Sharpie/Number removal

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Ashevillejanes
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Sharpie/Number removal

Anyone have any tips on removing race numbers sharpied onto a sail?

ā€”

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webguy
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Re: Sharpie/Number removal

Acetone. However, keep it away from the seams, it'll destroy the glue that holds the panels together as much as the stitching does.

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Ashevillejanes
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moredownhaul
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Joined: 05/10/2007 - 07:28
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Re: Sharpie/Number removal

https://www.tipsbulletin.com/22-ways-to-remove-sharpie-ink-from-any-surface-how-to-remove-a-sharpie/#how-to-get-sharpie-off-hard-surfaces

Iā€™d be interested to see if the peanut butter or baking soda works.
You can always put a big sticker over it.

ā€”

Alan

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webguy
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peelskid
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Re: Sharpie/Number removal

WD40

ā€”

PeelSkid

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Ashevillejanes
webguy
Ashevillejanes
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Joined: 07/10/2018 - 09:23
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Re: Sharpie/Number removal
webguy wrote:

Acetone. However, keep it away from the seams, it'll destroy the glue that holds the panels together as much as the stitching does.

yikes, I bet I could destroy a sail faster than anyone!
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webguy
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Re: Sharpie/Number removal
Ashevillejanes wrote:
webguy wrote:

Acetone. However, keep it away from the seams, it'll destroy the glue that holds the panels together as much as the stitching does.

yikes, I bet I could destroy a sail faster than anyone!

Edit: after reading the old rec.windsurfing thread below, someone made a good point about how nasty acetone is. Lacquer thinner and mineral spirits will be slower but more user friendly.

Surprisingly, it does nothing to the monofilm. Just mask/tape off the area.

The WD40 will probably work, too. Same caveat - it will act as a solvent to the adhesive tape. Peanut butter aint gonna do squat but willing to be proved wrong. Baking soda is an abrasive - you'll literally be sanding the numbers off.

A vote for lacquer thinner: https://rec.windsurfing.narkive.com/zCFQnf7K/safe-chemicals-to-clean-sails
Foildodo votes acetone: https://windsportatlanta.com/content/sail-numbers

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Ashevillejanes
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Re: Sharpie/Number removal
webguy wrote:
Ashevillejanes wrote:
webguy wrote:

Acetone. However, keep it away from the seams, it'll destroy the glue that holds the panels together as much as the stitching does.

yikes, I bet I could destroy a sail faster than anyone!

Surprisingly, it does nothing to the monofilm. Just mask/tape off the area.

The WD40 will probably work, too. Same caveat - it will act as a solvent to the adhesive tape. Peanut butter aint gonna do squat but willing to be proved wrong. Baking soda is an abrasive - you'll literally be sanding the numbers off.

I'll update after I experiment on the tiny, most likely never to get used, sail first!

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webguy
Ashevillejanes
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Posts: 152
Re: Sharpie/Number removal

Ammonia Based glass and window cleaner: Kind of works, a lot of scrubbing, 50% removed

Peanut Butter: Same as glass cleaner, but leaves peanut butter residue. Good for attracting rodents, really bad idea. Washed sail with dish soap so hopefully no rodents

Citrus based foaming de-greaser: the golden ticket. spray on, let sit for 20 seconds, wipe off, minimal scrubbing on sun baked sails!!

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moredownhaul