Originally Posted by
anixi
Well, went to the hardware store, the guy said even MEK won't touch hard/dried lacquer. Only stripper will work. Put the stripper on, left it for over 20 minutes and it didn't even begin to dissolve it at all!
Any ideas on what will dissolve hardened lacquer, only without ruining the finish? I want them left without any details ruined, of course!
How did you decide it was lacquer vs. epoxy, varnish, eurethane, etc. or some other coating?
Heat? A heat gun can soften or lift most cleat coatings and if you don't overdo it, won't hurt the aluminum alloy.
Also, acetone is routinely used to clean aluminum before painting, is a (strong) component of lacquer thiner, and evaporates before it would have lasting effects. So, it should be safe enough on the aluminum. It will soften any lacquer after a while. Don't use acetone with a heat gun! :-)