Removing Wally Byam Numbers?

[25-Feet99]

We have a 25-foot 1999 Airstream. The Wally Byam numbers have peeled off due to the elements, however, the adhesive is still visible. What can be used to remove this without damaging the finish? Airstream suggested mineral spirits. I did remove small spots of pine tree drips with acetone-free nail polish remover. Has anyone successfully removed these numbers without damaging the finish? Thanks.

By the way, when I registered for this website, I had to click on the year and model. We have a 1999, but there was no category for this; only 1998. ????

[2airishuman]

hi 25' and welcome

the residue can be removed with mineral spirits, 3m wax/adhesive remover or a general purpose adhesive remover like this stuff i purchased at the a/s factory.....spartan sd-20....can on far left..

it works but not a quickly as 3m adhesive remover...which is safe for the clearcoat.

use the search function above and a few key terms like removing adhesive or wdcci numbers and so on.....you will find reports of wd-40, olive oil, mayo and a sundry of other testimonials for products.

cheers
2air'

[InsideOut]

Originally Posted by 25-Feet99

By the way, when I registered for this website, I had to click on the year and model. We have a 1999, but there was no category for this; only 1998. ????

It's been added...you can modify your profile ~

Shari

[GT1963]

Really?

okay here goes....

Shari can you buy me a......oh I know.....no wait changed my mind.....can you buy me a nope don't want that either - how about can you get your hands on the emblems, decals, etched glass and the embroidered leather - I would really like to incorporate them into my new vintage retrofit of the 1961 Overlander - as we purchased her in the year of the WBCCI 50th Anniversary and it would mean alot.

[InsideOut]

Now Sharon...you know I would help you with that if I could...

Shari

[Chuck]

a damp washcloth and a steam iron is all you need to get off the old adhesive. no risk to the finish, and it actually works. just plank the cloth over the area, and iron it.

a couple of thoughts to add, though: I did this to get the old numbers off my trailer, and it seemed to work 90%...there was still a few stubborn spots that wouldn't come off. or so I thought. I tried every chemical concoction I could find, short of paint stripper. nothing worked. So I broke down and tried some fine polish. the idea was to use the mild abrasive to scrape it off. almost immediately, the polish turned from white to black, and I realized what was happening. I was polishing the bare alluminum that was exposed by the old adhesive that had eaten through the clear coat. so now I had BRIGHT SHINY ghost numbers, instead of dull, not-too-offensive-yet-still-visible ghosts.
as it turns out, the adhesive doesn't eat through the clear coat evenly. So it leaves a pattern that looks and feels like...bits of dried adhesive. What I was actually seeing was little bits of clear coat still stuck to the alluminum in a "dried adhesive" pattern.

So, the point is that the steam will remove 100% of the glue. it only "looks" like there is still some left. the only cure is a complete strip, polish, and recoat of that panel....which might actually be a cool effect . but not worth the effort, imo.

[nickcrowhurst]

Originally Posted by chuck

the only cure is a complete strip, polish, and recoat of that panel.

My experience is the same as Chuck's on my 1988 Excella. However, I decided to strip the panel completely with Aircraft stripper. The numbers were still ghosting through after the stripping. As I also had severe aluminium oxidation at the top of the panel where the clearcote had failed years before, I then did the unforgiveable, and used succesively lighter grades of waterproof emery grit paper, with plenty of water, over the entire panel. The result was only acceptable, but it was a lot better than the oxidised aluminium. I then resprayed with a can of Airstream's aerosol Clearcote. The result was acceptable, AND, the WBCCI numbers are still ghosting through! Even after grit paper!
Nick.