How to remove spray paint and save my S-K box label?
- Thread starter Leviton
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Oldtuleguy
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Wow. That's a tough one. Try a little lacquer thinner on a rag , but go easy.
Private Lugnutz
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That's a very thin dusting. You might even try Simple Green first. Same method. Just keep wetting the corner of a rag with it. SG will definitely remove new spraybomb paint that is submerged in it, and it will even remove very old original paint if left submerged in it long enough. But it's not as strong as thinner so may not attack the badge as aggressively as thinner.
Oldtuleguy
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That sounds good lugs, maybe even try rubbing it with a rag first and work your way up to stronger stuff.
yhprum
Well-known member
Maybe try graffiti remover very carefully
thehorse13
Well-known member
Dollar store nail polish remover. Get the one WITH acetone. Dap an old rag with this stuff and lightly start to rub the spray paint. Presto, gone.
I've done this dozens of times with success.
I've done this dozens of times with success.
as light as that is, i'd take some nevrdull and just rub it off. nevrdull goes by a lot of names, it's that mattress stuffing in a can with some clear petroleum distillate of some sort soaked in, used for polishing brass and stuff...
it should take the spray paint right off and polish up the rest of it. i've used it that way on electric motor plates and other stuff someone painted over and it works.
http://www.nevrdull.com/
it should take the spray paint right off and polish up the rest of it. i've used it that way on electric motor plates and other stuff someone painted over and it works.
http://www.nevrdull.com/
Jazz1
Well-known member
Oven cleaner. Let it set a minute or so then wipe off, may have to do it a couple times.
The problem is you do not want to damage the original. I would try bug and tar remover then step up to a paint cleaning product like Napa Kleenz easy. If no luck, I next would carefully try some laquer thinner but be careful if it starts to eat the label paint.
Farmer J.
Well-known member
Whatever of these you try, don't try it on the label until you have experimented on an inconspicuous area inside the box somewhere.. That's my best advice. See how it works and experiment somewhere that won't show if it leaves a mess. Tackle the label AFTER you know what the solvent does to the paint.
I recently did a Britool box that had been green over painted and used foaming gasket remover scrubbed with a tooth brush and wiped off immediately. It removed all the green enamel gunk and left the crackle finish original behind. The wife has a new toothbrush anyway.
I recently did a Britool box that had been green over painted and used foaming gasket remover scrubbed with a tooth brush and wiped off immediately. It removed all the green enamel gunk and left the crackle finish original behind. The wife has a new toothbrush anyway.
ShadowBoxer
Well-known member
Hi,
I have had good luck with Simple Green and Nevrdull.
Nevrdull is going to be a buffing type job. However if you only care about the label, it's a small job and probably worth the time.
100% Simple Green will dissolve paint.
On big things like a tool box or drawers from the box, I spray it all around and then mist it a bit with water from the garden hose to dilute and slow the process. Breaks up grease and cleans the paint without ruining it.
Here I would have two rags. One to dab Simple Green on and one with just water to slow or stop the process and clean the badge. Let it sit for about 20 seconds and try to wipe off to see what's needed for this job.
I would first test on a inconspicuous place since it sounds like you want to strip the paint off anyway. Let it sit for a minute or two and then see what's come loose.
Once you learn how this paint reacts you can clean up the badge with some idea of what's needed instead of just guessing.
Good luck.
I have had good luck with Simple Green and Nevrdull.
Nevrdull is going to be a buffing type job. However if you only care about the label, it's a small job and probably worth the time.
100% Simple Green will dissolve paint.
On big things like a tool box or drawers from the box, I spray it all around and then mist it a bit with water from the garden hose to dilute and slow the process. Breaks up grease and cleans the paint without ruining it.
Here I would have two rags. One to dab Simple Green on and one with just water to slow or stop the process and clean the badge. Let it sit for about 20 seconds and try to wipe off to see what's needed for this job.
I would first test on a inconspicuous place since it sounds like you want to strip the paint off anyway. Let it sit for a minute or two and then see what's come loose.
Once you learn how this paint reacts you can clean up the badge with some idea of what's needed instead of just guessing.
Good luck.
Many good ideas. Thank you!
My goal has been to preserve rather than over clean. I've spent a couple hours on this. Most of the green paint has been removed, now I've run into a hard dark blue paint spot in the center that was under the green paint. See photo.
