Flathead31coupe
Active Member
What is the best way to get old paint over spray off of the plastic cowl vents..
Cowl vents paint over spray?
- Thread starter Flathead31coupe
- Start date
Katfish
Well-Known Member
I'd love to know too,
Nothing worked for me, so I painted it black.
Nothing worked for me, so I painted it black.
Challenger RTA
Well-Known Member
Try lacquer thinner. Dampen a rag and keep it damp. Give it some time and rub. Don't soak it.
pschlosser
Well-Known Member
I hope the lacquer thinner works. In my experience chemicals like lacquer thinner and acetone melt some plastics, so test in a tiny area before you commit to big areas. Yes, they work great on the paint, but once you rub through, when those chemicals hit the plastic it starts to go wrong.
What happens to the plastic when using these chemicals is it seems to soften and melt. The molded plastic often has a smooth surface that begins to show streaks from the rag as the chemical is applied and the plastic rubbed upon. Once it all dries and hardens, the streaks are still there.
I've had good results with IPA, isopropyl alcohol. but it's slow. I've been able to clean several items that were once shiny plastic, and covered with rattle can paint. I presume that paint is lacquer-based. With soaking in IPA, and using something also plastic, but hard, like the edge of a credit card, to work through the paint down to the plastic, I was able to remove the paint and still have a shiny plastic piece underneath. There was lots of rubbing with a rag. It was slow, but it worked.
But those were plastics with mostly flat areas. I did a set of those cuda grill strips, with the red stripe, that were painted over with flat black many years ago. In the end, I was able to save about 50% of the original red stripe, and have some decent looking trim pieces. That took me 6-8 hours to do.
I cannot imagine the amount of time and detail such a process would take on the cowl vent grills.
If you can find something to soften the over-paint, without affecting the plastic, that is the magic substance, right there.
What happens to the plastic when using these chemicals is it seems to soften and melt. The molded plastic often has a smooth surface that begins to show streaks from the rag as the chemical is applied and the plastic rubbed upon. Once it all dries and hardens, the streaks are still there.
I've had good results with IPA, isopropyl alcohol. but it's slow. I've been able to clean several items that were once shiny plastic, and covered with rattle can paint. I presume that paint is lacquer-based. With soaking in IPA, and using something also plastic, but hard, like the edge of a credit card, to work through the paint down to the plastic, I was able to remove the paint and still have a shiny plastic piece underneath. There was lots of rubbing with a rag. It was slow, but it worked.
But those were plastics with mostly flat areas. I did a set of those cuda grill strips, with the red stripe, that were painted over with flat black many years ago. In the end, I was able to save about 50% of the original red stripe, and have some decent looking trim pieces. That took me 6-8 hours to do.
I cannot imagine the amount of time and detail such a process would take on the cowl vent grills.
If you can find something to soften the over-paint, without affecting the plastic, that is the magic substance, right there.
Last edited:
gran coupe john
Well-Known Member
I tried goo gone that removes paint. It Moistens the plastic. Takes a lot of time, but works. Lacquer thinner dulls the plastic in my opinion.
floyd
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I’ve had very good results getting paint and even sound deadener off plastic and rubber using full strength Easy Off. Spray it on and let it sit for about 20 min. I then use old kitchen brushes and tooth brushes to work the softened paint off and a small flat wooden scraper and brushes for sound deadener. I’ve haven’t had any issues damaging the plastic or rubber to date.
I’ve done cowl vents, original weather stripping, splash guards, tires, etc. that way. Give it a try, but be sure to use in a well vented area and wear good rubber gloves. That stuff is pretty nasty.
I’ve done cowl vents, original weather stripping, splash guards, tires, etc. that way. Give it a try, but be sure to use in a well vented area and wear good rubber gloves. That stuff is pretty nasty.
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