Interested in tips on removing the backing from Monocoat.
Sometimes I find it a "bear" of a job.
I've tried two pcs of cellophane tape, and sliding a very sharp
e-xacto between covering/backing and only have intermittent
success.
So, ur tips and techniques are most appreciated
Tnx
Ray

I find the sharp x-acto knife trick to work great especially at an angle. I have had some very small graphics at times, and this seems to work best. Try it at an angle. Also with small stuff, I find that rubbing a little acetone on a cloth over the area you are applying to helps greatly. This is for monokote over monokote. But I stick with the knife trick on small pieces. At a good angle, you should not poke through the covering.
Good Luck![8D]

Just to be sure we are on the right page, I stick the knife through the backing at a slight angle and it lifts the backing off of the covering. I do not try and find the edge, you will be there forever.

I do the same as Runover1. I lightly pick at the backing with the x-acto point at a corner. Always works for me. [8D]

Stick a piece of tape on the edge of the Monokote then a second piece on the backing, aligning the two pieces being careful not to let them stick together. Now, pull the two pieces of tape in opposite directions separating the backing from the Monokote.

Take a ballpoint pen and scratch a corner to the edge on the backing side with medium, hard pressure and the backing will fold back. Try it on a test piece. Hope this helps.

Just take a corner, fold it over, then grab the corner with thumb & forefinger & slide the folded part over itself until the fold is open. Let go. The backing separates, then you can pick the sheets apart. You might have to try it both ways before it lets go.

Good luck,
Dave Olson

At a corner I put pieces of masking tape right at the edges and at 90* to each other on the face and backing and then seperate. The 90* keeps the tape from sticking together.

As has been said.... a couple pieces of tape works well.

Take a small, sharp needle, and CA it into a short piece of 1/4" sq. balsa stick. You simply ***** the backing at a corner with the sharp needle point, and it separates quickly.

Make several of these. They are useful in other ways when Monokoting....such as holding both ends of a piece of trim where you want it while you start heating the piece, or a small hole pierced in the base color, to show where a color line should be.

Clair

Use Ultracote!

But seriously, I found a great way, which is similar to what the others have said. I hold my hobby knife so the blade is sideways, and scratch about 1" of backing toward a corner. A pin (and apparently a pen as per Flypaper2) will work too.

Ballpoint pen and ripping is not a good idea, especially if you don't plan on trimming it off. I learned to use the two pieces of tape from my experience with Solartrim, which is AWFUL to try to get the backing off without ripping it.

Ballpoint pen and knife, as Minnflier uses, only roll up the backing, without damaging the covering. Try it.

Just gotta interrupt this thread to say one thing.....

runover1 - GREAT WORK ON THOSE COVERING JOBS!! If they are 100% Monokote, you put in alot of time consuming work. Awesome!