Paint mist removal, suggestions?

audiozaz

audiozaz

rtfm!? - tl;dr
Hi there,

I bought a cheap Philips CD-921 for a song, to play around with, and it looks like someone painted stuff not too far from it, as it's faceplate is covered with a fine mist of white paint. The faceplate seems to be plastic.

Any suggestion as how to remove that paint without damaging the faceplate?

Thanks!

az
 
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Hmmmm .... You might want to try some nail polish remover and a cotton ball it shouldn't damage the plastic.
 
First, try a mild solution of dish detergent and warm water. It may remove it. If it doesn't, you must determine if the paint splatter is latex or alkyd. Use denatured alcohol in an inconspicuous area to test if it will mar the finish. Denatured alcohol will soften latex paint, and may be sufficient to remove it. Goof-Off will also quickly remove latex paint, but it contains harsher chemicals, including xylene, so be sure, again, to test for marring.

If denatured alcohol will not soften the paint, then it is an alkyd or other "oil-based" product, and you may be SOL if it's on a plastic finish. Lacquer thinner will usually soften and remove these types of paints, but it will also likely damage the finish.

Good luck!
 
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I concur with Urizen on this one---you must determine what type of paint before applying any kind of solvent.

I highly discourage using nail polish remover (acetone) as it will mar if not down right melt many plastics.

Latex based paints--sometimes just moistening with warm soapy water and rubbing with wash cloth will remove fine mist. Denatured alcohol will also loosen latex.

As for oil or alkyd base paints...try a very light coat of petroleum jelly..aka Vaseline...let it set a while rub with cloth--clean up with isopropyl alcohol or a good citrus based solvent.
 
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I'd go with the above (Urizen). Always start with the least harmful method and work the steps to harsher chemicals. I also agree with testing an small area first. Be very careful with colored recesses such as knobs, switches, logos, etc., you might move whatever color agent was used.
 
Urizen said:
First, try a mild solution of dish detergent and warm water. It may remove it. If it doesn't, you must determine if the paint splatter is latex or alkyd. Use denatured alcohol in an inconspicuous area to test if it will mar the finish. Denatured alcohol will soften latex paint, and may be sufficient to remove it. Goof-Off will also quickly remove latex paint, but it contains harsher chemicals, including xylene, so be sure, again, to test for marring.

If denatured alcohol will not soften the paint, then it is an alkyd or other "oil-based" product, and you may be SOL if it's on a plastic finish. Lacquer thinner will usually soften and remove these types of paints, but it will also likely damage the finish.

Good luck!
Click to expand...

Seems like a sensible aproach, a race to arms until the paint backs off. Not sure what "SOL" stands for, but I guess it means I'd be screwed!

Maybe I can get a hold of some lab-grade ethanol if it gets to that point. Denaturated alcohol can contain some acetone IIRC.

Thanks!

az
 
I don't know what that face is made of, but when I was painting custom Harleys, we used "GOOF OFF" to remove overspray. I've never seen it damage plastic but I would try a test section on the back of the piece before I used it on the front.
 
Finger nails, try picking them off first, plastic scrapper, etc. Least chance of damage. Try placing in freezer and then picking off. Try warming under hot water and picking off. Face place removed of course.

DO NOT USE NAIL POLISH, as in ACETONE, eats many plastics !

#2 try a weak salt water slurry, like a grinding compound, work way up in thickness.

To everyone in this type of situation. I have access to a large selection of solvents and substrate id and information at work. Several of these solvents are not sold to the public. PM me and be willing to pay postage and I can likely remove paints, inks and other misc. stains on plastics, painted surfaces, metals etc. I cannot refinish, only remove.
 
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Acetone, never, never, never! Only Mean Mr. Mommy Man uses acetone on plastic.

First, like Rybeam says, try fingernails. Use a wetting solution like Windex or Brillianize to minimize scratching.

Next, apply a small amount of Goof Off to an unseen part of the plastic and see if it damages it. If it does not, try that. Be aware that it might take off silk screening.

Last, I would try automotive detailing clay. Takes overspray right off paint, why not off plastic, too?
 
While the Goof Off is a winner for removing the paint and may not "damage"/melt the plastic...it will however dull any sort of surface sheen on your component---and will almost certainly smear or disappear the lettering. Been there done this. :tears:

There is a "goof off" equivalent called Citristrip Wipe Away that's a bit more plastic friendly in my experience---but I'd still recommend soap, water, and fingernails to start. Then test out the Vaseline method.
 
A lot depend's on how the panel's lettered. If it's plastic and lettered from behind, then there's lot's of option's. One might be an automotive clay bar detailing kit for about $10 buck's. It's just a hunk of clay w/spray detail lubricant you run over the car's paint surface to remove just such contaminate's. Haven't tried it on audio equipment faceplate's though.
 
Well it's done and here's what I did:

When I said "fine mist" in the title, I meant it! No scratching it off or peeling it off with fingernails, it was everywhere and very, oh so very fine.

I just started off with rubbing alcohol, using cotton balls and Q-tips, and worked on it for a while. The fine mist came off with a certain amount of applied pressure though. The plastic face and it's lettering seem pretty tough, and none of it got damaged. The smoother surfaces, such as display screen, buttons and IR sensor screen were super-easy to clean. The rest of the faceplate is more "grainy" and required more work.

CDP now looks very good, it's cosmetically in very good shape. It's got other issues, which I won't discuss here though.

Thanks for the tips everyone!

az
 
If the overspray is light and fine, where you can use the Meguires or another clear plastic polish and some elbow grease. And yes, try in an inconspicuous area if possible. Agree -- no acetone or lacquer thinner! Makes it all cloudy, milkey, and can even melt it!..... did it ever happen to me??.........
 
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