Topic: spray paint removal?

[CB_Jeff]

My 1976 cb750k project bike was the victim of a botched low budget bobber job. This bobber job included the PO taking the badges off the tank and spraying it down with a coat of flat black rattle can paint...the tank was not prepped (i.e. the decals are still there as well as the stock red paint. The question for the group is how to remove the spray paint w/o damaging the original paint and decals?

[LesterPiglet]

It depends how thick the paint is. You might be able to do it with rubbing compound. Failing that I would try some thinners on a difficult to see area.

[CB_Jeff]

Not too thick, it had this metal sticker on it that pulled up some paint when removed.  I hit it with some 0000 steel wool and some more came up, but need a better method for the rest of the tank.

[LesterPiglet]

Rubbing compound should do it then. Meguiars have various grades of compound.

http://www.meguiars.com/en/professional/products/

[Duanob]

Something tells me there was a reason why the PO painted over  the OEM paint. You will probably end up repainting anyway. Jasco paint remover will take it all off in a hurry.

[LesterPiglet]

Something tells me there was a reason why the PO painted over  the OEM paint. You will probably end up repainting anyway. Jasco paint remover will take it all off in a hurry.

The reason being flat black looks so cool.   

[camelman]

I've used plain old rubbing alcohol to take off spray can paint many times. Factory paint jobs are usually impervious to rubbing alcohol too. I just use an old rag wetted with rubbing alcohol and slowly work along the part. It usually takes ten to twenty seconds for the spray paint to start dissolving, but it goes quickly after that.

[CB_Jeff]

Pretty sure the PO thought flat black was cool....that and ape hangers.
The tank is clean and straight.

[750K]

Try laquer thinner on a spot that's out of sight, in case it screws up the paint under the black.

[Really?]

Wonder why no one suggested to pour gas ON the tank.  Maybe some acetone?

[CB_Jeff]

Thanks for the suggestions!
I plan to start with rubbing alcohol and then some compound....from there I will evaluate acetone and thinners.  Was also considering easy-off....but that may be too harsh?

[Bodi]

Gasoline seems to dissolve spray-can paint superbly, but it doesn't touch "real" automotive paint, like the original Honda tank finish.
It's dangerous of course, but it works. No smoking!

[BobbyR]

Brake fluid

[Really?]

Yea, that works very well!!!!

[camelman]

Watch out for brake fluid. It will wreck any paint it comes in contact with.

[Bodi]

brake fluid: NO!!!!!
It will ruin the original paint under your rattle can overcoat.

[Really?]

it takes rattle can paint off quickly.  Dunno if it will have time to harm the real paint, dunno for sure.  Just sayin.

[750K]

Rubbing alcohol most likely won't do squat, I'm a pinstriper and sign painter. I use alcohol as well as wax and grease remover as a surface prep on anything I'm about to paint, all it does is clean spray paint. You need something like an actual solvent, laquer and a rag or paint thinner and a scotch bright would be the best. Like others suggested, gas might do it too.

[camelman]

Rubbing alcohol most likely won't do squat, I'm a pinstriper and sign painter. I use alcohol as well as wax and grease remover as a surface prep on anything I'm about to paint, all it does is clean spray paint. You need something like an actual solvent, laquer and a rag or paint thinner and a scotch bright would be the best. Like others suggested, gas might do it too.

I used rubbing alcohol a couple weeks ago on SprayMax primer and paint that I was using to touch up a spot on my car. It had cured for two weeks when I used rubbing alcohol to strip it off. I was pretty surprised that it came off at all. I was actually just planning to clean it for a recoat, but the paint came off. The alcohol did not affect the two part clear though.

[750K]

@camelman, that's wierd. I have been using spray paint for base coats on signblanks and primed wooden panels for awhile, laquer based as well as enamel. The only issue I've had with rubbing alcohol is on uncleared laquer based spray paint, It has a tenedency to haze the finish. I've only had issues with paint lifting it the surface prep prior to base coating wasnt done right, although I've had 6 month old 1shot pinstriping lift when soaked with a citrus based wax and grease remover called rapid prep. I have never used SprayMax though, I don't think ive seen it around my parts.

[BobbyR]

brake fluid: NO!!!!!
It will ruin the original paint under your rattle can overcoat.

You are assuming there is decent paint under the rattlecan job.

[CB_Jeff]

The paint underneath looked pretty decent.
original 1976 red (apricot red I believe?)...

[lucky]

My 1976 cb750k project bike was the victim of a botched low budget bobber job. This bobber job included the PO taking the badges off the tank and spraying it down with a coat of flat black rattle can paint...the tank was not prepped (i.e. the decals are still there as well as the stock red paint. The question for the group is how to remove the spray paint w/o damaging the original paint and decals?

Thats not a Bobber job it is a RAT bike job. They spray everything on the bike with flat black because they are depressed.

[BobbyR]

The paint underneath looked pretty decent.
original 1976 red (apricot red I believe?)...

You can buff it off, but the decals may not survive. The chemicals may cause the same result.

[Hinomaru]

If the decals are damaged during the paint removal process, they can be easily replaced with aftermarket ones as in the example below. No worries.

http://knkcycles.com/honda-cb750-decals.htm