Removing spray paint from galvanized steel?

[tarbellb]

Looking for advice on how to remove spray paint from a galvanized steel sheet without disturbing the finish

Any experience doing this?

Trying to keep the base material as close to it's current look as possible, not cleaner, just no spray paint

 

[Stelzer]

It'd be helpful to know what spray paint you used exactly. Different paints clean up using various solvents. If you're concerned about leaving a shiny or clean spot from removing the paint though, (that's what I got from your OP), then I can't help you, nor can anyone else on the planet.

 

[LopezBart]

I find xylene is pretty effective at removing most spray paints, and shouldn't bother the galvanizing. https://spillcontainment.com/wp-con...emical-Compatibily-Guide-Galvanized-Steel.pdf

 

[Wamsutta]

You'll be fine as long as you don't use anything with acid in it. I found out by accident one day that oven cleaner will remove galvanize.

Get some M.E.K. or acetone and splash on there.

 

[Jeff]

Anything proper used on the paint will affect the coating.

 

[Chris_Hamilton]

Over the top for what you are doing but soda blasting would remove the paint without harming the galvanized. Whether the full patina would remain IDK. Like was said above, solvents like xylene or tolulene found in wash thinner, would remove the paint easily if it is spray paint. What it will look like underneath? Who knows. I expect it will have a different patina than the rest that has been exposed.

 

[mreisner]

Goof-off.

 

[dnschmidt]

If it's not a 2K catalyzed finish lacquer thinner typically does the job. Most spray cans are lacquer based so lacquer thinner is the solvent used in the can. Lacquer is considered a reversible coating. Meaning that the solvent in which it was dissolved the first time should also be able to dissolve it afterwards.

 

[strutaeng]

Umm, that had never crossed my mind. If the mild solvents don't work, how about a bit of heat with a heat gun?

The high heat should remove the paint, but shouldn't be high enough as to mess with the zinc coating.

Question: do you know what kind of galvanized this is? Hot-dipped galvanized or the other galvanizing, can't remember the correct term...electro-galvanized?

 

[Shiftless]

Acetone works for me. The goof-off suggestion is good too. I’ve never tried MEK. Local stores stopped selling it.

 

[tarbellb]

Awesome thanks all, I will do some spot testing.

I'm not expecting the layer underneath to be perfectly matched after removal, I'm just trying to avoid altering the look was much as possible.

As for origin of paint type, ha, you would have to ask the street artist who bombed these likely a decade+ ago

my money is on standard rattle can lacquer or enamel