heat gun/blow dryer. Just keep it moving and touch the surrounding area frequently. Then use a plastic putty knife, available at Lowe's for like $2. If any residue remains the, go with Goo Gone or a body solvent.

I typically will polish the area after with like a 205 or Menz 4000.

It will take a like 15 minutes her area. So it's super easy

digdug18
06-03-2015, 06:54 PM
I tried heat, got it quite warm, but didn't want to ruin the paint.

I'll try the wd-40 before buying a specially made product.

Thanks!