I went to my location today, hoping the paint had been removed from the firetrucks. It wasn't.
So I pull out my magic potions, the main one being Easy Off oven cleaner. I explained to my customer that he may end up with purple streaks on his lovely red firetrucks, and the worse case scenario would be he'd have to repaint. I also suggested he call a professional detailer, so we started there first. She didn't bring the right compounds for the job so it didn't fly. He then said DO IT. So I did it.
I mixed and matched many of your suggestions. I ran out of saran wrap, so I used a cut up plastic bag instead, and taped it under the paint, and masking all other areas off. I made a 'pocket' from the bag underneath so the runoff wouldn't fall on the floor nor slide down the vehicle.
On red background:
I'm happy to report the job turned out awesome! You can't even tell there was paint on there. I did scuff up the surface some from removing the paint, so luckily the detailer was still there and she buffed it up for me. It looked fantastic.
On white background:
This was red lettering, and it was coming off really well. I did notice that the oven cleaner left an off white tinge to the surface though, but with my other potions in the works, I got it looking pretty good. My customer was thrilled that me, a lowly little signmaker was doing what the professional buffer lady couldn't. LOL!
I didn't have any plastic razer blades handy (can't remember where I put those darn things!!) so I used a new Lil Chizler instead. Worked fine, but I would have liked to compare it to a blade.
On another note, when I use to rent from a bodyshop, they used gunwash to remove some lettering for me on a rig one time. So I sent my husband out to get some gunwash from a customer of mine that carries it. They freaked! They warned Mike over and over all the dangers of it, so much so that I decided I wasn't qualified to use it since I didn't know that much about it, so I left it at home. Let me tell you, I was wishing I brought it to try anyway because my arm was getting mighty sore from scraping with a chizler! But it did work fine.
So, I'm happy to report, I learned something new today and feel alot more confident about doing it again should a similar scenario come up. Thanks Rick for the way you worded your post on the other thread. It made me feel like I should at least attempt the job. Posted by old paint (Member # 549) on :
gunwash....is that canadian for cheap spray gun cleaning lacquer thinner??????? if it is...then you need to understand that lacqure thinner(almost the same stuff you take off your fingernail polish(its really lacquer paint)is that hot(volitile is proper word) and if you get the guncleaner grade, you can wipe and clean with it, but if you leave it set on any paint it will do about the same as paint remover does. now the newer paints arent affected by it, but you never know untill you put some on a spot that is outa sight.
Posted by David Fisher (Member # 107) on :
Glad to hear all went well Donna. David
[ November 20, 2002, 03:23 AM: Message edited by: David Fisher ]
Posted by brian-the-brush (Member # 2258) on :
Hi Donna, great news, well done but please remember things could have been very different, I have used oven cleaner in the past with disasterous results, perhaps different oven cleaners produce different results ?? On the gunwash issue, I was told that gunwash is actually a concoction of lots of other chemicals which includes recycled thinners.
Posted by Bob Rochon (Member # 30) on :
Donna,
I'm glad you posted and let us know how it went.
I'm also thrilled to hear of you went for it and did what most body shops can't
Congrats! doesn't it feal awesome?
Posted by Rick Sacks (Member # 379) on :
Donna, thank you for continuing to be who I think you to be! I'm proud of you and glad to be of some help and encouragement.
Posted by Suelynn Sedor (Member # 442) on :
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