What is the best way to remove paint from lexan?

[MeanTT]

So I screwed up a paint job pretty badly. Is there a best way to remove the paint off of a lexan body and start over? I thought I saw something that said brake fluid was a good option, but I am not sure if that will destroy the clarity of the lexan which would further screw up my paint job.

Thanks for any advice!

[tedo]

Brake fluid!

It works. Be patient.

[2-shot]

Originally Posted by tedo

Brake fluid!

It works. Be patient.

+ 1

Make sure to use DOT 4 brake fluid. DOT 3 doesn't work as well...


Sent from my modded TI-83 plus.

[MeanTT]

Originally Posted by 2-shot

+ 1

Make sure to use DOT 4 brake fluid. DOT 3 doesn't work as well...


Sent from my modded TI-83 plus.

Got it. Thanks all. Now I have to figure some way to cover the outside to protect from over spray. I'm thinking of tape and cellophane...

[2-shot]

Originally Posted by MeanTT

Got it. Thanks all. Now I have to figure some way to cover the outside to protect from over spray. I'm thinking of tape and cellophane...

I just posted asking the same thing! LOL!! I trimmed my Wraith hood and cut holes for the shock towers. In the mean time, the protective film has pulled away from the hood in a few spots, and it's pretty big sections that's pulled away.
I was wondering if Saran Wrap would work???


Sent from my modded TI-83 plus.

[4x4Jay]

Totally! Just use some good tape to keep the edges down.

[MeanTT]

Update:

This process takes forever, requires a lot of elbow grease, and isn't that cheap. My first attempt was to allow the Dot 4 brake fluid to sit on the body in the hopes that it would pull up the paint. It did, but only for the cab section of the body. Everywhere else it was clear that I could scrub off the very top layer of paint, but it wasn't coming off. To make matters worse, I used a candy paint, so there were about 6 layers of paint on the body.

After soaking for 1.5 days, I went to Home Depot and bought some denatured alcohol. That did work to pull up the paint, but only where the paint was thick and only on the edges. Whereas the brake fluid actually dissolved the paint, the alcohol actually released it from the body.

However, I took that approach as far as it would go. The thin areas of the paint were unaffected by the alcohol... so back to break fluid.

I discovered the proper method to remove paint by accident

When I went back to trying to swab away the paint, I focused on one area and applied a LOT of pressure. Presto - the paint was gone. Apparently you need to work small areas with a lot of pressure to get rid of the material. I also found that using my fingernail through my rubber glove was a great solution that allowed me to get into a painted area and release the paint.

The bad news is that all of the chemicals have changed the lexan. It has cracked along a seam (no big deal) on the side of the body from all of the force I was using on it, and the can has become discolored with what looks like a white residue. I can fix both of these issues, but thought it was worthwhile to stress that the brake fluid doesn't release the paint, you do, with a lot of elbow grease. In my case none of the paint peeled up or came off on its own. It was all me.


Hope that helps. I have a little more do do, but all in it is probably an 8 hour project.

[thehighroad]

did u ever try pine-sol?

[MeanTT]

Originally Posted by thehighroad

did u ever try pine-sol?

Negative. All I can say is that I will probably never try to remove paint again like this. It's not worth the time. If a new shell costs 35 bucks, and it takes 8 hours to clear the paint and costs 12 dollars in supplies and gloves, that leaves 23 dollar cost over 8 hours for a return of less than 3 dollars an hour.

I would rather be doing things more useful.

[tedo]

Yes, I only did it once myself. Better off buying a new shell then the effort.

OR go crazy and paint the outside, haha.