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Re: Removing the 3M Coach Shield

Reply #25 –
Yahoo Message Number: 90911
Wow ... you have some serious patience to do that. Sounds like you have to use a heat gun vs a hair dryer to do this job; I assuming the hair dryer probably does not get hot enough to do this. Was your 3M shield badly blistered; and after you removed the shield, was your paint still in good condition?

Thanks,
Rick,

2004 Allure, 31018

Re: Removing the 3M Coach Shield

Reply #26 –
Yahoo Message Number: 90912
Rick,

I did the job this summer. I used a heat gun and a metal putty knife that I dulled and rounded the corners on to minimize the possibility of gouging thru the clear coat.


The mask must be scraped off.........not peeled off. I you try to peel it off cold or even warmed it will take pieces clear coat off with it and you'll only get pieces the size of a pea. It is VERY tedious, time consuming work. I've got approx 110 hours into mine so far and I still have the bumper to go.



Great care must be taken not to linger with the heat gun or the underlying paint will come off right down to the bare fiberglass.


The mask will become sticky and then it can be scraped off with the putty knife. After that, the underlying adhesive coat must be removed using 3M adhesive remover.


My mask got to looking so gnarly that I really had no choice but to make the attempt. The results make me glad that I did.


Aside from loosening a spot of paint the size of a quarter next to the pass. side headlight, the results are outstanding. Absolutely looks (and is) brand a new and flawless finish.


Dave Trotter

01 Intrigue 11215

Re: Removing the 3M Coach Shield

Reply #27 –
Yahoo Message Number: 90914
Thanks Gary for info. I will be going to Junction City this week to see Straightline and Carrier & Sons. I will see what kind of advice they give me. I was thinking since I was going to be there for a couple of weeks I would try myself to remove it if all there were going to do was have someone patiently use a heat gun and scrapper to remove it.
I will share the info I receive from Straighline Paint shop after I visit with them.

Rick,

2004 Allure, 31018

Re: Removing the 3M Coach Shield

Reply #28 –
Yahoo Message Number: 90915
I removed mine - - what a chore! And what a mess!
Estimated to have it professionally done were in the thousands, and no one was keen on the job.
I used plastic razor blades on heated film. First I tried a heat gun but it had a tendency to melt the film. I switched to a steamer and that was much better.
This process only removed the film (in tiny pieces), but left behind a hideous mess of adhesive residue. I tried the 3M adhesive remover but couldn't get it to keep from evaporating to quickly to soften the goo.
I finally settled on Astro Pneumatic 400E6 6 Pack, Smart Eraser Pad For Pinstripe Removal Tool from Amazon. This was a mess, but it worked like a champ.
I was left with pristine paint. I had new 3M reapplied. All is well.
In retrospect, I abused the hell out of my original 3M, and it threw in the towel. I'll take better care of it this time (regular application of 303, no pressure washing or abrasive bug removers, etc.).

Good luck!
Jay

05 Inspire 51457

Re: Removing the 3M Coach Shield

Reply #29 –
Yahoo Message Number: 90923
It took 2 people 2 full days to remove the 3m crap, except a 24" strip below the headlights. Use a heat gun on low, hold about 2" away until film is warm, being very careful not to get too hot or will burn paint underneath. Then use plastic scraper to remove the film. Then we used Goo Gone to remove the adhesive. Took about 4 bottles of Goo Gone. Apply, allow to sit for a few minutes, then wipe with dry cloth. Takes some elbow grease to wipe off the adhesive. Most body and paint shops that specialize in RVs will remove, but they won't guarantee that they won't have to repaint the front. We got 2 estimates, each about $1000 to just remove it. Did scrape the paint in a couple of spots. We're headed to Bremen IN to have the rest removed and the front repainted.

Lonny & Diane Livingston
'04 Allure #31065

Re: Removing the 3M Coach Shield

Reply #31 –
Yahoo Message Number: 90927
Thanks for all the responses. It looks like I will be in for quite "a battle" to remove the film; I imagine I will be swearing a lot. I will check with Straightline and Carrier & Sons before I start this project to see what they say.
Once I do have it removed, I am very reluctant to apply the 3M shield again unless they have improved it since 2003. I will check into possible alternatives to the 3M. I will post what I learn after I visit Straightline, etc. in Junction City.

Rick,

2004 Allure, 31018

Re: Removing the 3M Coach Shield

Reply #32 –
Yahoo Message Number: 90936
We had Dazzling Detailing in Florida remove ours. Two men with hard plastic scrapers spent about two hours each removing film. Then spent another hour and a half removing glue with solvent, washing and waxing finished product. No heat guns were used. Cost was $600.

George

'04 Inspire 51061 (for sale)

Re: Removing the 3M Coach Shield

Reply #33 –
Yahoo Message Number: 90939
Rick

A lot of the problems with 3M is the treatment of the product. I have seen detailers using very aggressive techniques to clean the material which really is a rather soft plastic.

My 3M still looks pretty good after 6 plus years.

Dan 2006 Allure 31348 C-9

Re: Removing the 3M Coach Shield

Reply #34 –
Yahoo Message Number: 90947
Rick, for what it's worth, I was told by the 3M certified installer that today's film and the old film are apples and oranges.
I had already contracted to do the job - - he was not spinning a sales pitch.

One way or the other, homework is in order.
 

Re: Removing the 3M Coach Shield

Reply #35 –
Yahoo Message Number: 90967
My 3m film was cracked and had mildew in all the cracks. Ugly. The paint underneath was in excellent shape. In addition to the 3m adhesive remover I used two other products in conjunction. Oops and Goo Gone. These two can be purchases at your local Auto Parts Store. Good luck. Incidentally I did mine in Spring when it was still very cool. Summertime should help.



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From: Richard Barnette

To: Country-Coach-Owners@yahoogroups.com Sent: Sunday, August 25, 2013 7:35 PM Subject: Re: [Country-Coach-Owners] Removing the 3M Coach Shield

Wow ... you have some serious patience to do that. Sounds like you have to use a heat gun vs a hair dryer to do this job; I assuming the hair dryer probably does not get hot enough to do this. Was your 3M shield badly blistered; and after you removed the shield, was your paint still in good condition?

Thanks,
Rick,

2004 Allure, 31018

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