I am new to the detailing world so don't want to make a major mistake.

How does everyone deal with working with the paint around factory decals and stripes? I'm going to practice on my Ford F150 to get it right before attacking the Porsche. Both have decals and stripes.

Are you masking off the decals and then just running the DA up to it? Or, going over top of them?

thanks

Mike

 

It all depends on how perfect you want it to be. For the initial time, whenever we do a paint correction, we simple remove anything in our way. The crest up front comes off easy and goes back on easy.

The actual emblems in the back, are removed, and then replaced with new OEM ones. The only emblem we ever re-use is the 993 "turbo" emblem as it's no longer made by porsche

 

Moe, thanks for the advise. However, I was thinking when I do my polishing and waxing throughout the years. I don't think I want to remove the vinyl decals, and remove the emblems each time I do a polish / wax.

 

For decals, such as stripes, we tape off the edge of the decal to prevent polish/wax build up, and for emblems we carefully tape them off and polish up to them. On our full restoration details we will remove and replace older emblems, but for most vehicles it is an added cost that not everyone is willing to pay. When taping an emblem we slide the edge of the tape behind the emblem on the sides so it is totally protected all around, and then put another pieve of tape across the front of the emblem. Takes a minute or so, but well worth the piece of mind. Hope that helps!

 

Thanks TLC I will give it a go on the Ford incase I screw something up. The Porsche's will have to wait their turn.

 

Have any of you successfully removed the Turbo badge and re-installed it after a detail? I'm probably going to remove mine for a thorough detail, but I don't really way to spend $200 on a new Guards Red badge. I'm just wondering if I can get it off and re-installed without damaging it. I may just go for the clean look and leave it off anyway.

 

Use fishing line to remove the emblem. Just slide the line under edge of "t" and begin pulling up and dine and side to side to get emblem off. Then clean left over adhesive on paint and back of emblem with goo gone. When ready to replace, clean back of emblem with alcohol, attach double side tape, and then clean area on paint where emblem is to be affixed, using alcohol. Apply emblem, don't push it down yet, check for position, then press firmly to make a good seal

 

It all depends on how OCD you are. For an initial paint correction, we find removing emblems is easier. If the paint around the lettering is perfect, it's hard to get the small scratches inside the lettering out by hand and you run risk of further scratching inside lettering if you try and chase those imperfections.

But once the job is done right first time, you're more aware of using proper towels, wash mitt, and technique to make sure you minimize these imperfections in the first place. Then, you no longer need to remove these emblems, as polishing by hand takes care of everything.

As for decals, like gts, gt2, etc. on the newer cars on front door, we simply polish there by hand, wipe, and gently get any left over polish off using a toothpick

Hope this helps

 

Thanks very much Moe.