Here is what I have done so far:
My goal has been to preserve rather than over clean. I've spent a couple hours on this. Most of the green paint has been removed, now I've run into a hard dark blue paint spot in the center that was under the green paint. See photo.
Here is what I have done so far:
- Clean with soap and water to remove any oils/grit.
- Tried Simple Green (one of my favorite cleaners in the world) but it wasn't doing anything to the green paint, even with 15 minute soaks. I know it eventually would get there if I let it soak overnight or longer, but I didn't want it to over-penetrate to the original layers of paints.
- Went to Flitz (similar to Nevrdull). It slowly removed the green paint. As I used it, I would mask off adjacent areas so as not to overdo them.
- Used Simple Green and a Q-tip to remove leftover Flitz from the areas in-between the raised (bare) aluminum.
- Used my thumbnail to scrape off some of the blue painted on the raised bare aluminum portions.
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Jayman17
Well-known member
Nice job, that spot in the middle looks like it's from a permanent marker though.
-Jay
-Jay
Stuart in MN
Well-known member
Looks good so far. That blue spot is kind of weird. I'd probably continue with the Flitz / thumbnail techniques - they've worked so far.
Farmer J.
Well-known member
What an annoying blue spot! Maybe it's gasket sealant (Hylomar?) or thread lock (Loctite?) or something like that so it may soften with some brake cleaner or gasoline.
I was worried about the blue paint blotch in the center. It was really hard - my guess is a lacquer, but I am not a paint expert.
I carefully tried the Dollar Store nail polish remover. (They had 3 types with acetone; one said 100% acetone - I instead picked the one with partial acetone, figuring it would be milder).
This worked really well. I rubbed it on the blue and the blue started to come off without affecting the underlying paint. I quickly neutralized with water. Then I repeated until I was satisfied with the results.
I know it's not perfect, but i don't want to go any further. The majority of the green paint is gone and you can see the glorious label. (Glorious due to its design, not due to my cleaning).
I still want to do one more quick polish with Flitz to bring up some shine.
Isn't the design of this label beautiful!
-
I carefully tried the Dollar Store nail polish remover. (They had 3 types with acetone; one said 100% acetone - I instead picked the one with partial acetone, figuring it would be milder).
This worked really well. I rubbed it on the blue and the blue started to come off without affecting the underlying paint. I quickly neutralized with water. Then I repeated until I was satisfied with the results.
I know it's not perfect, but i don't want to go any further. The majority of the green paint is gone and you can see the glorious label. (Glorious due to its design, not due to my cleaning).
I still want to do one more quick polish with Flitz to bring up some shine.
Isn't the design of this label beautiful!
-
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Oldtuleguy
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Excellent work!
Farmer J.
Well-known member
That looks great, may you have much pleasure from it. It's a wonderful classic design label.
Private Lugnutz
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Sure is. 1947. We were talking about the evolution of this logo, trademarked in 1933, first use in 1932, on the S-K thread, linked here.
J.C.
Well-known member
Great result - looks like it was well worth the effort, that is a really nice logo.
ShadowBoxer
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Good job.
Looks great.
Looks great.
thehorse13
Well-known member
I was worried about the blue paint blotch in the center. It was really hard - my guess is a lacquer, but I am not a paint expert.
I carefully tried the Dollar Store nail polish remover. (They had 3 types with acetone; one said 100% acetone - I instead picked the one with partial acetone, figuring it would be milder).
This worked really well. I rubbed it on the blue and the blue started to come off without affecting the underlying paint. I quickly neutralized with water. Then I repeated until I was satisfied with the results.
I know it's not perfect, but i don't want to go any further. The majority of the green paint is gone and you can see the glorious label. (Glorious due to its design, not due to my cleaning).
I still want to do one more quick polish with Flitz to bring up some shine.
Isn't the design of this label beautiful!
-
My favorite logo next to the early Blackhawk advertising.
Now you have a new trick in your restoration toolbox. I should have mentioned that any of the acetone dollar store nail polish removers will work, with of course the 100% acetone being the strongest version they have.
d42jeep
Well-known member
Here are some more pictures showing the riveted on S-K emblems.
-Don
-Don
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dadsEH
Well-known member
That is just gorgeous. A credit to your patience !