How to Remove Oxidation From RV Decals? – A Detailed Guide

What You Will Need

The most common way to remove oxidation from your rig’s decals is by polishing it. For this process, you will need some materials:

• A heat gun, power buffer
• Automotive wax
• Sandpaper
• Paint
• Plastic sheets
• Automotive polish
• Microfiber towel
• Masking tape.

This process is usually done for fiberglass gel-coated surfaces.

Step-by-Step Guide

Step 1: Prepare the Area

The first step in the RV decal restoration process through polishing is by making sure that you remove all dirt and surface impurities in the surface. Wash it thoroughly with water and use a microfiber towel to wipe off any wet spots after.

Step 2: Protect the Area’s Surroundings

If you are only working on a small part of your RV’s decal, you need to make sure to that don’t need oxidation. To do this, you will need masking tape or large plastic sheets to cover the decal’s surrounding areas that need to be fixed.

Step 3: Apply Polish to the Area

The next step is to apply polish to the fiberglass surface with a decal. To do this, you will need a damp polish applicator or a piece of a microfiber towel. Put an adequate amount of the polishing compound or elbow grease for hand buffing. You can also use an orbital sander or electric power buffer by putting the compound on a soft foam pad connected to your buffer that is smooth-sided.

The RV fiberglass should be wiped thoroughly in a circular motion while leaving enough compound on the surface that it will turn hazy once it dries up. Make sure that all the little nooks and crannies are applied with the polishing compound.

Step 4: Rinse and Buff the Area

Next up, get your dry cloth and buff the fiberglass gel coat decal. Continue doing this until it’s shiny. Rinse the gel coat to remove excess polishing compounds. Once finished, wipe it with a dry cloth to get rid of any water spots.

Step 5: Apply Wax to the Area

The last step in polishing your rig’s decal is to apply wax. It’s not enough to polish it since it won’t keep your decals protected enough. Some wax comes with its applicator but chooses a cream-colored one. Follow the manual on how to apply it properly. Once it’s dry, you can now buff it again.

For rig owners who don’t want to spend a lot of time fixing their RV’s exteriors, they can opt to replace their old decal. In this process, the tools you will need are the vinyl sheet and scissors or cutter.

To do this, buy a vinyl sheet and cut it accordingly. Carefully place it over the old one and make sure to remove any air bubbles to smoothen it out.

If you want your rig to have a clean look, you may choose to remove the decal. You will need a lot of patience for this process. Some of the things that you will need in this process are a heat gun or hair dryer, adhesive remover, microfiber towel, and ghost-off oxidation cleaner.

Start by heating the area. You can use a hairdryer or a heat gun for this. Once it’s done, you can carefully peel it off. You can use an adhesive remover to clean the surface for a cleaner and smoother area.

Wipe the area with a microfiber towel and apply a ghost-off oxidation cleaner to ensure the area is smooth and the paint is even.

Sometimes, the oxidation can be so severe that all you can do is repaint it. To prepare for this process, you will need paint, marine-grade coating, a microfiber towel, sanding paper, masking tape, protective paper, and a clear top coat.

Before you start painting over it, you need to isolate the area first and protect its surroundings from getting painted.

Next, remove the paint and wipe the area with a microfiber towel. After that, sand the area and wipe it clean.

Once you’re done with all the necessary preparations, apply a marine-grade coating as your primer.

Sand the area and clean it again right after.

Now, you can spray the paint gradually in thin layers and make sure that it’s all even throughout the area.

Lastly, apply a clear coat on top to prevent oxidation and remove all the protective cover you placed earlier.