# Removing a factory sticker from bodywork **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [June 16, 2024, 2:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/removing-a-factory-sticker-from-bodywork/1002930 "2024-06-16T02:06:19Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Johnny\_L.A](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnny_l.a/32/1084_2.png) [@Johnny\_L.A](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_L.A)\ **Post date:** [June 16, 2024, 2:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/removing-a-factory-sticker-from-bodywork/1002930/1 "2024-06-16T02:06:19Z")
I’m trying to resurrect my 1994 Yamaha XJ600SF Seca II that my dad gave me for my birthday in 1994. You may know that this bike was originally Faraway Blue, that it was stolen a few years ago, and that it was recovered trashed. Since I really wanted the yellow one, and since the replacement fuel tank (for the one the thieves dented) is yellow, I’ve decided on a colour change. I managed to find a yellow fairing, but [it has an XJ600N decal on it](https://imgur.com/a/buR6Ycf). I would like to remove the sticker, which was applied by the factory. The fairing has a couple of chips in the paint, but not enough to warrant repainting. If I could remove the decal, that would be great. How do I do it? ---
**Author:** ![DaveUnknown](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/94ad74/32.png) [@DaveUnknown](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DaveUnknown)\ **Post date:** [June 16, 2024, 2:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/removing-a-factory-sticker-from-bodywork/1002930/2 "2024-06-16T02:09:56Z")
Heat gun? Steam cleaner? I removed window tinting with the steam from a steam iron, lifting an edge with a razor and steaming. ---
**Author:** ![Johnny\_L.A](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnny_l.a/32/1084_2.png) [@Johnny\_L.A](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_L.A)\ **Post date:** [June 16, 2024, 2:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/removing-a-factory-sticker-from-bodywork/1002930/3 "2024-06-16T02:10:46Z")
> [@DaveUnknown](#): > > Heat gun? Steam cleaner? I don’t know. That’s why I’m asking. 😉 I don’t have a heat gun. My wife has a hair dryer. ETA: The fairing had a lot of that brown plastic tape on it, which didn’t come off cleanly. Denatured alcohol took it off nicely. ---
**Author:** ![LSLGuy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lslguy/32/5813_2.png) [@LSLGuy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LSLGuy)\ **Post date:** [June 16, 2024, 2:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/removing-a-factory-sticker-from-bodywork/1002930/4 "2024-06-16T02:12:30Z")
I know a guy who runs a body shop. Give me overnight and i might have a good answer. Is this a sticker or a decal? IOW, does it have perceptible thickness? And are you sure, triple sure, that it’s on top of every layer of paint and clearcoat? ---
**Author:** ![Johnny\_L.A](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnny_l.a/32/1084_2.png) [@Johnny\_L.A](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_L.A)\ **Post date:** [June 16, 2024, 2:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/removing-a-factory-sticker-from-bodywork/1002930/5 "2024-06-16T02:13:56Z")
> [@LSLGuy](#): > > Is this a sticker or a decal? IOW, does it have perceptible thickness? > > And are you sure, triple sure, that it’s on top of every layer of paint and clearcoat? I can hit the edge with a thumbnail. I’m _sure_ (not triple-sure) that it is not covered by clearcoat. ---
**Author:** ![DaveUnknown](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/94ad74/32.png) [@DaveUnknown](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DaveUnknown)\ **Post date:** [June 16, 2024, 2:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/removing-a-factory-sticker-from-bodywork/1002930/6 "2024-06-16T02:19:42Z")
I have used the orange “air freshener Pure Citrus” from home depot to remove some pretty nasty stickers in the past. I know it’s called air freshener but it has some kind of solvent in it that works way better than goo gone or any other “sticker remover” I have used. A tip from the people that work at home depot. ---
**Author:** ![Johnny\_L.A](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnny_l.a/32/1084_2.png) [@Johnny\_L.A](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_L.A)\ **Post date:** [June 16, 2024, 2:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/removing-a-factory-sticker-from-bodywork/1002930/7 "2024-06-16T02:26:52Z")
> [@LSLGuy](#): > > Is this a sticker or a decal? IOW, does it have perceptible thickness? You can see it in the link in the OP. ---
