I'm replacing two windows on the Santana, they are very crazed. I'm making them out of smoky polycarbonate that I've had for years.
I cut the windows out with a jig saw, drilled the holes and chamfered the edges, but the paper backing refuses to peel off. I don't want
to scratch them so does anybody know how I can remove the backing successfully ??.

A heat gun to remove the paper with patience & then I had success with Wax & Grease Remover (SuperCheap) & a plastic scraper to remove the glue.

It's very labour intensive but in time you'll get there!!

Have had good success with this for removing the residual glue off cut down Etchells sails under insignias and numbers after they have been peeled off. May need a few applications to get the glue to a state it can be rubbed off with a cloth. Messy but it worked.

www.bunnings.com.au/glitz-500ml-goo-and-stain-remover_p4474293

Suggest you ring Pascoes the supplier to check it won't damage the polycarbonate - also to ask if they have a better product for your need.

www.pascoes.com.au/brands/

Sam, At risk of being a downer, it's probably easier just to cut new poly. Over the years I've come across the same problem on metal roof flashing & after the agonising & hour consuming chore you find you've scratched it. That being said if it's soaked long enough the paper will probably soften and be removable with a gerni and I'd try to lift / dissolve the glue with metho

I only get this problem on old plastic sheet. Usually it is a small piece and I just get a new one. I have tried all thr

I only get this problem on old plastic sheet. Usually it is a small piece and I just get a new one. I have tried different soaps etc and nothing seems to work.

Now when finished with a piece I remove all of the paper from both sides and leave the offcut in an old sheet.

OK guys, thanks for the info. I'll try a few things as suggested, to see if anything works. I'm thinking if I get the paper off ( by whatever method ) any sticky residue I'll hit with eucalyptus oil. I'll let you know how I get on.

I just typed "how to remove paper backing from plastic sheet" in google


Practice on your offcuts first

OK, success. As per LC I practiced on a scrap bit. I thought I'd go for the easiest solution.....hot water. So I put hot water in the kitchen sink, straight out of the tap, not out of the kettle. Put the scrap in for two minutes and used a flat paint scraper. the paper didn't come of in a sheet but it did come off. The sticky residue was left but it seems it protected the surface from the scraper.
So on one side I tried eucalyptus oil and on the other metho. Metho was definitely better. Plenty of elbow grease and liberal doses of metho on a clean cloth and the poly came up like new.
The polycarbonate has been leaning up against the wall in the garage for ten years, so I was lucky to get away with it but, poly is tough stuff, I believe much tougher than acrylic, so I'm not sure if you would get the same result with acrylic sheeting of that age.
The windows are 2'-6" x 10" so I did the job using the bath, then sat on the loo with the window on my lap to apply the metho.
Got to be happy with the result.

Select to expand quote

samsturdy said..
OK, success. As per LC I practiced on a scrap bit. I thought I'd go for the easiest solution.....hot water. So I put hot water in the kitchen sink, straight out of the tap, not out of the kettle. Put the scrap in for two minutes and used a flat paint scraper. the paper didn't come of in a sheet but it did come off. The sticky residue was left but it seems it protected the surface from the scraper.
So on one side I tried eucalyptus oil and on the other metho. Metho was definitely better. Plenty of elbow grease and liberal doses of metho on a clean cloth and the poly came up like new.
The polycarbonate has been leaning up against the wall in the garage for ten years, so I was lucky to get away with it but, poly is tough stuff, I believe much tougher than acrylic, so I'm not sure if you would get the same result with acrylic sheeting of that age.
The windows are 2'-6" x 10" so I did the job using the bath, then sat on the loo with the window on my lap to apply the metho.
Got to be happy with the result.

Well done Sam,
You can get a plastic scraper from Graphic Art Mart. www.gamart.com.au/Products/Item/BLASTB we use them a lot when removing old signage from windows that have tint film on them. They're only razor blade size, but work well for what you're doing. If it was me, I'd douse the whole thing with water, then use the blade to peel the paper and the glue should then also come off mostly.

Having said that, it looks like you're done, so I'm a bit late to the party :-)

Hi Michael.
The scraper I used was just a piece of flat tin about three inches wide with a plastic top for your hand.
I really did try to peel the paper off but it wouldn't have a bar of it, so it just came off in little pieces, but I still
won the battle.