Topic: Removing overspray

[dave500]

we have "metho"or methylated spirits here,is that denatured alcohol?bit like vodka but #$%* house cracking head ache!

[calj737]

Yeah, that's not the same stuff. I buy DA at the home center, in the paint area. Here's the product I use. It will clean metal, aluminum, paint (harmless to it), glass, and plastic. Better than a Goo-Gone, and not nearly as caustic as Acetone on materials. It evaporates completely too.

[dave500]

if its an alcohol it wont be caustic at all?

[calj737]

Here you go-

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Denatured_alcohol

[dave500]

so its metho,too easy.

[calj737]

Yep. Hard to know the multi-cultural product names. I just know the stuff works like the bee's knees without damaging anything.

[Muckinfuss]

I said it before....I'll say it again.  Until you know what kind of paint...you're guessing.  With guessing, you have a 50/50 change or worse of screwing up the whole thing.  Start with assuming a water based paint overspray...which is softened and removed with fabric softener.  Then move on to any readily available water based paint softener from a Sherwin Williams or other such store.  Clay is overkill if you don't need it.  Softener works without elbow grease, abrasives, solvents.  It's simple chemistry guys.

[Vinhead1957]

I said it before....I'll say it again.  Until you know what kind of paint...you're guessing.  With guessing, you have a 50/50 change or worse of screwing up the whole thing.  Start with assuming a water based paint overspray...which is softened and removed with fabric softener.  Then move on to any readily available water based paint softener from a Sherwin Williams or other such store.  Clay is overkill if you don't need it.  Softener works without elbow grease, abrasives, solvents.  It's simple chemistry guys.

Simple is always good and cheap

[calj737]

... which is original and pretty good condition.

Who's guessing Muck? There's not a chance that the recommendation of clay bar on his original paint will damage it. Your fabric softener trick might work on the seat vinyl, but I'd be surprised. He's gonna have to figure something out there.

[Retro Rocket]

so its metho,too easy.

You should have some in the fridge, i mean cupboard Dave....

Muckinfuss, if its water based it will chip off with a fingernail mate, it doesn't bond well to shiny surfaces at all... Another way to remove water based over spray , if it is water based,  is to put a hot wet rag on the overspray and leave it there for a while, you may have to repeat that but it will soften water based paint, house type paints anyway......

[captain rats]

Hey Wolf,

A lot of Kombi guys down our way use oven cleaner to get #$%*ty quality paint off baked painted surfaces so they can get back to the Original paint. Shouldn't eat into OG paint.

Cant say it wont damage the vinyl so maybe test the underside in a small section before trying.

Lots of folks wiser than me are saying clay but thought I would offer another option.

Regards

[Wollongongwolf]

Thanks all again for the ideas, makes interesting reading. Yesterday, got some Metho ( De Natured Alcohol) and rubbed it on a small section of the seat with a cotton wool bud, kept it real wet, and rubbed and rubbed etc etc and slowly the spots got smaller until they disappeared. Pretty dark in the garage yesterday, so will take it out in the sun today and compare the area I cleaned. A lot of elbow grease involved, so maybe a long term thing but will do more today.
I also tracked down the distributor of Goof Off in Australia and may give them a ring on Monday to see if they have the product I need.
I still believe that this is very old overspray and cured WELL! Tried a fingernail and it won't budge and no way will I put anything sharp near the paint.
Fabric softener, strange, but will give that a shot also, can't hurt.
Again thanks all for the advice, will update with the Metho Method and will give the softener a shot also.

[Wollongongwolf]

Oven clean sounds dodgy to me, did they spray the tanks back in the day or were they powder coated and baked? Are they using it on Rat Rod Kombis or good painted Kombies? Been seeing a heap of the Rat variety driving along the coast road as late, last one yesterday.
Will keep your idea in mind, but original paint and only original once.

[Wollongongwolf]

Some good news on the overspray today. Followed the advice of the paint shop bloke and did a mix of 50/50 ,alcohol and Mineral turps. Put the mix on a cotton wool bud and rub on tank and every rub took a little more over spray off. Success, looks great, then gave the tank a good wash, paint on tank looks fine.
Next went to tackle the seat and a lot more difficult. Paint seemed very slow to soften, so good or bad, got out some 0000 grade steel wool, dipped in the mix and just wiped back and forth gently, gradually soften and removed the paint. I then wipe the seat over with straight alcohol to help remove any mineral turps.
Next washed the seat with a hot soapy sponge. I noticed that still a few small specs left but the sponge was taking a few of them off. So then got a nylon stiff brush, wet the seat and scrubbed, got nearly all the rest off. I would say 98% specs now gone so pretty happy. I did notice while wiping the seat with the cotton wool bud, did lose some colour. When seat dried, were a few lighter coloured flat spots, so sprayed on a vinyl, rubber renewer and the seat looks like new, so pretty happy with the outcome.
I know probably  not the best method  on the seat, but time will tell if the vinyl falls to bits, but the seat looks great.
Again thanks for all your suggestions.

[dave500]

good one,elbow grease wins again?