Best way to remove Vinyl from interior vinyl clad

[Eric H]

Wondering if anyone has a good way to remove the vinyl from the inside aluminum skin? I want to polish the inside skin but need to get that crappy stuff off first! This is for a 74 Safari.
Thanks!

[sarasafari]

Has it been painted over? Part of mine had been painted, but the unpainted vinyl just peeled off.

[Inland RV Center, In]

A good paint stripper will help getting the vinyl off.

It should not ever peel off, since it's bonded to the sheet metal.

Andy

[Kevin245]

Hi Eric,

Here are some threads on the subject that may help. The results I've seen of those who took it on are beautiful.

http://www.airforums.com/forums/f184...ighlight=vinyl

http://www.airforums.com/forums/f39/...ighlight=vinyl

http://www.airforums.com/forums/f474...ighlight=vinyl

http://www.airforums.com/forums/f39/...ighlight=vinyl

http://www.airforums.com/forums/f381...ighlight=vinyl

http://www.airforums.com/forums/f39/...ighlight=vinyl

http://www.airforums.com/forums/f39/...ighlight=vinyl

Good luck,

Kevin

[Eric H]

Thanks!

[Eric H]

On the inside of my Safari there's a couple of shelves with the old clock and the thermometer in it. It doesn't feel like this is aluminum, is this made of plastic? If so does anyone know if there's aluminum under it, or is it just that piece?
Thanks in advance.
Eric

[sarasafari]

Andy, I should have clarified my answer (thought about it after I sent it). Mine peeled off of the wood cabinets, not the walls. And, Eric, my '69 safari had wood under the vinyl cabinets, like the ones on the instrument panel. I don't know about your '73. The unpainted vinyl came off very easily from there, just leaving an adhesive residue. I will try goof-off to remove that.

[Carolinda]

The vinyl "paper" has bubbled and is totally missing on a number of panels of my old lady. The luan beneath looks like it might refinish (with wood pore filler to make smooth). Has anyone tried to remove the vinyl to paint or to finish the wood? I need hints on how to remove vinyl and on whether it's worth doing so. Maybe just paint the vinyl with Krylon's plastic brush-on paint? I'd be interested in hearing about your experiences.

[Carolinda]

I should say that the non-bubbled vinyl seems to be very difficult, if impossible, to remove with my hair drier and sharp tool/finger nails picking away on it. My unit is a 1973 Argosy. Thanks for any and all advice!

[Roadrunner]

Eric we used Citrus Strip on the inside of the door. The vinyl bubbled right up and peeled off in large sheets. Might need to use a plastic scrapper.

Bob
Indiana, PA

TAC PA-5
WBCCI 4871

[desertair27]

If you're removing the vinyl wallpaper from the wood bulkheads I used a heat gun and it peeled right off. I did it on a 77 Sovereign.
Good luck.
Mike

[Carolinda]

Did you use the Citrus Strip first and then, while still wet, did you use the heat gun? I find the wretched vinyl melts and stretches before peeling with the hair drier on high and so use the medium setting. But, if the stuff isn't bubbled up already (and all of that is removed now), it's impossible to start the peeling on the un-bubbled vinyl let alone actually peel. Could the early Argosy's have a particularly strong adhesive and/or thin vinyl? I'm also considering replacing the vinyl clad panels with birch 3/8" panels from Home Depot--$27 or so per 4x8 sheet and a little sanding and finishing. Might beat messing around with the vinyl. Thanks for the responses!