Badging removal
- Thread starter Chevynutz
- Start date
I'll post a pic later (away from my tools) but I've always used a thin knife edge tool. Looks similar to a putty knife but with the edge on the side. Don't know the proper name for it. Doing collision for a lot of years I've removed a lot of emblems with it. Including a lot of the one pictured. A sharp edge thin flexible putty knife works well too. A stiff but thin and stubby puttyknife like tool works too. Never used any wire so I can't comment. Only used any sort of wire with glass.
Thin sharp edge putty knife and your heat gun will remove them quickly. Make sure it's thin. Go slow and careful so you don't dig into the paint. Just warm it (panel and emblem area) a bit (not much) then work the knife down the backside staying close to the emblem side. Once you get a 1/3 of it loose it will pull off easily by hand. Best way to remove the adhesive and not damage the paint is to use an eraser wheel in your drill. I've also used a loose razor blade by hand in a pinch when something better wasn't available. Razor blade works well for the flexible style emblems. Thin putty knife would work better on those Silverado emblems.
Example of eraser wheels if interested.
Thin sharp edge putty knife and your heat gun will remove them quickly. Make sure it's thin. Go slow and careful so you don't dig into the paint. Just warm it (panel and emblem area) a bit (not much) then work the knife down the backside staying close to the emblem side. Once you get a 1/3 of it loose it will pull off easily by hand. Best way to remove the adhesive and not damage the paint is to use an eraser wheel in your drill. I've also used a loose razor blade by hand in a pinch when something better wasn't available. Razor blade works well for the flexible style emblems. Thin putty knife would work better on those Silverado emblems.
Example of eraser wheels if interested.
Have always used nylon fishing line. Damage free (even rookies, or helpers 
). Eraser wheel for double sided tape, slow RPM https://www.academy.com/p/berkley-t...YTvkdOMU3lc-NWiWVE41WMUikjX78jLhoCt18QAvD_BwE
). Eraser wheel for double sided tape, slow RPM https://www.academy.com/p/berkley-t...YTvkdOMU3lc-NWiWVE41WMUikjX78jLhoCt18QAvD_BwE
Cost on a new one is about $60, so it comes down to how one values time. For us, the labor to clean, retape, and properly position those letters would well exceed the cost of new. I've heard of places that sell precut double-sided tape for emblems, which I would highly recommend for shops trying to re-use these kinds of emblems, carving the tape to match all the letters is very time consuming.
Chevynutz
Slow old timer
Thanks gentlemen, greatly appreciated !
Going to paint the whole tailgate and probably leave them off, good to know though. When you say make a template do you lay tracing paper over the top and outline or ?
Found what looks to be the correct precut adhesive for that emblem, but at $35 it's not that great of a deal imo:
These emblems are made in China, anyway. Dodge 4x4 emblems are 1/10 the price https://www.amazon.com/Emblem-Repla...56065&sprefix=4x4+emblems,aps,213&sr=8-9&th=1
I just use masking tape, layer it up and make marks. Like previously said if the emblem is available and cheap. Better to buy it new.
The cool thing about the factory ones is that they come stuck to a clear plastic guide that has them aligned properly, this gets peeled off once the letters are stuck on. I've seen a lot of rigs where you can tell that work has been done because the spacing is off or the letters slightly crooked, it's a pretty big PIA to get them just right.
