Removing spraypaint from chrome

[SeaSlugs]

What can I use to remove spray paint from chromed plastic? Its intricate stuff like a grille.

Its on a modern antique car but id imagine the same technique/chemicals would be used to get it off chromed steel.

[BILL WILLIAMSON]

I'd probably try the LEAST HARSH chemicals. "Maybe" GOO-OFF or GOOP OFF, or WD-40 & wait, between applications. SOFT brushes or bottle type brushes might help?? Give it plenty of TIME to soften it. Don't RUSH it, & be SORRY!
Bill W.

[SeaSlugs]

Yea i dont want to scratch the chrome underneath or lift it off too. Searching around the internet suggests using oven cleaner and waiting 30 minutes, should make the paint lift right off and wipe it off. Anyone ever try this?

Acetone might work (mainly what goof off is)

[jm29henry]

A little paint thinner and a rag 1,2 ,3 your done !!!!(only on real chrome sorry I need to slow down before answering thanks Tom

[Tom Wesenberg]

Originally Posted by jm29henry

A little paint thinner and a rag 1,2 ,3 your done !!!!

But, over plastic??

[stainless steve]

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with anything you want to test it in a area not seen ....lacquer on a paper towel may work without hurting the chrome finish or plastic if used very sparingly .put it on a cloth lightly and hold over area and using a plastic bondo type spreader to "pop" the over-spray .we used to use oven cleaner to remove strippers paint ( names ,numbers and such on paint finishes) but it goes everywhere ,I would try a light cutting rubbing compound ,again try a inconspicuous spot and good luck

[petew]

0000 steel wool , rub lightly

[glenn in camino]

Acetone will remove the paint but will also melt the plastic.

[darrylkmc]

"Acetone might work (mainly what goof off is)"

Goof-Off is primarily Xylene, about 80%, which works pretty good for latex, not so good for oil based paints, it does also contain a small amount of Toluene, and a little of some other hard to pronounce chemicals.

It might be worth a try, it is actually pretty mild. We always referred to acetone as plastic solvent, be very careful and quick if you try acetone.

Darryl in Fairbanks, supposed to get -40 F, that is below zero, tonight

[Doug in NJ]

I nominate Easy-Off oven cleaner.

Doug

[SeaSlugs]

hmm but would simple green corrode the chrome?

yea as soon as i said acetone im thinking wait thats all we ever used when we assembled airplaines as a kid lol. quickest glue ever.

i must have a different brand or something of goof off, it most definitely smells like acetone lol some goofy sticky lipstick blood removing stuff anyways...

ill try some paint thinner and if not oven cleaner. (should get oven cleaner anyways - mines due).

any other ideas are surely welcome!

[BILL WILLIAMSON]

I'd steer clear of OVEN CLEANER!!!! In cleaning ANYTHING, I always start with the least agressive cleaner.
EXAMPLE: I crap up my WHITE/WHITE door facings as I wobble through the house, like a DRUNK! I found that Windex cleans them better than STRONG "miracle" cleaners, without damaging the paint & it's CHEEP! (Store Brand)
Mr. Clean

[BILL WILLIAMSON]

[QUOTE=SeaSlugs;

ill try some paint thinner and if not oven cleaner. (should get oven cleaner anyways - mines due).

any other ideas are surely welcome![/QUOTE]
Well, I DIDN'T go CHEEP on my new, SELF CLEANING oven & SELF DEFROSTING fridge!! AND, along with a SELF CLEANING Dog, I have saved a lot of time to PROCRASTINATE!
I even printed me an "EARNED RIGHT TO PROCRASTINATE AT WILL" certificate, that's prominately displayed on my SELF DEFROSTING FRIDGE! When Vermin's driving, I will have destroyed my "REPUTATION"! (excuse # 38) Pat would LAFF!
Bill W.

[Tom Wesenberg]

"Simple green full strength is used to remove paint from plastic model cars. It must be soaked from one day to two weeks. does not hurt the plastic. Do a google search on simple green paint remover, you will find lots of information."

That's good to know because 5 years ago I started assembling my plastic model of a 1928 Model A Tudor and didn't like how my paint job on the body turned out. When I was in the 8th grade I bought a plastic kit of a steam train engine. Once I had the parts all glued I decided to paint some highlight silver. I painted too much silver and decide to remove it by sticking the engine in a pail of gasolene. 15 minutes later I pulled it out to check and had nothing more than a glob of black plastic.

