spray (can) paint removal

[John K.]

I have an opportunity to purchase a 1965 Bowtie candidate. It just received bloomington survivor status but the chassis failed due to original owner spraying portions of the frame with a can of spray paint, a very poor attempt at best. Any suggestions on how this could be removed?

[Edward J.]

Re: spray (can) paint removal

John, acetone is sometihing that will remove spray paint, One word of caution keep away from the car finsih, its the same stuff that removes nail polish. use some good rubber gloves.

[Dick W.]

Re: spray (can) paint removal

Acetone will also remove the chassis paint. I suggest a strong alkaline cleaner such as simple green or maybe undiluted purple cleaner. Some of the rattle can paints will go away if you work on them with one of the above products.

Be aware as you clean you can also remove significant originality detail

[Paul J.]

Re: spray (can) paint removal

How about lacquer thinner? It's effective but will also remove the original chassis paint if not applied carefully.

John, following Dick's suggestion, TSP (trisodium phosphate) is also very good.

[Dick W.]

Re: spray (can) paint removal

How about lacquer thinner? It's effective but will also remove the original chassis paint if not applied carefully.

John, following Dick's suggestion, TSP (trisodium phosphate) is also very good.

If you are wondering where to find TSP, I have found it at Lowe's in the household paint and supplies

[John K.]

Re: spray (can) paint removal

Thanks for the suggestions. I'm going to buy the car and hope for the best in removal of the spray, rest of the car is great.

[Peter R.]

Re: spray (can) paint removal

It seems to me that after John removes the spray can paint, the frame is not going to look very good (at least not how it looked when it left the factory), no matter the method he uses to remove it. So what should he do to "restore" the frame finish in a way that will be acceptable to the judges? Should he repaint it and if so, how and with what? I'm asking because I and others are sure to encounter this scenario in our restorations.

[Tim G.]

Re: spray (can) paint removal

I'll always start off with the least abrasive remover and go up from there. Diesel or kerosene works well and removes rattle can paint, but seems to leave original paint intact.

[Michael W.]

Re: spray (can) paint removal

It seems to me that after John removes the spray can paint, the frame is not going to look very good (at least not how it looked when it left the factory), no matter the method he uses to remove it. So what should he do to "restore" the frame finish in a way that will be acceptable to the judges? Should he repaint it and if so, how and with what? I'm asking because I and others are sure to encounter this scenario in our restorations.

Pter-

I think the car is going to be presented for a Bowtie. Any attempt to 'restore' will work against achieving this award.

[John D.]

Re: spray (can) paint removal

John,I don't think this error can be successfully corrected to the point that the chassis will not look "massaged".
Don't discount rattle can paint as some of it is as good as your spray guns.
Dick Whittington's suggestion may work some but on the other hand that purple stuff and even simple green are very strong.

Story: Right now one of my Ultrasoinc cleaners for FI parts has Simple Green and water. I goofed and didn't use enough water.
Or so I thought. I was rebuilding an 65 fuel injection hipressure pump that had been spray painted with gold paint. I put the pump in the cleaner.
You should have seen the mess I made with my chemicals as the gold paint (most of it) came off in short order. Down to the original black phosphate. !!!!!
Try some readily available Simple Green in a spray bottle.(the concentrated bottle) Then work it with sponges. Take your time as many applications are better than one strong one.
Experiment. Here is another trick. Buy a can of Gumout carb and choke cleaner. NOt the stuff that's good for the environment (sorry). Wear eye goggles and use plenty of ventilation as it is lethal. Squirt that on and see if the spray paint loosens up. Good luck, JD

Drive the car in SW corner of PA one winter and the chassis will be solid rust in short order.

[Dick W.]

Re: spray (can) paint removal

[QUOTE=John DeGregory (2855);621137
Experiment. Here is another trick. Buy a can of Gumout carb and choke cleaner. NOt the stuff that's good for the environment (sorry). Wear eye goggles and use plenty of ventilation as it is lethal. Squirt that on and see if the spray paint loosens up. Good luck, JD

.[/QUOTE]

Chephart, carb cleaner will remove undercoating, frame paint, etc. The alkali solutions such as Simple Green won't remove frame coating, undercoating, etc

[John K.]

Re: spray (can) paint removal

The problem here is an 80 year old man went out with a spray can to cover up rust and made a mess of an otherwise great Bowtie car. Now can I or should I even attempt to remove some of it?