posted
I have some reflective on aluminum signs that have been graffited with spray paint (about 8 minths ago). What can i use to get it off. I know I asked this a while ago- did a search and couldn't find the answer.
Diane
-------------------- Balch Signs 1045 Raymond Rd Malta, NY 12020 518 885-9899 signs@balchsigns.com http://www.balchsigns.com Posts: 1733 | From: MaltaNY | Registered: Jan 2000
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posted
Plain old alcohol (denatured, not rubbing) usually does a good job. Most spray paints are lacquer based, not enamel, so re-wetting them with a solvent allows them to be scrubbed off.
Lacquer thinner will also work but be cautious about damaging the substrate or the coating on the reflective lettering.
Hope this helps.
-------------------- John Prehn Signcraft Annapolis, MD
posted
Diane, If you check out an auto body supplier in your town, they will have a clay bar that looks like a bar of soap, its used for removing overspray. You simply take a pail of dish soap and water and wet the clay with it and scrub the substrate. It really works well and will not harm thr reflective. I've used it on many projects including my vehicles when they were parked where they shouldn't have been.
-------------------- HotLines Joey Madden - pinstriping since 1952 'Perfection, its what I look for and what I live for'
posted
Diane, If you can't find Joey's clay bar, Try Rubbing Compound. Dupont preferably. It contains the same thing Joeys bar has but is mixed with wax and other abrasives. Bill
-------------------- Bill & Barbara Biggs Art's Sign Service, Inc. Clute, Texas, USA Home of The Great Texas Mosquito Festival Proud 10 year Supporter of the Letterheads Website www.artssigns.com "MrBill-" on the chat page MailTo:biggsbb@sbcglobal.net Posts: 1020 | From: Lake Jackson,Tx | Registered: Nov 1998
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posted
Excellent ideas all! You could also try WD-40 on a rag.
-------------------- Rick Tam Arte Design Studio Downingtown, PA milne2@msn.com Posts: 278 | From: Downingtown, PA | Registered: Apr 2004
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Sprayway also makes a product called "spray paint graffiti remover" it works fast, but like any product in this type of category MAKE SURE TO TEST IT IN AN AREA THAT IS UNNOTICEABLE so that you don't end up making some replacement signs
-------------------- Dan Streicher Slidell, LA Posts: 445 | From: Slidell, LA | Registered: Feb 2004
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8 months since it was sprayed on? Sheeeesh!
First thing you do is MAKE NO GUARANTEES on the removal and/or damage!!!!!!
Removing spray paint one or two days after application id fairly easy, but, after 8 months, it becomes questionable if it can be removed without damaging the sign.
-------------------- Si Allen #562 La Mirada, CA. USA
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Brushasaurus on Chat Posts: 8831 | From: La Mirada, CA, USA | Registered: Nov 1998
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posted
We put up the signs in July. 2 months later they asked us how to get spray paint off. We didn't know so we posted the question here, got some anwsers and told them how to do it. They never tried. So last week they call me and want us to try to get it off. They said if it doesn't come off, they will pay us to make a new one. This was 1 sign out of 31 for a home owners association. They will pay more for this one, to cover the added shipping. Thanks again.
Diane Balch
-------------------- Balch Signs 1045 Raymond Rd Malta, NY 12020 518 885-9899 signs@balchsigns.com http://www.balchsigns.com Posts: 1733 | From: MaltaNY | Registered: Jan 2000
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I go to an Automotive Paint Store and buy some DuPont Acrylic Enamel Reducer, put some on a rag and wipe,....it comes off like "magic", fast and easy. Good luck!
-------------------- Rich Stebbing RichSigns Rohnert Park CA 707-795-5588 Posts: 755 | From: Rohnert Park, CA | Registered: Nov 1998
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Removing the paint is tough enough only hours after the damage is done since aerosol cans tend to dry quickly. After all this time, the odds are it's going to be a nightmare to avoid damaging th sign.
With all the wide variety of aerosol cans out there, there's really no "one way cure all" way to clean them all. The chemistries vary from brand to brand and what may work on one clean up could do further damage on the next one.
If the customer is concered that it might happen again, a coat of the 1Shot anti-graffitti clear on a new sign would be in their best interest.
hope this helps... Rapid
-------------------- Ray Rheaume Rapidfire Design 543 Brushwood Road North Haverhill, NH 03774 rapidfiredesign@hotmail.com 603-787-6803
I like my paint shaken, not stirred. Posts: 5648 | From: North Haverhill, New Hampshire | Registered: Apr 2003
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Ditto on the acrylic enamel reducer. Cuts through old spray paint like it was tempera. Spray it on, wipe it off. It may cloud the reflective, if so a quick wax job will cure it.
Or, as I learned in a lesson taught back during my breif stint as a juvenile delinquent a bucket of soapy water, a brush, and a whole lot of elbow grease will take care of it in about 4 hours...and teach you a real valuable lesson in the process.
[ May 03, 2004, 07:09 PM: Message edited by: Patrick Whatley ]
-------------------- Pat Whatley Montgomery, AL (334) 262-7446 office (334) 324-8465 cell Posts: 1306 | From: Wetumpka, AL USA | Registered: Mar 2001
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Hiya Diane, The paint's probably too dry to attempt it now, but I have had a lot of sucess using rapid remover to get fresh spray paint off a finish.
havin' fun,
Checkers
-------------------- a.k.a. Brian Born www.CheckersCustom.com Harrisburg, Pa Work Smart, Play Hard Posts: 3775 | From: Harrisburg, Pa. U.S.A. | Registered: Nov 1998
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I finally got around to remove the spray paint. My local autobody paint supply guy had some of the clay in a spray can. it is a form. The can came with a rough sponge. With a bit of elbow grease and my finger nail I got all the paint off. It looks good! It didn't damage the reflctive vinyl. Thank you everyone! Time to go bill them!
Diane Balch
-------------------- Balch Signs 1045 Raymond Rd Malta, NY 12020 518 885-9899 signs@balchsigns.com http://www.balchsigns.com Posts: 1733 | From: MaltaNY | Registered: Jan 2000
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