[tbirdtbird]

what looks like chrome on plastic is actually iridium. The real problem is the plastic underneath.

I would try some car wax with a cleaner in it ( a small amount of fine abrasive, like prolly 4000 grit). Commercial wax/cleaners are made by most all the car care companies. Go easy, try a non-obvious area first.

If this doesn't work try some good old fashioned polishing compound (not rubbing compound) followed by waxing

[BILL WILLIAMSON]

Originally Posted by Tom Wesenberg

"Simple green full strength is used to remove paint from plastic model cars. It must be soaked from one day to two weeks. does not hurt the plastic. Do a google search on simple green paint remover, you will find lots of information."

That's good to know because 5 years ago I started assembling my plastic model of a 1928 Model A Tudor and didn't like how my paint job on the body turned out. When I was in the 8th grade I bought a plastic kit of a steam train engine. Once I had the parts all glued I decided to paint some highlight silver. I painted too much silver and decide to remove it by sticking the engine in a pail of gasolene. 15 minutes later I pulled it out to check and had nothing more than a glob of black plastic.

Tom, I once set my icemaker in a looow oven to dry the ice crystals from the micro-switches------Should have used Pat's Wig Blower!!
Bill W.

[nhusa]

Originally Posted by BILL WILLIAMSON

I'd steer clear of OVEN CLEANER!!!! In cleaning ANYTHING, I always start with the least agressive cleaner.
EXAMPLE: I crap up my WHITE/WHITE door facings as I wobble through the house, like a DRUNK! I found that Windex cleans them better than STRONG "miracle" cleaners, without damaging the paint & it's CHEEP! (Store Brand)
Mr. Clean

Bill I heard the Widex is also good for zits!

[Steve Miller]

Lighter fluid

[Bruce,Upstate NY]

Best go to a junk yard and buy some parts to practice on.

[fiddlybits]

BRAKE FLUID is the best at stripping paint from plastic. I used it all the time to strip paint off models and it never damaged the plastic.

The unknown for me is whether the brake fluid will harm the "chrome". (I would expect it not to, but I have no empirical data to support that hypothesis.)

[petew]

What you are trying to clean is vacuum metalized plastic , which is the process for putting chrome on plastic.
If you use any solvents you will strip the chrome off, if you rub to hard you will strip the chrome off.
If you try google and search "cleaning vacuum metalized plastic" you will come up with recommended procedures for cleaning plastic treated with this process.
I have had very good luck going after over spray with 0000 steel wool and rubbing VERY LIGHTLY . One site recommended tooth paste.

[BILL WILLIAMSON]

Originally Posted by nhusa

Bill I heard the Widex is also good for zits!

We used to FILL our mouth with MAYONAISE, then clobbr our cheeks with our FISTS!!!!!!
"SUPER-ZIT"!!!!!!!-------
Bill W.

[SeaSlugs]

paint thinner didnt do beans to it. will try some other stuff haha

[SeaSlugs]

brake fluid does seem to work without harming the chrome but just softens the paint, takes alot of fingernail scraping and a very stiff scrub brush to get it to start to peel. doesnt penetrate the paint very well. i just dribbled it on and rotated part of the part to get an even coat and let it sit for an hour when i did this.

would soaking overnight help to where i could just wash it off? the headlight surrounds wouldnt be too bad to scrape off but the grille with its horizontal and vertical fins would be a night mare...

[tbirdtbird]

is this car a keeper? or just re-spray with silver paint?

[SeaSlugs]

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yea i plan to keep this car as long as i can. its a 1980 with now 74,000 miles on it. does need to be repainted tho.

[kwisor]

hello
my sister had her daughters car spray painted all over i used sinthic enamel reducer took the spry paint right off then warsh the car and re wax it it will also remove the wax
kevin

[SeaSlugs]

i got one headlight surround cleaned up, found an very stiff nylon brush and let it soak overnight with brake fluid. seems like the simplest plan, just going to take awhile.

[Tom Wesenberg]

Two weeks ago at a train swap meet I bought a MARX engine and tender. The tender had 4 large drops of latex paint on it, so I dampened a rag with denatured alcohol and touched the paint. The paint softened, but the original black paint was immediately removed, so it looks like I'll have to strip the whole car. Wonder what brake fluid does to latex paint?

[Not George]

Is there chrome plastic on Model As?

[tbirdtbird]

prolly same thing, Tom, brake fluid is mostly alcohol except the silicone type