Removing Cabinet Artwork

[FlashFreak]

Hey everyone,

I'm starting work on a MAME cab.  I just bought a Sunset Riders 4 Player cab in very good condition.  The marquee is plate glass with a melamine like heavy translucent image in it.  On the sides of the 6' cab are top to bottom stickers that cover it completely with photograph art for 4 cowboys on them.  They're a little scuffed in places and the artwork is starting to discolor a bit (it IS 17 years old).

I'd like to clean the cab up, give it a nice coat of black paint and maybe invest in some MAME art down the road, or make some myself.  My question is though, what is the best way to get the old artwork off?  I think the cab walls are MDF, and I worry about getting too much fliud across it, for fear of it sucking it up like a sponge and ruining the cab.

These decals cover the entire surface, and I want to be able to take the MDF back to a smooth finish so it can be primed and painted.

Any suggestions?


ff.

[Ginsu Victim]

You'll hear several suggestions, so we'll start with a crappy one, then someone who knows more will come along with a better answer for you.

I used a hair dryer (heat gun might be too much) and just started at one corner and lifted as the hair dryer heated the glue. Worked well enough.

[FlashFreak]

Definitely low tech enough, my wife will love it, as long as her hair dryer comes back none the worse for wear. 

I thought about the heat gun, but I also worried it might be overkill.  The machine is 17 years old, so I'm not sure what state the glue is in.

Did you have much glue residue?  I have a bottle of Goo Gone I could use to clean that off I guess.

Thanks for the suggestion.  Has anyone else tried a heat gun?  My father-in-law has one I'm sure I could borrow.


ff.

[Ginsu Victim]

Not a lot of glue really, but I didn't have such a big area to remove either. Should come off with the art, but if not, you've got Goo Gone, so it's no big deal.

[Ortizimo]

Hey, I used a stripping gel I found at walmart (if your in the US) and after 15 minutes the graphics turned rubbery (smelled like balloons) and took me like 3 minutes to peel off. Hope this help.

[FlashFreak]

Huh, the peeling gel sounds like a good idea if the hairdryer doesn't work.  Sounds messier though.

We do have Walmart in Canada, running water too! 

I'll definitely give that a shot as an alternative.  I'm sure I could find a similar product at Home Depot or Rona.  Thanks for the tip!!


ff.

[Ortizimo]

LOL! I didnt mean it that way. It is messier but is quicker than the hair drier which I know it wont work because I have a heat gun and when I tried it I can safely say I would have been on that thing for hours...just make sure you wear gloves because it burns on your skin. Get the gel, gloves, a brush and a stripping tool. If you're not going to take it apart-- unless is already like that -- then use a soldering tool around the bolts if the graphic material runs under them to remove.

[Axe]

Huh, the peeling gel sounds like a good idea if the hairdryer doesn't work.  Sounds messier though.

We do have Walmart in Canada, running water too! 

I'll definitely give that a shot as an alternative.  I'm sure I could find a similar product at Home Depot or Rona.  Thanks for the tip!!


ff.

HEY!

You have runnig water?!?!?!? you must be in the nice part of town!


I think stripper gel, would be pretty harsh... though it shouldn't soak into the MDF...  iw ould go with some circa 1850 brand (available at the depot) they have a  "earth friendly" line that is less powerful, but easier and less toxic to clean up.

[wildbill]

use the first idea, then clean the adhesive with denatured alcohol. And you can use a heat gun, just dont get close to it . do 1' incraments w/heat gun pull graphic off and repeat.!

[Ginsu Victim]

Ah, someone to back me up!

NOTE: When using heat, do not use your fingers to lift the artwork. I shouldn't have to tell you why.

[Spaced Ace]

Ah, someone to back me up!

NOTE: When using heat, do not use your fingers to lift the artwork. I shouldn't have to tell you why.

LOL...