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Best way to remove paint from veneer?

Mc_Man

Mc_Man

Well-Known Member
I picked up a pair of JBL 4430's and the cabs have some black paint in a few spots. Looks like at some time the back panel was re-painted and somehow they got black paint on the walnut veneer. It is not a lot but I would like to remove it. Short of sanding the down and re-finishing them, is there an easy way to remove the paint without damaging the veneer?
 
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Try water first, it's a long shot but if you are lucky it is water based paint. let rag with hot water sit on it for awhile. look close, did it raise it a bit ? Soap and water, Vodka, grain alcohol, may also work.
If not try mineral spirits / lighter fluid, watch the smokes and pilot lights, let rag soak on stain, stiff thumb rub, bit of steel wool. Electrical contact cleaner from hardware store, will evaporate fast before it can do too much damage. Then you start moving up the solvent scale, paint removers, acetone, xylene. The right solvent will draw the paint up and out of the grain. You will likely raise the grain a bit when you do find the right solvent, but oil should return it to normal. Good luck !
 
Rybeam said:
Soap and water, Vodka, grain alcohol, may also work.
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I say use the soap and water, and the grain alcohol on the speaker..., drink the Vodka (it will not help the speaker but it will help you)

So again, just to be sure, drink the Vodka, NOT the soap and water, or especially NOT the grain alcohol...
 
Try scraping very carefully with a single edge razor blade. Keep the angle shallow and move with the grain.


Russ
 
Uh, use stripez. Its available at your local meijer or lowes and works FAST. I stripped a car trunk lid with that crud in 15 minuites- this was three layers of cheap paint and the 40+ year old polyacrylic enamel. Also, fornbys does an excelent job and doesn't requier you to wear a hazmat suit when using- just be sure to use good gloves ok? I would honestly try fornbys refinisher and some fine steel wool. Rinse with a wash down of mineral spirits and keep at it untill you have bare veneer that is ready for either re-staining or just a coat or three of poly.
 
I have used 600 grit wet/dry sandpaper with Scott's liquid gold with success. trick I was taught from a speaker manufacturer. Of course the key being it is an oiled finish and not laquered etc. Takes it off quickly as well as makes the finish look great without removing stain. Best of luck


Mc_Man said:
I picked up a pair of JBL 4430's and the cabs have some black paint in a few spots. Looks like at some time the back panel was re-painted and somehow they got black paint on the walnut veneer. It is not a lot but I would like to remove it. Short of sanding the down and re-finishing them, is there an easy way to remove the paint without damaging the veneer?
Click to expand...
 
If it's latex paint, Goof-Off or Oops will remove the paint and will not harm the finish or veneer. If it's oil based paint, an extremely sharp, narrow blade wood chisel used at a very low angle, if any at all, will "chip" off the specks.
 
Mc_Man said:
\ is there an easy way to remove the paint without damaging the veneer?
Click to expand...


Look around for a furniture refinisher or a find a crafts store and find a touch up kit. . . Years ago and even today in some circles there were people who made a living fixing spots on Granny's piano etc. . . You might google something like "scratch repair" etc. You might be amazed at the info you uncover.
 
I have used ordinary automotive liquid car wax on a soft cloth to remove specks of paint. Just pretend that you are cleaning your car. I have used it on speakers and on electronics cases .... why do people paint and leave their gear uncovered????

Not sure how much paint is on the veneer but you must be very careful that the 'solution' to the paint problem does not result in you having to redo the speaker totally.

With nail polish remover I would be extremely cautious if it is one with any acetone in it ... some of the newer nail polish removers use more gentle stuff and might be OK.
 
Myself, I would use a razor blade to remove the majority of it, being very careful not to get into the wood... it may even pop off the whole splatter, without any more work.

If it still left a spot, I would use some 000 or 0000 steel wool with a little Howards Restore-a-finish matched to the color of wood. This stuff does wonders with steel wool.. I've been using it for just such things, and you will never know you had paint on it...
 
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