Front Film Removal

[Venturer]

The film on the front of our 06 Executive is ok except the top panel above the top of the generator roll-out door. The edge next to the windshield has pealed back a bit and the paint is faded. I've watched a few videos on removing the film but want to know what people in the real world have done to remove the film. Did Monaco use 3-M or Diamond Shield, as I understand each has a different removal process?  As I mentioned, I only have to do the top 12" under the windshield, as the rest still looks good.   

[Dr4Film]

They used Diamond Shield and sold it as 3M. Lots of special chemicals and plastic razors.

[Steve P]

Anyone have real world experience with effective chemicals that won't remove or soften paint?  I'm also about to embark on this project for all the film in mine. I know there is the Uglyshield solvent but I'm hoping for an off-the-shelf solution. 

Edited April 6 by Steve P
Added info

[vito.a]

You can use a steam gun with plastic razor blades and softener chemicals.  

Or, some have used a 3000psi pressure washer to cut and break up the film. Then use chemicals to remove the resin.

You can use the 3M adhesive remover, one of the citrus adhesive remover, or one of the other solvents available.  

If the paint is dull or damaged it's best to have the area repainted.  (Don't even bother removong the film).

Almost always the tops of the front and rear caps need painting anyway. 

Good luck!

[redstickbill]

The folks at "Ugly Film" used steam and plastic razors, then a solvent to remove the residue. Took two days for the entire front of the coach, cost was$2000 less a Military Discount. When finished, the coach looked new.

Bill B 07 Dynasty

[Venturer]

5 hours ago, vito.a said:

You can use a steam gun with plastic razor blades and softener chemicals.  

Or, some have used a 3000psi pressure washer to cut and break up the film. Then use chemicals to remove the resin.

You can use the 3M adhesive remover, one of the citrus adhesive remover, or one of the other solvents available.  

If the paint is dull or damaged it's best to have the area repainted.  (Don't even bother removong the film).

Almost always the tops of the front and rear caps need painting anyway. 

Good luck!

If I'm going to have the area repainted, does the shop just sand the film off in their prep process? 

[diplomat don]

15 hours ago, Venturer said:

The film on the front of our 06 Executive is ok except the top panel above the top of the generator roll-out door. The edge next to the windshield has pealed back a bit and the paint is faded. I've watched a few videos on removing the film but want to know what people in the real world have done to remove the film. Did Monaco use 3-M or Diamond Shield, as I understand each has a different removal process?  As I mentioned, I only have to do the top 12" under the windshield, as the rest still looks good.   

We were at the FMCA Rally at Tucson several weeks ago and had someone knock on my door and talk about film removal. He says they only use steam. They are in Mesa and as you are in Lake Havasu not that far. Quoted me $1600 for my coach. It is called Glue be Gone, 651-206-0766. Gluebegone.net Good luck and hope this helps, Don

[Tom Cherry]

30 minutes ago, diplomat don said:

We were at the FMCA Rally at Tucson several weeks ago and had someone knock on my door and talk about film removal. He says they only use steam. They are in Mesa and as you are in Lake Havasu not that far. Quoted me $1600 for my coach. It is called Glue be Gone, 651-206-0766. Gluebegone.net Good luck and hope this helps, Don

Negatory on post  on “SAND ‘ER OFF”…..

Dazzling Detail in FL is the most common used.  They run trucks to shows all over the country.  They use razor blades and a “spay”….pump typel.  You would spend says sanding and then ruin your paint.  You “peel” off the old film. Do a sanitizing (bleach) cleaning to kill any fungus or mold or mildew.  Then a solvent wash…..Acetone or similar.  Then you do a “ding and chip” filling.  Same thing a used car prep shop does.  TheY color match (blend) on site.  You can order a fiberglass Gelcoat mixing kit.  Get 5 or more bottles or small bottles of different color and then you mix and match the color….add hardener….and then “expertly” touch up or fill the chips.  These can be done on stone dings or “peeling errors”.  The more careful or “experienced” the stripping person, the FEWER the chips or gouges to fill.  Sharpened 1/8” dowell or toothpicks are the application tool, unless you have tiny stiff artist’s brushes.  Light sand or blend and then buff the area…clean it with solvent or the “activator” for the film….and they start cutting pieces to reapply.  One shop used narrow strips of blue painter tape to outline the seams in the original….and then matched or cut similar pieces of the new film,  2 PLUS day job….with 2 techs….depending on the surface  damage from chips and minimizing the gouge “OPPS”.

[vito.a]

Yes, if your coach needs paint the body shop will just use a DA sander to remove film and paint. It may take him an extra sandpaper or two but it will be gone in 10 min. 

[Paul J A]

Remove Film on Front of RV
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O_IRnzQQtyk

[Venturer]

I decided to remove just the top edge below the windshield. That is the only area that was pealing. It is about 1-2" wide and tapers to nothing at the sides. A Blow dryer and plastic chisel from Harbor Freight made for easy removal. The hardest part is getting the glue off, but patience and Goo Gone seems to do it. The rest of the front is fairly good yet.  It's not as nice as complete replacement, however, I won't have to look at the pealing film every time I walk by.   😎  There is some checking on the upper panel between what I have done and the top of the generator slide out. The film comes off fairly easy while holding a hair dryer in front of the chisel and slowly pealing it off. Plus, I found the glue comes off easier if heated and rubbing it in with my fingers. I can see doing that panel some afternoon when I get bored. It sure beats paying someone else $150 or more per hour to do it. 

