My 94 F150 has some ugly cracked stripes that run the entire length of the truck. Do any of you guys have or know of a way to remove pinstriping without damaging the paint? Sorry I would post a picture of the stripes but I am new to the forum and don't think I can do that yet.
Thanks, jpc

 

If they havent been painted around ,,you can use a 3 M stripe eraser

 

If its the tape stripe and not painted over or around, use a hair dryer or heat gun to soften the adhesive up. Start at a corner of the stripe, heat very carefully (you only want to soften the adhesive up) then start peeling it off. You can then use a wax and grease remover afterwards to remove any residue left over.

I have used the 3m eraser already, but if you dont know how to use it properly, you can burn thru the paint. It does a nice job, just be carefull if you choose this method. It also removes the adhesive as well.

Warning: #1 If you have never done this before, I highly recommend using the hair dryer first.
#2 If it is a 2 tone paint, you will wind up with a ridge in the paint that the stripe was hiding. There also might be primer showing thru if truck was repainted and they failed to overlap the paints.

 

Thanks, I will try the heat gun first. They are not painted over and the truck is solid red. I doubt it has ever been repainted, the last owner just used it for work and didn't love it the way it should be loved. It really is a shame, but it gives me something to this summer.

 

also depending on how sunfaded your truck is, after the stripes are gone you might have red stripes still that are the original shade of the truck, which is probably still a hundred times better looking than cracked stripes

 

I recommend the eraser wheel man.
They should run about $10.00 anywhere.
Just go slow and you'll be fine, don't stay in one place for very long or you will burn through the paint.
Feel the spot right after you work it and if it's hot to the touch move faster!

The fading will be there either way.
Then an adhesive remover, a deep wash, more adhesive remover, a fine grit polish, then another finer grit polish, another deep clean, then buff, then as always a good coat of wax!

 

Is it something I can find at Auto Zone or any parts store?

 

I get them from the body shop supply but I've also found them at O'Reillys, just ask Auto-Zone, they might have one.