This is topic Removing 1-SHOT Enamel from a vehicle in forum Old Archives at The Letterville BullBoard.


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Posted by Jon Aston (Member # 1725) on :
 
Does anyone have any tried-tested-and-true methods for removing 1-SHOT enamel from a car WITHOUT affecting the car's automotive paint finish?

Thanks in advance!!!
 

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Posted by Neil D. Butler (Member # 661) on :
 
Hi Jon,

In the past, when I did everything by hand with 1Shot, I had great results with Easy Off Oven Cleaner, not the Heat Activated stuff, the regular brand. I just sprayed it on, waited a few minutes, and then wiped it off. I tell you I did this too many times to mention. The only time I had problems was when the Paint was'nt Factory Finish, so be careful!
Always test a small spot first. Other people have had luck with Methol Hydrate? Is that spelled correctly? And Others will use a mild rubbing compound from 3M, It just takes a lot of Elbow grease.
But there's no real easy solution, and almost always you will have to either Wax or compound the vehicle afterwards to get rid of the "Ghost" left behind.
 

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Posted by Si Allen (Member # 420) on :
 
Be very careful if you try to use Methyl Hydrate!

It is Methanol, or sometimes called Wood Alcohol...very poisonous!

Ethanol (the drinkable stuff) and isoprpanol (rubbing alcohol) will work just as well.



[ January 08, 2003, 01:02 PM: Message edited by: Si Allen ]
 

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Posted by Joey Madden (Member # 1192) on :
 
I always wanted to know how persons knew it was 1-Shot and not another kind of paint. Can you tell me?
 

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Posted by Si Allen (Member # 420) on :
 
Heheheheee...it could be Ronan or Chromatic or Solvers.


 

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Posted by Joey Madden (Member # 1192) on :
 
Si, could also be HoK, Matthews or any single stage urethanes for that matter. Persons always assume that any paint can be removed without leaving an image behind, which is why I recommend body shops for paint removal on doors etc. More time and money is spent of repairing mistakes then sometimes taken in for the job.
 

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Posted by Neil D. Butler (Member # 661) on :
 
Yes that's true, it all depends on the type of paint. But I was referring to 1Shot. Ronan was never offered around here.
I remember going to a local paint shop that my sister worked for, and I was feeling a little mischeivious that day and I was asking the owner, who did'nt know me, about a particular type of paint, I said I was looking for the kind that if you swallowed it you had to induce vomiting, but all they had was the kind that you do not induce vomiting.. he was kind of confused and was looking all over the place for this type of paint, untill my sister tipped him off. lol
 

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Posted by Nevman (Member # 332) on :
 
Neil...

If the paint has been on for two years or less, you may be able to get it off using denatured alcohol. Wet up a rag pretty heavy and hold it over the lettering with some magnetic material.The ghost of the lettering will be there regardless of how you get the lettering off. What happens is the vehicle's paint fades, but not behind the paint.

Like the others have said though...be sure to to a test somewhere first.

Good luck!
 

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Posted by Mike Pipes (Member # 1573) on :
 
I used lacquer thinner and acetone to remove the 1shot practice stripes from my truck. At the time my truck did have factory paint on it, it was unaffected by the solvents.

Now the truck is in primer because I removed the paint while doing some metalwork on it.
 

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Posted by Dave Grundy (Member # 103) on :
 
Jon...I use Easy-Off for doing what you wish to do. All of the above info is correct, mainly the part about doing a test somewhere inconspicuous.

Also...wear rubber gloves. That stuff can be tough on yer hands.

Be sure to cover anything that is bare aluminum and that is below or downwind of the spray.

I use a Lil Chizler to help lift any thick paint that doesn't wipe off the first time with a cloth. (That can save a couple of extra applications of the oven cleaner)

If you want to speed up the process, tape a piece of "Saran Wrap" below the lettering, then after you have sprayed the Easy-Off flip up the Saran Wrap over the lettering. This will speed up the process and will even allow you to remove One Shot that has been catalized because it holds in alll those nasty fumes and stuff!!!! (Thanks..Mike McCloud!!!)

Finally, tell the customer that there are NO guarantees or warrantees that this method won't damage his vehicle and that if he is concerned he should take the vehicle to a body shop or do it himself.

That final bit of advice also applies to removing vinyl lettering/graphics also!!!!
 

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Posted by Jon Aston (Member # 1725) on :
 
Thanks all for the great advice!

Dave:

Especially good advice re testing and statement(s) about no guarrantees!
 

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Posted by Monte Jumper (Member # 1106) on :
 
Jon... I can't tell you how many jobs I have removed from vehicles when I was an apprentice (30+ years ago)and since. So I speak with plenty of experience...Mix your Denatured alcohol with Mineral spirits about 60/40 and soak the letters you want to remove...(the alcohol cuts and the mineral spirits keeps it from getting to hot and damaging the background)keep the letters wet withn the solution and use a coarse but not rough rag and rub in circles on the letters only...it takes a lot of elbow grease but it will do it...unless of course hardner was used in the paint...if so I guess I would lean to the oven cleaner, grit my teeth and pray.
 

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Posted by George Perkins (Member # 156) on :
 
Joey brings up an interesting point about how do we know it's One Shot. I've run accross a few 18 wheelers that were lettered with something other than One Shot. In a couple of cases sanding and repainting were required, sanding and buffing took care of one and on another, after trying Easy Off with absolutely no results, I wiped it with some lacquer thinner and it came off like it was a dry erase board. What that stuff was I'll never know, probably an uncatalysed urethane.
 

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Posted by Jon Aston (Member # 1725) on :
 
FYI -- Just after posting my question here, in Letterville, I thought I should probably ask the manufacturer.

This was the reply I recieved...

quote:

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Dear Jon, place a little EASY OFF Oven Cleaner on a rag & just rub on the 1 SHOT
enamel until it comes off & it should not affect car finish.

Thanks for giving us the opportunity to be of assistance & if you have any
further questions please give me a call at 219-949-1684.

Tom
Thomas P. Yates
1 SHOT Technical Director

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