**Author:** ![Dewey\_Finn](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dewey_finn/32/4222_2.png) [@Dewey\_Finn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dewey_Finn)\ **Post date:** [June 16, 2024, 2:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/removing-a-factory-sticker-from-bodywork/1002930/8 "2024-06-16T02:30:13Z")
> [@LSLGuy](#): > > Is this a sticker or a decal? Dumb question; what’s the difference? ---
**Author:** ![DaveUnknown](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/94ad74/32.png) [@DaveUnknown](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DaveUnknown)\ **Post date:** [June 16, 2024, 2:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/removing-a-factory-sticker-from-bodywork/1002930/9 "2024-06-16T02:32:23Z")
Is that fair all yellow moulded plastic? Just drench it in laquer thinner, that orange spray I mentioned, or something and get under the edge w/ a razor blade ---
**Author:** ![DaveUnknown](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/94ad74/32.png) [@DaveUnknown](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DaveUnknown)\ **Post date:** [June 16, 2024, 2:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/removing-a-factory-sticker-from-bodywork/1002930/10 "2024-06-16T02:34:12Z")
Decals are much thinner, and applied with soapy water, usually almost like a paint layer. Stickers are, well, stickers. Looks that’s a sticker ---
**Author:** ![jnglmassiv](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/f07891/32.png) [@jnglmassiv](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jnglmassiv)\ **Post date:** [June 16, 2024, 4:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/removing-a-factory-sticker-from-bodywork/1002930/11 "2024-06-16T04:43:28Z")
Heat, for certain, plus steady and careful tugging. It’s hard to see how big the part is. Serious: will it fit in the oven? ---
**Author:** ![kenobi\_65](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kenobi_65/32/13178_2.png) [@kenobi\_65](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kenobi_65)\ **Post date:** [June 16, 2024, 4:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/removing-a-factory-sticker-from-bodywork/1002930/12 "2024-06-16T04:48:25Z")
> [@DaveUnknown](#): > > Decals are much thinner, and applied with soapy water, usually almost like a paint layer. Stickers are, well, stickers. Looks that’s a sticker This, pretty much. Decals are typically quite thin, and the adhesive on them is usually activated by soaking them in water, then sliding them off their backing paper onto the surface where you want them. They’re very commonly used on things like model cars, model rockets, etc. Stickers are typically thicker, and have a pressure-sensitive adhesive. You peel the backing paper off of a sticker, and it’s ready to be stuck onto the surface, without need for any water or preparation. ---
**Author:** ![Johnny\_L.A](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnny_l.a/32/1084_2.png) [@Johnny\_L.A](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_L.A)\ **Post date:** [June 16, 2024, 4:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/removing-a-factory-sticker-from-bodywork/1002930/13 "2024-06-16T04:50:08Z")
> [@jnglmassiv](#): > > Heat, for certain, plus steady and careful tugging. It’s hard to see how big the part is. Serious: will it fit in the oven? It’s a side fairing for a motorcycle, about three feet long; so no, it won’t fit in the oven. I had an inkling that heat is SOP; but I don’t want to melt the plastic. ---
**Author:** ![DaveUnknown](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/94ad74/32.png) [@DaveUnknown](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DaveUnknown)\ **Post date:** [June 16, 2024, 5:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/removing-a-factory-sticker-from-bodywork/1002930/14 "2024-06-16T05:01:57Z")
Get an edge w/ razor, work in that orange spray or lacquer thinner slowly. It might take hours. If you use heat go ultra-slowly, on-off, use a backer… no heat after lacquer thinner of course! Take your time ---
**Author:** ![Dag\_Otto](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/439d5e/32.png) [@Dag\_Otto](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dag_Otto)\ **Post date:** [June 16, 2024, 7:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/removing-a-factory-sticker-from-bodywork/1002930/15 "2024-06-16T07:37:02Z")
If that fairing has been out in the sun, be aware that the color might have faded over the years, but the plastic under the sticker won’t be faded. So you’ll (perhaps) have a sticker shaped area of a brighter yellow. Of course, you can then just make a custom sticker that says whatever you want to mask the area the old sticker covered. ---
