How do I remove old wood grain dash 'stickers'?
 

Hey all, see pictures below. I have a 79 Cuddy that has very faded and worn stickers with wood grain look that just need to go on the dashes. Picture is port side only, but have similar across the gauge area that I want to remove.

As you can see, I started with a paint scraper, but clearly I need something more to get down to the gelcoat. Any suggestions on how to get these off? They are very sun baked and hard, but still pretty well on there.

I have some paint stripper, intended for stripping wood furniture, but not sure if that may damage the gelcoat. My goal is to just have the gelcoat exposed as the dash area.

By the way, note the fully installed windshield, what a hack that was before, held in with 5200 only...

http://lh6.ggpht.com/_w8mvz2DINdk/S9...ort%20dash.jpg

http://lh3.ggpht.com/_w8mvz2DINdk/S9...up%20close.jpg

This is before, with windshield removed:

http://lh6.ggpht.com/_w8mvz2DINdk/S8...ield%20off.jpg

I've had a lot of success removing contact stickers with a hairdryer. The heat softens the glue bond and normally you can just peal the sticker off. Work from one corner and peal with your hand while holding the dryer just in front of where you're pealing. I've used that trick to remove numbers off a hull, names of boats and lots of other things. You might want to try it. If you're going to use a heat gun instead of a hair dryer use caution.. you don't want to damage the fiberglass under the sticker with too much heat in one spot.
A 1200W hair dryer is what I use.... seems to have just enough heat to do the job.

Yeah, heat is the best. Strong hair dryer, or heat gun would be better. Then you can take a spray can of brake cleaner to remove the rest of the residue.

Leave it there...cut a piece of 1/4" Starboard to fit the area...it'll also kill out (cover) the screw holes and the hole under the clamshell...

That's what I would do.

I was thinking that. I need to re-do my dash as well, so I'll pick up a large enough sheet of stareboard to do that. I've seen it at West Marine, any suggestions on other potential (less $) options? WM tends to price pretty high, but I don't know who else carries that stuff

you could try looking up a local industrial type plastic supplier. not sure if they will deal in less than full sheets but it might be worth a try. I've had to buy a few sheets here and there for some customers and the one I use around us here sells them cheaper than retail.