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*TUTORIAL* Removing EA90 SLX Decals

Posted: Sat May 29, 2010 5:57 am
by SEQUIPA
Zuuup WW!!!
for a while i have been trying to get rid of some decals from my Easton EA90 SLX wheels,and finally i was able to rid them from my life.
Removing these decals isnt as simple like removing stickers where you just peel them off and remove the left over glue,but they do have one thing in common the use of acetone.

here is a small tutorial in how to remove those nasty decals that Easton baked to there rims.

Items:
1 Bottle of Acetone
1 Cleaning rag(the more rugged the better,for abrasion)
1 Fresh Forearm
1 Pair of latex gloves(for those that my have sensitive skin)

Ive found that the reds on the rims are the hardest to come out.
Removing is better when the rag has "fresh" acetone and in circular movements,dont know why but it just gets out faster then up & down.
remove tires since acetone can dry the rubber
Took me around 1h for each wheel.
weight loss is minimal 1-2g for each wheel.
after the paint is gone you can see the edges of where the paint was applied "shadows" just apply more acetone and they will disappear.

Big thanks to Dr.Phil(gandini) for the enlightment :beerchug:



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Re: Removing EA90 SLX Decals *tutorial*

Posted: Thu Jun 03, 2010 10:57 pm
by SEQUIPA
:up: TOPIC IS NOW A TUTORIAL

Re: Removing EA90 SLX Decals *tutorial*

Posted: Thu Jun 03, 2010 10:57 pm
by Weenie

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Re: *TUTORIAL* Removing EA90 SLX Decals

Posted: Thu Jun 03, 2010 11:21 pm
by supercrank
I did the same thing with the extremely ugly decals on my Dura Ace 7850 scandium tubeless wheelset. The red and white swooshes are gone, and all that remains is the Dura Ace lettering.

Re: *TUTORIAL* Removing EA90 SLX Decals

Posted: Thu Jun 03, 2010 11:24 pm
by theStig
So would one recommend doing this on a carbon wheelset? (I'm guessing NO)

Re: *TUTORIAL* Removing EA90 SLX Decals

Posted: Thu Jun 03, 2010 11:37 pm
by SEQUIPA
This is what gandini said to me before i tried acetone


From Gandini

"But Al is much more resistant to chemicals than CF,so perhaps you can try some solvents on the decals?"

:beerchug:

Re: *TUTORIAL* Removing EA90 SLX Decals

Posted: Sun Jun 06, 2010 1:36 am
by 2 wheels
theStig wrote:So would one recommend doing this on a carbon wheelset? (I'm guessing NO)

http://velonews.competitor.com/2009/02/ ... tone_87519
Lennard Zinn wrote:
Tobias (Velonews reader) wrote:Carbon and acetone

Dear Lennard,

Regarding acetone use for cleaning glue off of carbon rims,acetone should be used with great caution on carbon fiber reinforced polymer (CFRP) components, since it can dissolve the epoxy matrix.

While cursory contact will normally be fine, soaking CFRP in acetone will damage the epoxy and possible lead to failure. Any damaged components should not be cleaned with acetone, since the liquid solvent could enter cracks or scratches in the clear coat (or holes leading to the inside of components!) and slowly plasticize the epoxy from within. Acetone should always be washed off with plenty of clean water.

Although less effective than some other methods, acetone digestion of epoxy matrix is a fairly common method of determining the volume fraction of CFRP laminates. Methanol is a much more appropriate solvent for cleaning reinforced epoxies.

Tobias
Dear Tobias,

Actually, I have looked into this a lot in the past and would not have recommended it without having done so. Here are some responses to your assertion from three people who know more about carbon composites than I could ever hope to.

Lennard
Craig Calfee, Calfee Design wrote:An answer from Calfee

Lennard,

That’s utter nonsense. Epoxies are rated in two standard tests: boiling in water and boiling in acetone. The rating calls out the amount of water or acetone absorbed. Epoxy does not dissolve in acetone. Acetone is a great solvent for uncured epoxy. But once it’s cured, acetone doesn’t hurt it.

The only problem with acetone as it relates to bikes is that it will dull paint and clear coats. Most bicycle parts are coated, sometimes with a satin or flat finish that looks like nude carbon. Acetone will change the glossiness (or lack thereof) and make you think it’s doing something to the epoxy. Alcohol is the strongest solvent you can use that will not affect paint.

