Enclosure needs paint stripped -any ideas?

[cacarver]

I botched my first paint job on my Hammond enclosure and tried sanding it down but it's too thick and would take forever. Does anyone know of a good paint stripper or household item I can use to remove the excess spray paint?

[Kearns892]

Buy a quart of commercial paint stripper from a store like Lowes or Home Depot (if you are U.S. based). It works like a charm because that's what it is made for.

[phector2004]

I think another forum member also suggested brake fluid... It eats paint away very well (hence why you don't want to drip it on your car!)

[DC9V]

I just finished removing the paint from a 1590B enclosure. I had tried various solvents (acetone, white spirit) but all it did was deposit a layer of diluted paint on the inside of the box as well. In the end I used what I used when I gave my old bicycle a new paint job: a rotary wire brush mounted on a drill. Very fast and efficient (took me less than 10 minutes), but a bit messy (lots of dust) so you have to do it outside. Just sand down the enclosure a bit once you're done to remove any scratches.

[nocentelli]

I neede to strip a box recently, but didn't have anything suitable at home. I just nicked some of my missus' nail varnish remover (big bottle of cheap stuff, none of that "with added nail softner" posh stuff), soaked it in that for half an hour and gave it a good scrub with some wire wool, came off lovely. It's just acetone (or propanone to be strictly accurate to IUPAC conventions).

[defaced]

a rotary wire brush mounted on a drill.

This, a dust mask and a clamp/vice.  Easy on the pressure, wire brushes will kinda roughen up the surface of aluminum because it is soft compared to a fast spinning brush.  And if you don't clamp the work down, you will see it fly if the brush catches an edge. 

If you are intent on using strippers, just go to lowes and look for paint strippers, there's nothing special about spray paint to keep general purpose strippers from working.  Get some rubber gloves while you're there and a plastic puddy knife. 

[Strange]

This stuff ate the paint off an old metal mail box pretty quick.




It was only $2 at WalMart.

[Strange]

Other than a chemical I would just use an orbital sander with 100 grit sandpaper. Hit it with 220 afterwards and prep it again for paint.

[DDD]

Put the box into double (tripple is better) polyethylene package, add 1/4 glass of acetone/paint solvent mixture and leave it alone for couple or three days.
The paint becomes soft and loose, and can be removed without any effort.
*** This method is highly effective with almost any known paint. 

[Strange]

Graffiti Go! takes about 5 minutes.

[deadastronaut]

+1 on the 80-100 grit .....

[MikeH]

I did this by soaking the enclosure in mineral spirits overnight.  Afterward the paint is soft and rubbery and you can scrape it off in a matter of minutes.  60 grit paper will work fine, but this leaves less mess.  Also, you have to wait for the paint to really harden before you sand, otherwise it will just gum up your sand paper and it will take forever and eat through a lot of paper.

[Strange]

With the Graffiti Go! I simply had to rinse it off - no scraping or sanding required. It is 'supposed' to be made of environmentally friendly ingredients as well. Either way, it works like a charm.

[arawn]

oven cleaner

[cacarver]

I did use the oven cleaner. I was going for a household item that was inexpensive. That graffiti go I will get for next time (if there is a next time). The oven cleaner worked. Took about two applications. I have gone through three different colors for the pedal.

What I've learned - 1. Decide on a color prior to doing your design 2. If handpainting enclosure design, do NOT use acrylics and brush unless your experienced 3. Paint Pens are your friend for that Zvex handpainted look

[arawn]

I win

[Paul Marossy]

It doesn't take long at all to sand down the finish enough for repainting when using an oscillating sander. Done it many times myself.

[deadastronaut]

I win

Congratulations, .. speech!..speech!...

[sewage666]

I've used Jasco Paint Remover to get off old powder coats for doing custom paint jobs. I'm interested in how that graffiti remover would do.

[Perrow]

18 replies, and no-one has given the obvious solution?

Hire a stripper!