How to remove plastidip from your grille

**doowopaudi** · 07-04-2013 12:40 PM

I'm about to remove all the plastidip from my RS4 grille in order to paint it satin black. I didn't find anything on this forum on how to remove it from the grille, so I used google and found this.

http://www.myg37.com/forums/d-i-y-in...-easy-way.html

Perhaps it will help someone down the line.

**a4udios** · 07-08-2013 04:58 AM

With my experience with plastidip, I have seen that those who use it, don't spray enough coats.

You should have at least 5-6 coats sprayed on so the removal process will not be a headache.

Another mistake that people do is, neglecting to clean the surface that they are applying the plasti dip to. Rubbing alcohol is good for emblems. If you decide on painting your wheels, save yourself the trouble and remove the wheels prior to plasti dipping them.

I've plasti dipped, wheels, emblems, mirrors, etc. the only time I did have an issue with removing the plasti dip was when there were too little layers.

My .02

**A3Ryan** · 07-08-2013 12:29 PM

What I have done in the past with plastidip is peel a small piece then use a pressure washer to get the rest off.

**a4udios** · 07-08-2013 09:31 PM

Originally Posted by A3Ryan

What I have done in the past with plastidip is peel a small piece then use a pressure washer to get the rest off.

Just peel the rest off by rubbing it. haha.

**doowopaudi** · 07-08-2013 11:15 PM

Originally Posted by A3Ryan

What I have done in the past with plastidip is peel a small piece then use a pressure washer to get the rest off.

After having used Goo Gone to soften the plastidip and then papetowels/water hose to remove it, I have concluded that your method is probably the one that will work, I.e., the pressure washer. I have a honeycomb grille with about 300 honeycomb shaped openings with plastidip and I'm not going to go thru each one and individually rub off the plastidip. I just purchased an As Seen On TV water jet cannon that attaches to the water hose and serves as a pressure washer. I'm waiting for it to arrive in the mail, so I'm stalling on my grille for now. When it does arrive, I will post a DIY for others to see.

**TCHUN003** · 07-08-2013 11:30 PM

Originally Posted by doowopaudi

After having used Goo Gone to soften the plastidip and then papetowels/water hose to remove it, I have concluded that your method is probably the one that will work, I.e., the pressure washer. I have a honeycomb grille with about 300 honeycomb shaped openings with plastidip and I'm not going to go thru each one and individually rub off the plastidip. I just purchased an As Seen On TV water jet cannon that attaches to the water hose and serves as a pressure washer. I'm waiting for it to arrive in the mail, so I'm stalling on my grille for now. When it does arrive, I will post a DIY for others to see.

Make sure you don't crack the grill with that pressure washer

**doowopaudi** · 07-08-2013 11:35 PM

Originally Posted by TCHUN003

Make sure you don't crack the grill with that pressure washer

Will keep that in mind, however, its not a true pressure washer. Simply the water hose with a nozzle.

**a4udios** · 07-08-2013 11:53 PM

Originally Posted by doowopaudi

Will keep that in mind, however, its not a true pressure washer. Simply the water hose with a nozzle.

A buddy of mine has one thats attached to a high pressure rated hose that he got from his previous job at a brewery. It works!

As for removing the plasti dip on the honey comb; It's tedious, but the best method is to rub it off completely, you don't run the risk of creating hairline cracks in the grille. Been there done that. I plastidipped my friends gti with the honeycomb grille. We got the plasti dip off by spraying more coats onto the grille, and waited for it to dry. the plastidip all peeled off in one, little by little. Either way, all methods on removing the plastidip listed here are effective. Its just always difficult on knowing whats the best way to remove the plastidip without ruining what your trying to remove.

**a4udios** · 07-10-2013 12:08 PM

If you decide to go with the pressure washer method, spray some wd-40 on the surface then use the pressure washer. Comes right off.

**A4.1.8turboo** · 07-10-2013 06:46 PM

Originally Posted by a4udios

Just peel the rest off by rubbing it. haha.

Lol exactly! just rub that shit off.

**RAudi Driver** · 07-11-2013 12:07 AM

Originally Posted by doowopaudi

After having used Goo Gone to soften the plastidip and then papetowels/water hose to remove it, I have concluded that your method is probably the one that will work, I.e., the pressure washer. I have a honeycomb grille with about 300 honeycomb shaped openings with plastidip and I'm not going to go thru each one and individually rub off the plastidip. I just purchased an As Seen On TV water jet cannon that attaches to the water hose and serves as a pressure washer. I'm waiting for it to arrive in the mail, so I'm stalling on my grille for now. When it does arrive, I will post a DIY for others to see.