We offer frames in a nude finish and offer to strip all coatings off other carbon frames. Then we treat it with a UV filtering protectant (303 Protectant). Acetone cleans off this Scotch-guard-like treatment and it would need to be re-done.

That’s more than you need to know about acetone!

Craig Calfee
Calfee Design
Cees Beers, Founder and president, ADA Wheel wrote:An answer from ADA

Lennard,

We’ve never had any problem with acetone, and it can only hurt the foam inside. No it does not dissolve our carbon matrix.

Cees Beers
Founder and president, ADA Wheels
Andy Tetmeyer, Hed Design wrote:An answer from Hed

Lennard,

I’m more of a wheel expert than a resin expert, but here is our experience: We have never soaked wheels in acetone but we have used it as a cleaner for 20 years and have never had a problem with resin degrading. I’m not worried about our use for two reasons: cleaning is a “cursory contact” and acetone is pretty volatile. A rag soaked in acetone only stays wet for about 30 seconds before the acetone completely evaporates. Second, acetone is fairly harmless. You can get it on your skin and not worry (though it does dry your hands out very quickly and very effectively), and vapors are not a problem in a decently ventilated area.

Methanol can cause blindness and death in relatively low doses and can be absorbed through the skin. I don’t dispute that soaking a carbon wheel in acetone might degrade the resin, but since we don’t soak the wheels, we’ll continue to use it.

Andy Tetmeyer
Hed Design

Re: *TUTORIAL* Removing EA90 SLX Decals

Posted: Wed Aug 11, 2010 7:41 am
by williamsf1
anyone taken the logos of the EC90 Aero???

Re: *TUTORIAL* Removing EA90 SLX Decals

Posted: Wed Aug 11, 2010 11:40 am
by Gregorio
My EA90 Aero wheels were decals not paint. The decals peeled right off (8g per wheel) and I used a little goo gone on a rag to get any remaining reidue off of the rim.

Re: *TUTORIAL* Removing EA90 SLX Decals

Posted: Wed Aug 11, 2010 5:23 pm
by js
I haven't seen these Easton wheels in person, but judging from the pictures, it looks like the same type of application of branding used by 3T on their bars & stems. Is anyone able to confirm if this process would remove the markings on 3T alloy products?

Re: *TUTORIAL* Removing EA90 SLX Decals

Posted: Wed Aug 11, 2010 5:44 pm
by williamsf1
yeah mine are paint for sure...

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IMG_3288 by aussie_pilot, on Flickr

Re: *TUTORIAL* Removing EA90 SLX Decals

Posted: Wed Aug 11, 2010 5:59 pm
by SEQUIPA
beautiful bike williamsf1.
but if those are carbon rims then this method is not recommended.
:beerchug:

Re: *TUTORIAL* Removing EA90 SLX Decals

Posted: Wed Aug 11, 2010 6:48 pm
by 109er
I have used and many, many other people have used an acetone soaked rag to take the decals off of a Blackwell Research disc. It did nothing but take the decals off.

Re: *TUTORIAL* Removing EA90 SLX Decals

Posted: Wed Aug 11, 2010 7:54 pm
by Gregorio
Yes the easton Carbon rims are paint but my EA90 were decals.
I have used acetone on carbon handlebars and seat posts to remove paint in the past. It does not hurt anything.

Re: *TUTORIAL* Removing EA90 SLX Decals

Posted: Sat Aug 14, 2010 10:58 pm
by ewhawkes
My EC90 Aero wheelset has painted "decals," but regardless, why in the world would you want to remove them? How cool they look surely makes me go faster than 5g of removed decal...

Re: *TUTORIAL* Removing EA90 SLX Decals

Posted: Sat Aug 14, 2010 10:58 pm
by Weenie

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Re: *TUTORIAL* Removing EA90 SLX Decals

Posted: Sun Aug 15, 2010 1:30 am
by Gregorio
I think all of the carbon easton wheels are painted. Just did not know the EA90 had some painted and some with decals.
I think most wheels look better with out decals, a few exceptions maybe the Bora and LW's. But that is just a personal preference