Detailing Commercial Vans with Lettering

Z

ZeroDfx

Member
I am not a professional detailer, however I need to detail our company van and I'm wondering how to deal with the "signage" on the sides.



How do you guys detail commercial vans with lettering? Do you polish right over the lettering as if it weren't there, or do you polish around the lettering trying to work your PC in the spaces only where the paint is visible?



Are there any polishes/sealants/waxes that either can or can't be used over top of the lettering? Perhaps some that would haze and some that would wipe clean?



I need to polish a slightly oxidized white Chevy Express van with advertising on the side and I'm not sure how aggressive I can be without damaging or fading the green and black lettering on the side.



TIA, Nick
 
Your biggest concern is going to be trasfering the color from the letters onto the white paint.



If the paint is faded then it is pourous. If you pull color from the letters and contaminate your pad then be very careful not to stain the white which might soak the letter color into it.



Do a small section and see how it goes. If your pulling color from the letters do all that area by hand. Do the leters first then the paint with a different rag or applicator.



If the letters are in good condition then polish right over them. Go light on the polish as you don't want it to build up around the letters.
 
As always, Joe gives the proper answer. I've not experienced the color transfer issue, but we don't have SoCal sunlight, either.



We have a white van with vinyl graphics (94 Ford E250). It sits in the parking lot 24/7 (40,000 cars a day-we're not mobile) . Since we put/keep a sealant on it every 6 weeks, oxidation is not an issue.



Good Luck



Jim
 
Thank you both for your considered assistance. As suggested, I'll do a small test area to see how the lettering responds and see what options that leaves me. Sounds like worst case is do the white paint by machine and do the area near and surrounding the lettering by hand. That would work fine.

Thanks again,

Nick
 
Personally, I'd go around it with the abbraisives and go over it with the sealents.



Careful when claybaring them also so you don't rip them off or rip off a corner.
 
And watch out for cheap paper lettering or sponsor decals... Quite often they will polish right off and you'll have nothing but a white paper circle left :nervous2:
 
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