**Author:** ![Superdude](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/superdude/32/13450_2.png) [@Superdude](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Superdude)\ **Post date:** [June 16, 2024, 9:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/removing-a-factory-sticker-from-bodywork/1002930/16 "2024-06-16T09:54:07Z")
I used to work for a car lot, and part of my job was to remove stickers that other dealers would place on their vehicles to advertise where the cars were bought. What always worked for me was a foaming window cleaner and a razor blade. ---
**Author:** ![LSLGuy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lslguy/32/5813_2.png) [@LSLGuy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LSLGuy)\ **Post date:** [June 16, 2024, 11:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/removing-a-factory-sticker-from-bodywork/1002930/17 "2024-06-16T11:54:50Z")
If you touch that plastic with a razor blade, you _will_ dig a scratch. Or at least I would; I just can’t be that precise, and especially not while working on a convex surface. If you are going to try the razor method, be sure to start with a brand new blade with zero history. Otherwise it’s sure to have an invisible burr or nick on it someplace. Which will leave a very visible gouge in your fairing. My body guy got back to me. His advice is a product called “Klean Strip” or similar. It’s xylene and other solvents. Here’s a couple of links, but I bet you can get similar products from e.g. Harbor Freight or a paint retailer. > **[Clean Prep 32 fl oz container | Paint Preparation | Cleaning and Care |...](https://www.wurthusa.com/Chemical-Product/Cleaning-and-Care/Paint-Preparation/Clean-Prep-32-fl-oz-container/p/08909381)** > > Clean Prep 32 fl oz container Description 32 fl. oz. Container (no pour spout) Prepares surfaces prior to painting by removing barrier residues. Quickly removes contaminants from painted and unpainted surfaces. Use with extreme care on base coat /... > **[Klean-Strip Prep-All Wax & Grease Remover | Auto Paint Prep](https://www.usautosupply.com/product/klean-strip-prep-all-wax-grease-remover?gad_source=1)** > >  Prepare surfaces by removing all grease, grime, wax, and other contamination with the Klean-Strip Prep-All Wax & Grease Remover. Use this general purpose wax and grease eliminator before sanding and priming the surface. Why Prep-All Wax and Grease... In his words, just soak the area in that stuff for a few seconds, a minute tops, and the glue will be gone and it’ll slide right off. It won’t touch the paint at all. Another removal technique is to buff it off with a buffer wheel and polish. If the whole fairing is to be repainted or at least re-clear-coated after shining up the oxidized top layer of paint this _might_ be a one-step way to go. For me I’d go with the chemicals; extensive buffing without leaving swirls and lines is a skilled operation and I’d not want to learn on what I hope is a finished workpiece when I get done. Good luck however you attack it. Seriously, not snarkily. ---
**Author:** ![Johnny\_L.A](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnny_l.a/32/1084_2.png) [@Johnny\_L.A](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_L.A)\ **Post date:** [June 16, 2024, 1:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/removing-a-factory-sticker-from-bodywork/1002930/18 "2024-06-16T13:20:02Z")
> [@LSLGuy](#): > > If you touch that plastic with a razor blade, you _will_ dig a scratch. X-Actomundo. There’s no way I could pull off using a razor. I’ll look at your links. ---
**Author:** ![ChasGrant](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/c2a13f/32.png) [@ChasGrant](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ChasGrant)\ **Post date:** [June 16, 2024, 1:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/removing-a-factory-sticker-from-bodywork/1002930/19 "2024-06-16T13:26:58Z")
I used to produce custom graphics for cars and motorcycles, and a simple hairdryer was usually enough to get old vinyl graphics off, with any adhesive residue removed with iso propyl. I never used any metal implement, always plastic, such as an ice scraper, though usually the graphic would peel off with heat alone. ---
**Author:** ![LSLGuy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lslguy/32/5813_2.png) [@LSLGuy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LSLGuy)\ **Post date:** [June 16, 2024, 1:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/removing-a-factory-sticker-from-bodywork/1002930/20 "2024-06-16T13:42:50Z")
> [@Johnny\_L.A](#): > > I’ll look at your links. FYI, he sent me those links; that’s not my random Googling. Sorry to have written ambiguously. So that’s definitely the stuff he meant. Finding equivalent alternatives is up to you. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/removing-a-factory-sticker-from-bodywork/1002930.md?page=2)