Topic: What's a good process for removing spray paint off of powder coating ?

[grcamna2]

I'm doing some work for a man who owns a 2009 Yamaha sport bike(R6) and the PO took some rattle can gold and spray painted over the original black powder coated mag wheels.I've got the task to figure out a way to remove that gold paint in such a way as to save his original coating underneath.The stuff is already flaking off the original black surface.The kid who sprayed them told me he never prepped the powder coat on the wheels,just sprayed right over the gloss coating which I thought will help someone to remove it.
I brought them over to an industrial cleaning company and asked if they might try removing it,possibly w/ a pressure washer first and then applying a type of coating to loosen up the gold paint a bit;the owner of the company said he doesn't think it'll work too well but will give it a try today.
He mentioned that I could try a sandblast company & I suppose if someone were to  carefully use some glass bead blast to do that it might save the original powder coating underneath w/ the end result being we may have to spray some clear gloss  paint back onto the original coating to bring back the shine, if that's what the owner agree's on...

                     Any thoughts from you members will be much appreciated 

[faux fiddy]

Xylene - sold as 'goof off' at  Home depot or elsewhere.

It's super toxic, might be a big smeary  mess but it should eventually dissolve  it. Use lots of paper towels and gloves.

[grcamna2]

Thanks Fiddy,In was hoping to hear from someone & glad it was you 

[faux fiddy]

It will be messy, and of the lesser of two evils I like xylene over methylene chloride, but I think xylene is more volatile and you get more fumes. Use it outside, you may still get a headache.

[grcamna2]

Fiddy,
I wonder if I used that 'goof off'(hey!, I'm no 'Goof Off    ) product,would it harm the factory powder coating underneath ?

[calj737]

Acetone will remove the paint and won't effect the powder coat. Wet a rag with it, and wipe it by hand. Probably not sufficient adhesion between the paint and powder coat to even keep the paint attached to withstand pressure washing, but rag by hand is more controlled.

[grcamna2]

I'll go w/ some Acetone on a rag,Thanks Cal