Painted on "Pin Stripe", how to remove?

[dfw]

Any of you guys have your pin stripes painted on from the dealer? I always thought mine was a sticker, so today I went to go remove them and it wouldn't budge at all.

Anyways, how should I go about removing it without messing up my paint?

[CharlesW]

1. Be sure it is dealer installed and on the clearcoat, not under it.
2. I have used oven cleaner to remove painted on signs, but I don't know if the pinstripe paint would be removed by it.
3. Lacquer thinner will probably do it, too.

Any chemical you use should not be left on the paint for very long. You can probably try a small area to see what happens before you swab it on the entire stripe.

[dfw]

Originally Posted by CharlesW

1. Be sure it is dealer installed and on the clearcoat, not under it.
2. I have used oven cleaner to remove painted on signs, but I don't know if the pinstripe paint would be removed by it.
3. Lacquer thinner will probably do it, too.

Any chemical you use should not be left on the paint for very long. You can probably try a small area to see what happens before you swab it on the entire stripe.

I can feel the stripe, so that would mean its over the clear coat? 2nd time hearing about the oven cleaner stuff...how should I go about using the lacquer?

[Poorboy]

you could just try a polish first and see how much effort it takes to remove a small section ...

[CharlesW]

Originally Posted by dfw

I can feel the stripe, so that would mean its over the clear coat? 2nd time hearing about the oven cleaner stuff...how should I go about using the lacquer?

Not lacquer, lacquer thinner.
I would dampen a shop rag with some thinner and lightly rub the pin stripe in an area.
And by dampen, I mean just that. Don't soak the rag.
If it is going to work, you should see it dissolve some of the paint right away.
If it does work, personally, I would work in different areas at a time so as to not have the thinner in contact with the original paint any longer than necessary. It probably wouldn't do any damage, but it would not be a good thing if it did.

[Beemerboy]

Originally Posted by CharlesW

Not lacquer, lacquer thinner.
I would dampen a shop rag with some thinner and lightly rub the pin stripe in an area.
And by dampen, I mean just that. Don't soak the rag.
If it is going to work, you should see it dissolve some of the paint right away.
If it does work, personally, I would work in different areas at a time so as to not have the thinner in contact with the original paint any longer than necessary. It probably wouldn't do any damage, but it would not be a good thing if it did.

I'm with Charles on the LT it should work fast and effectively...I would do a small section and then wash that up with some soapy water and rinse then do another section....Your going to see a bit of hazing on the clear...not to worry it will polish right back out...I removed a load of over spray from a SUV this way

[dfw]

Originally Posted by CharlesW

Not lacquer, lacquer thinner.
I would dampen a shop rag with some thinner and lightly rub the pin stripe in an area.
And by dampen, I mean just that. Don't soak the rag.
If it is going to work, you should see it dissolve some of the paint right away.
If it does work, personally, I would work in different areas at a time so as to not have the thinner in contact with the original paint any longer than necessary. It probably wouldn't do any damage, but it would not be a good thing if it did.

Ic, thanks.

Originally Posted by Beemerboy

I'm with Charles on the LT it should work fast and effectively...I would do a small section and then wash that up with some soapy water and rinse then do another section....Your going to see a bit of hazing on the clear...not to worry it will polish right back out...I removed a load of over spray from a SUV this way

eekk! Well I only have the Megauiars Deep Crystal for a paint cleaner, don't have a PC anymore. Will that be enough or can't tell right now?

[Beemerboy]

Originally Posted by dfw

Ic, thanks.



eekk! Well I only have the Megauiars Deep Crystal for a paint cleaner, don't have a PC anymore. Will that be enough or can't tell right now?

You can try the paint cleaner but I don't think its going to be strong enough to cut the paint...the LT will then follow that with the paint cleaner

[E's Exteriors]

I use to work at a body shop and am quite handy with a razor blade. Put an edge on one and scrape most of it off. Then touch it up with thinner. Then detail. That's just me and I am confident with a razor blade. I have done about five jobs like this in the past two or three months. Just don't try and scrap the entire stripe off.

[Beemerboy]

Originally Posted by E's Exteriors

I use to work at a body shop and am quite handy with a razor blade. Put an edge on one and scrape most of it off. Then touch it up with thinner. Then detail. That's just me and I am confident with a razor blade. I have done about five jobs like this in the past two or three months. Just don't try and scrap the entire stripe off.

That's just way to risky IMO to much could go wrong

[GearHead_1]

Originally Posted by Beemerboy

That's just way to risky IMO to much could go wrong

I'm pretty darn good with a razor blade also but I'm with Beemer on this one, just asking for trouble here. I might try a plastic razor blade on it and see if it would come up. I also think that Steve made a good suggestion. A rotary and compound would likely remove painted on stripes.

[RobertP]

I would test a small area first with the solvents, I have seen some knarley paint reaction to lacquer before over enamel, If I remember correctly they use mineral spirits to thin out that sign painters enamel.

[E's Exteriors]

I'm not talking about using it parallel to paint. You hold it straight up and down to the paint and it will only hit the high spot of the paint. Thats one way you would take out a run in the paint. Much safer than it sounds.

[E's Exteriors]

Originally Posted by GearHead_1

I'm pretty darn good with a razor blade also but I'm with Beemer on this one, just asking for trouble here. I might try a plastic razor blade on it and see if it would come up. .

I'm not talking about using it parallel to paint. You hold it straight up and down to the paint and it will only hit the high spot of the paint. Thats one way you would take out a run in the paint. Much safer than it sounds.

[dr_detail]

I estimated the removal of a small section for a good client of mine which would have been seen poking out under an aftermarket wing -- I thought it was gonna have to be colorsanded off for Reducer didn't cut it, nor did thinner. He was gonna wait two weeks to have me fix it. However, after talking to a friend of his that runs a body shop, he opted to remove it himself. He sprayed some Easy Off Oven Cleaner on a rag and it did the job just fine (I was amazed). I followed it up a week later with a light polish and it looks as if the stripe was never there...

I now have another use for it other than wheels