Strip Acrylic Epoxy Paint

[Olderisbetter]

I need to strip acrylic epoxy paint from a plastic part.. Brake fluid doesn't work after 24 hrs. Any real life experience? Any suggestions? Thank you.

[Mark]

That's going to be tough.  Was it applied over lacquer or enamel primer?  If so, you could scratch the epoxy somewhere down to the primer, then let the paint remover work away at the primer, which would lift the top coat along with it.

[Olderisbetter]

Thanks for the swift reply. Part of my problem is the primer, which is a made for  plastic, acrylic lacquer primer made  here in Thailand, where I live. This  primer  also doesn't respond to brake fluid. The part I'm trying to strip is the hood side panel from a 34 Ford. Simulated hood louvres and just no surface area to sand. I wonder if oven cleaner would do it?

 

[Mark]

You can only keep trying with different solutions.  Clean the part(s) thoroughly when switching from one to another, as some unknown combination of two or more paint removers may affect the plastic (soften it, make it brittle, and so on).

[yh70]

you can try the oven cleaner but i have never had any luck on stripping any acrylic with it..but since its epoxy paint it could work..but you can also try 99% Isopropyl Alcohol thats what i hear a lot of guys use here in the states. i have never tried it yet but got some just in case..

[Hondamatic]

This stuff looks real promising 

[Olderisbetter]

YH -70...Isopropal 99% unavailable here, but Ethyl Alcohol 99% is available. Not sure about ethyl Alcohol.

 

Hondamatic: Very informative. Thanks

[yh70]

14 hours ago, Olderisbetter said:

YH -70...Isopropal 99% unavailable here, but Ethyl Alcohol 99% is available. Not sure ethyl Alcohol.

 

Hondamatic: Very informative. Thanks

i never heard anyone using ethyl Alcohol. might better try the oven cleaner. it that dont work u will have to sand it down.

[Mark]

Slight sanding with relatively coarse paper in a couple of spots might crack the outer coating and let the paint removal agent seep in and start to work.  That is, if other methods fail.  You would of course steer clear of detail areas and work on open areas with less potential for loss of detail.

[Olderisbetter]

Just put a scrap piece in 70% ethyl Alcohol (cuz that's what I have on hand). Will let you all know in about 24hrs.

 

[Olderisbetter]

Ok, scrap piece in 70% ethyl alcohol did nothing. But after  about 40 hrs in brake fluid, the original piece softened up. With extensive scraping with exacto knives and some sanding and extreme cussing I got it to the point I could primer & paint. It is not perfect, but is acceptable due to it being partially covered by the custom sidemounts and stock headlights in critical areas. Won't win any shows, but hell, I haven't won a show since I was a teen and I'm 77 now. Thanks for all the advice guys.

 

[yh70]

On 8/23/2022 at 7:11 AM, Olderisbetter said:

Ok, scrap piece in 70% ethyl alcohol did nothing. But after  about 40 hrs in brake fluid, the original piece softened up. With extensive scraping with exacto knives and some sanding and extreme cussing I got it to the point I could primer & paint. It is not perfect, but is acceptable due to it being partially covered by the custom sidemounts and stock headlights in critical areas. Won't win any shows, but hell, I haven't won a show since I was a teen and I'm 77 now. Thanks for all the advice guys.

 

glad u got it figured out..