I had one of those and returned it because it was no stronger than my sweeper nozzle that I purchased from Home depot.

**temanuele** · 07-11-2013 09:14 AM

I'm in the process of removing Plasti Dip from my whole car...what a painstaking process. It was my first time so I definitely sprayed too thin, and I have about 10 man hours so far in the removal process. Some areas you can spray another layer over and then use that to peel off a large portion, but other areas are just too thin for this to work.

So I've been rubbing those areas by hand, but it has a negative effect on the paint underneath (scratching and even damaging the clear coat). A pressure washer with some goof-off seems like the safest way if you have access to one with enough pressure.

**a4udios** · 07-11-2013 09:26 AM

Originally Posted by temanuele

I'm in the process of removing Plasti Dip from my whole car...what a painstaking process. It was my first time so I definitely sprayed too thin, and I have about 10 man hours so far in the removal process. Some areas you can spray another layer over and then use that to peel off a large portion, but other areas are just too thin for this to work.

So I've been rubbing those areas by hand, but it has a negative effect on the paint underneath (scratching and even damaging the clear coat). A pressure washer with some goof-off seems like the safest way if you have access to one with enough pressure.

Your paint will get damaged after removing the plastidip. How long has the plastidip been on the car?

**temanuele** · 07-14-2013 12:22 AM

Originally Posted by a4udios

Your paint will get damaged after removing the plastidip. How long has the plastidip been on the car?

Its been on for about six months. Finally got it all off, without damaging the paint. For those that go through this, here is my recommendations based on my experience:

- Spray thick the first time. Plastidip isn't like paint where you layer it. Spray about six inches away and lay it on thick with smooth sweeping strokes.
- To remove large areas of thin plastidip, spray over it with thick layers of new plastidip and let it dry. Then take off a little down to the paint, and roll then edge so the top and bottom layers are lifted together. Then you can start peeling.
- For crevices and tough areas, your best bet is a power washer. 2000 psi (rent it from home depot) with a wide nozzle works best. This pressure is fine for factory paint but if you have aftermarket paint it may strip it so keep this in mind.
- For really tough patches and delicate places, some gasoline on a paper towel works best. This is better at removing it than goof off. Either pour some gas on the area and let it sit for a minute, or dab some on a paper towel. This will wipe it right off.

**a4udios** · 07-14-2013 12:36 AM

I'm relieved that you were able to remove the plastidip without damaging the paint.

Usually when individuals spray on the plastidip, they coat the first layer too thick and thats what causes the bubbles and dripping. After they notice that they sprayed too thick, they restart the plastidip process, but make the mistake of spraying only one or 2 coats. I've plastidipped my car twice, from experience, the more coats, the better.

The mistake people make is not spraying enough plastidip the first time, so when it's time to remove, the layer is thin to the point where the atoms of the plastidip easily separate.

Your correct, plastidip isn't like regular paint.

Wd-40 works miracles combined with a pressure washer.

I don't ever recommend using gasoline as a way to remove plastidip as the gasoline will de wax the surface.

After removing the plastidip, it's a great idea to properly wash and wax the paint. In the end plastidip has not been out long enough for enthusiasts to understand the proper method of removing the rubber, but by rubbing it off. In the end, we all find methods of removing the dip out own way. Not all of these methods will be safe for every car. To each his own opinion. I'm glad the plastidip came off your car.

**nnnick** · 07-14-2013 11:09 AM

Check out "Dip Disolver" from DipYourCar.com - apply that and it will come off with just a strong hose or pressure washer (no matter how thin you applied it):

**doowopaudi** · 07-14-2013 08:47 PM

Originally Posted by nnnick

Check out "Dip Disolver" from DipYourCar.com - apply that and it will come off with just a strong hose or pressure washer (no matter how thin you applied it):
Q

It looks like he's using GooGone in his official plastidip spray bottle. Why purchase officially licensed Plastidip products if there are plenty of household name brand or generic products that will do the same? You can even purchase unofficial Plastidip cans at homedepot.

**a4udios** · 07-15-2013 09:12 AM

Wd40 works and goo gone works.

**Milldawg** · 07-17-2013 06:02 PM

I'm having the same problem here. Used black plastidip on my black hood because the clearcoat was coming off in certain sections because the car is 13 years old. Applied 6 coats of plastidip on the hood. Waited for the clearcoat to ship to me (4 weeks later) Applied 4 coats of the clearcoat plastidip and now Im trying to remove it all. It is terrible...2 hours and not an 1/8 done. Guess I'll try wd40 and or goo gone.