Paint off Plastic

Post by **FrankM83** » Wed Nov 07, 2007 10:15 pm

Hi, I have two very beautiful front side lamps on my 1970 van the only downfall they have is that they have been hit by paint! Can anyone give me a tip how to remove paint from the plastic lens? Thanks

Post by **jonathon** » Wed Nov 07, 2007 10:18 pm

Try panel wipe, but definitely not thinners. If this fails to work carefully 'blade' off the bulk of it and T cut the last film.

Post by **FrankM83** » Wed Nov 07, 2007 10:26 pm

sorry dont know what panel wipe is

will try t cut, another idea that came to mind is using brake fluid ?? what do you think?

Post by **jonathon** » Wed Nov 07, 2007 10:50 pm

Sorry, panel wipe is a mild cleaner used to degrease panelwork before painting. Might be a bit excessive to purchase some just for one light. Not sure on brake fluid and how it might effect the plastic.

Post by **RogerRust** » Thu Nov 08, 2007 7:07 am

I think paint stripper is ok on plastic ,but take the lamp off the car first!

Post by **alex_holden** » Thu Nov 08, 2007 9:07 am

RogerRust wrote:I think paint stripper is ok on plastic ,but take the lamp off the car first!

Not all plastics. There's a crater in the surface of the keyboard I'm typing on right now from a droplet of Nitromors.

Post by **Orkney** » Thu Nov 08, 2007 9:35 am

Steam might do it if its a slippery or polished plastic - maybe the paint never keyed to it ?
Not so much steam as to melt the plastic but worth a shot.

Post by **Kevin** » Thu Nov 08, 2007 10:54 am

You could try a paint brush restorer which I think is safe on plastic just check on the container to be safe.

Post by **millerman** » Thu Nov 08, 2007 11:33 am

Farecla G3 paste will do the job and leave a nice shine.

Post by **FrankM83** » Thu Nov 15, 2007 11:39 am

Thanks for your replies, well for those who were in doubt or anything,brake fluid did the job although I dont' know the exact time it took to soften the paint after a week I went in the garage to find the paint all bubbled and i just peeled it off