Removing paint/ink from plastic signs

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kerick
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Removing paint/ink from plastic signs

Post by kerick »

As my subject line suggests, has anyone used a solvent to remove the paint or ink from plastic signs? I know I can sand it off but its a pain to do a large area. I was thinking of trying oven cleaner or degreasing detergent in the same way as enamel paint. I'm hoping someone has an easier method.
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TazMan2000
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Re: Removing paint/ink from plastic signs

Post by TazMan2000 »

Superclean
I've never tried it on signs, but I have tried it on plastic models and this works great.

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kerick
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Re: Removing paint/ink from plastic signs

Post by kerick »

Is this like Simple Green we get in the US?
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Rogviler
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Re: Removing paint/ink from plastic signs

Post by Rogviler »

SuperClean used to be Castrol SuperClean, AKA Purple Power. It's essentially a sodium hydroxide solution, same as oven cleaner or drain cleaner. You could try it, but in my experience most of the signs seem to be printed with almost like a styrene paint, so the only thing that dissolves it is something that dissolves styrene. I'm interested to know the results, as I've never thought to try removing the printing.

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Re: Removing paint/ink from plastic signs

Post by Andrew Gorman »

if the print is really recalcitrant, just sand it off. Water on a glass sheet will usually hold the plastic in place and sand away!
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Wug
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Re: Removing paint/ink from plastic signs

Post by Wug »

SuperClean is not sodium hydroxide.

http://supercleancanada.com/MSDS/EN_Sup ... -23-11.pdf
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Rogviler
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Re: Removing paint/ink from plastic signs

Post by Rogviler »

Wug wrote: Sat Jan 13, 2018 8:37 am SuperClean is not sodium hydroxide.

http://supercleancanada.com/MSDS/EN_Sup ... -23-11.pdf
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Regardless, not the point. Someone try it and report back. I might if I remember to do so.

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Kylwell
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Re: Removing paint/ink from plastic signs

Post by Kylwell »

It helps if you have the MSDS for the degreaser/cleaner not the tire cleaner https://www.superclean.com/wp-content/u ... S-v2.0.pdf
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