Edited April 6 by Venturer

[ziaptrn]

Hello all - When I removed the Diamond Shield from the front of our rig, I ended up having the most success with Xylene (a solvent available at most hardware or paint stores) and plastic chisel/scrapers from Harbor Freight. I tried everything from acetone to goo-gone to goof off, etc. The Xylene likely causes 8 different types of cancer (!) and smells nasty. I'd recommend wearing a mask and gloves for sure and only working outdoors or in an extremely well-ventilated place. That said, the Xylene did a great job of dissolving the adhesive into a nasty mucus-like slime that was easy to scrape off. The Xylene did not harm the paint at all, and I avoided damaging the paint as I had done on a previous rig when I tried to "chip" the coating off and ended up removing paint and finish as well. I used a spray bottle and series of old rags to apply the Xylene, and then the scrapers and more rags to wipe off the gross sticky mucus.

Like others, I also used a steamer to remove the leftover adhesive and goo as well as straggling remnants of Diamond Shield. When I finished, it looked great, but I also understood why removing the covering was an expensive job to hire out.

Best of luck, and I hope that this helps.

John

[Venturer]

I started removing the film from the panel above the generator. The center section peeled off fairly easy with a heat gun and scrapper. Goo Gone soaked up the residue and was able to scrape it off with the same plastic blade. I then cleaned and polished it. It was pretty easy and went quickly. As I started around the curve toward the door, I was leaving more glue residue. The Goo Gone took some off, but after three applications, I'm not getting the last of it off. As John mentioned, is this a job for a steamer and or Xylene? If I can't find a simple way to remove the rest of the glue residue, I don't want to attempt removing any below the top section as I might have gotten lucky with the first section due to more sun damage.    

[redstickbill]

When I had the film removed they used a steamer, took two guys about two days.

Bill B 07 Dynasty

[Steve P]

A steamer is supposed to help remove the vinyl, but I plan to order Rapid Remover to dissolve the adhesive (www.rapidtac.com or Amazon).  This worked, according to another post.

[Venturer]

I'll give the Rapid Remover a try. Just one more item for our daily deliveries from Amazon. 🙄

[Venturer]

WOW, the Rapid Remover arrived, and I gave it a try not expecting much. SHAZAM, it quickly removed the remaining glue that 3 applications of Goo Gone couldn't remove. That gives me encouragement to remove the rest of the film, even though it's not as bad as the upper panel was.   

[Steve P]

51 minutes ago, Venturer said:

WOW, the Rapid Remover arrived, and I gave it a try not expecting much. SHAZAM, it quickly removed the remaining glue that 3 applications of Goo Gone couldn't remove. That gives me encouragement to remove the rest of the film, even though it's not as bad as the upper panel was.   

That's great news.  My gallon is enroute and will arrive Thursday.  I'm going to try a steamer to remove the film.

[Venturer]

If I had a steamer, I would have tried it. My heat gun set on the 2nd lowest temp works great. I just heat up an area, then hold it a couple inches away from the film as I push the plastic scraper. The film peels off relatively easy taking most of the glue with it. Now, with this RR, the job will go faster.

[windsorbill06]

I'll be curious to see how much of the rapid remover you use/need for the front of the coach.    I see  it in 32 oz and gallon sizes.

[Venturer]

I just bought the 32oz bottle as I wasn't sure how it would work. Plus, I wasn't intending to remove all of the film. However, it worked so well, I'll remove the rest of the black upper section and decide from there. The spray will go quite aways, but it will depend on how the rest comes off.     

[windsorbill06]

3 hours ago, Venturer said:

I just bought the 32oz bottle as I wasn't sure how it would work. Plus, I wasn't intending to remove all of the film. However, it worked so well, I'll remove the rest of the black upper section and decide from there. The spray will go quite aways, but it will depend on how the rest comes off.     

let us know what the final amount is.   That project is on my calendar for this fall.

[diplomat don]

13 hours ago, windsorbill06 said:

let us know what the final amount is.   That project is on my calendar for this fall.

If it goes well I am willing to have you demonstrate on mine at Quartszite this winter. lol  Will be interested to find out how it goes. Don

[Venturer]

I did a short section at the top of the generator door where the shield wasn't as degraded as the upper part. The film came off a bit harder than the upper part, but not too bad. I sprayed it with the Rapid Remover and waited a minute and lightly rubbed it in. The scraper took almost all of the residue off with a single pass. That section looks new now. I'm thinking of doing the entire front now. I have all summer to do it. An hour or so every few days will complete the task for less than $50 worth of RR and plastic blades.  

Don, any demonstration will have to be by mental telepathy. I'll think about doing it for you and you can imagine how it will look. Plus, there will be no charge for the service 😁

Edited May 29 by Venturer

[windsorbill06]

3 hours ago, Venturer said:

I did a short section at the top of the generator door where the shield wasn't as degraded as the upper part. The film came off a bit harder than the upper part, but not too bad. I sprayed it with the Rapid Remover and waited a minute and lightly rubbed it in. The scraper took almost all of the residue off with a single pass. That section looks new now. I'm thinking of doing the entire front now. I have all summer to do it. An hour or so every few days will complete the task for less than $50 worth of RR and plastic blades.  

Don, any demonstration will have to be by mental telepathy. I'll think about doing it for you and you can imagine how it will look. Plus, there will be no charge for the service 😁

Doug,

As I mentioned, I'm curious about how much product you use.  Also curious about how the paint under the shield is holding up.   Hope this can be removed without repainting.

6 hours ago, diplomat don said:

If it goes well I am willing to have you demonstrate on mine at Quartszite this winter. lol  Will be interested to find out how it goes. Don

Don,

I live to show you my projects!  lol