Remove spray paint?
#1
Thread Starter
The bike plague
Joined: May 2010
Posts: 377
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From: Greek mountains
Bikes: 70's Legnano Road Bike, Late 70's Mercier Road Bike, Ideal Target Mountain Bike, Specialized crosstrail trekking bike and a unicycle
Remove spray paint?
Do you think it's possible? If a chemical for example can take off the spray paint and not the original paint underneath? Any idea?
#2
Not likely. If the spray is fresh, acetone might take it off without removing the paint underneath. If the spray paint is cured, you'll have to strip the frame to bare metal to remove it.
#3
Senior Member
Joined: Jan 2012
Posts: 2,243
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From: Spokane, WA
Bikes: Specialized Sequoia Elite/Motobecane Fantom Cross Team Ti/'85 Trek 520
I did have success with removing spray paint from my car once. I had backed out of the garage and accidentally ran over a can of spray paint which then shot up on the side of my car. It wasn't a lot, but enough to annoy me. It was like over spray. I used acetone and I did manage to remove it without hurting the factory paint.
However I imagine that the factory car paint was pretty tough compared to the overspray from a leaking can of spray paint that shot up on the side of my car. I didn't remove the paint though for a month after it happened, it wasn't a lot.
If the bike has been completely painted and cured, it will probably be next to impossible to get off without harming the base coat.
However I imagine that the factory car paint was pretty tough compared to the overspray from a leaking can of spray paint that shot up on the side of my car. I didn't remove the paint though for a month after it happened, it wasn't a lot.
If the bike has been completely painted and cured, it will probably be next to impossible to get off without harming the base coat.
#4
Thread Starter
The bike plague
Joined: May 2010
Posts: 377
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From: Greek mountains
Bikes: 70's Legnano Road Bike, Late 70's Mercier Road Bike, Ideal Target Mountain Bike, Specialized crosstrail trekking bike and a unicycle
It's only the fork, a stupid bike mechanic painted it without asking me. But judging from your sayings it doesn't worth the effort
#5
Senior Member
Joined: May 2011
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Bikes: 2012 Cinelli Saetta, vintage steel cougar, Kona Jake
Try using lighter fluid, spray some on the frame and wipe it off with a rag.
Gasoline will work too. Spray paint will bubble with gas, but not the original paint.
I've also removed over spray with windex and rag
Gasoline will work too. Spray paint will bubble with gas, but not the original paint.
I've also removed over spray with windex and rag
#7
Junior Member
Joined: Mar 2012
Posts: 17
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From: SW Kansas
Bikes: Giant Rincon, Diamondback, AMT, 2 others
Acetone I use quite a bit in making arrows- it evaperates really quick- don't think you'd have much luck dissolving and removing before it's gum
as mentioned- try a small spot first
#10
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Joined: Nov 2009
Posts: 160
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From: Knoxville, TN
Bikes: 2008 Gary Fisher Monona, 1997 Univega Alpina 550, 1980 Nishiki International, 1993 Specialized Epic
I had good success using a little bit of Acetone on a clean rag to take some paint off a headbadge and part of the frame. Didn't even have to rub too hard, it came right off no problem and the actually looked like it cleaned up the old paint a little bit.
#11
Senior Member
Joined: Aug 2008
Posts: 2,589
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stuff to try in inconspicous spots; acetone, mineral spirits, goof off, last resort; ultrafine steel wool
but really, who paints someones bike without permission? they owe you a new one
#13
Senior Member

Joined: Jan 2009
Posts: 4,367
Likes: 1,651
From: San Diego, CA
Try some automotive brake fluid, DOT3 or 4. Put a little on a small test area and wait for the paint to wrinkle a bit then immediatly wipe it off and use some cleaner (409, Simple Green, Orange Cleaner, Dishsoap, etc.)to remove any fluid residue. A good quality original finish will stand up much longer to the brake fluid than most rattle can paint so most likely the original paint will not be harmed.
Last edited by Crankycrank; 04-27-12 at 05:41 PM.
#14
Senior Member
Joined: Jul 2006
Posts: 425
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Polishing (or rubbing) compound and lots of elbow grease can take off a thin layer of paint without harming the paint underneath. Depends on how thick the new paint is. And to be clear, I'm speaking of the compounds for automotive finishes, not metal polish.
#15
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Joined: Mar 2007
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From: SF Bay Area, East bay
Bikes: Miyata 618 GT, Marinoni, Kestral 200, Soma double cross 2002 Trek 5200, KHS Flite, Koga Miyata, Schwinn Spitfire 5, Mondia Special, Univega Alpina, Miyata team Ti, Santa Cruz Highball, Waterford rs11
There has to be Graffiti style removers. I have an old French frame that's been painted and would like to see your results.
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thehammerdog
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