Hi
Is there a way to remove paint (from previous repaints) from a data plate without disturbing the original screen printing on the plate? Any direction or assistance would be greatly appreciated.
Thanks!
Mark
What kind of paint is on the plate? If you happen to know as it can make a difference to what may/will work to remove it
Quote from: J_Speegle on March 02, 2023, 03:14:27 PM
What kind of paint is on the plate? If you happen to know as it can make a difference to what may/will work to remove it
I think it is enamel...It was probably painted in the late 60s......is there a way to tell what it is?
Quote from: msper on March 02, 2023, 03:25:03 PM
I think it is enamel...It was probably painted in the late 60s......is there a way to tell what it is?
Yes but there are really little space for a test are on the surface of the VIN tag. Just trying to be safe. Another thought. Is this a heavy/thick coat or thin overspray? Is it chipping?
Quote from: J_Speegle on March 02, 2023, 03:28:24 PM
Quote from: msper on March 02, 2023, 03:25:03 PM
I think it is enamel...It was probably painted in the late 60s......is there a way to tell what it is?
Yes but there are really little space for a test are on the surface of the VIN tag. Just trying to be safe. Another thought. Is this a heavy/thick coat or thin overspray? Is it chipping?
I will send you a picture in a PM.....Thanks!
Here is what msper is working with
(https://www.concoursmustang.com/forum/gallery/18/6-020323161710-184251581.jpeg)
My first suggestion, working from the safer products to later maybe harsher methods, would be to get some enamel reducer if you can still purchase it where you live, remove the door latch screw and soak it in a bath of the reducer to see if it will lift the layer. Keep track of how long you soak it, checking in as it soaks, and see if that will work. If so then you can try and address the door data plate
Others may have other or better methods that have been successful with
Thanks Jeff!
How long would you think it should soak?......what about putting it on a rag and lightly rub it?
Quote from: msper on March 02, 2023, 04:39:10 PM
Thanks Jeff!
How long would you think it should soak?......what about putting it on a rag and lightly rub it?
Have no idea of how long it will take nor how thick the paint coat is. I've used the product, along with the weaker grease and tar remover, using the wet rag method successfully to remove over spray but will take more time to do this larger and likely thicker application.
Thanks Jeff.....I will give it a shot.....I will report back on the results.......
Way in the past (80s), I had some thin gel paint remover in a spray bottle to do a whole car. Lightly sprayed some on the door plate and let it sit until it wrinkled up and lifted and dried. It wiped off without bothering the factory silk screen printing at all. Probably lucky.
Quote from: msper on March 02, 2023, 03:25:03 PM
Quote from: J_Speegle on March 02, 2023, 03:14:27 PM
What kind of paint is on the plate? If you happen to know as it can make a difference to what may/will work to remove it
I think it is enamel...It was probably painted in the late 60s......is there a way to tell what it is?
If it was painted in the late 60's most likely it is lacquer. That is what a lot of shops were using because it dried quicker then the enamels used at the time. Lacquer paints are known to soften and chip off over a period of time compared to enamel paints which remain sturdy for a longer time. If that is the case it should give you a advantage when trying to remove.
Maybe oven cleaner, like used to remove paint from fiberglass fastback interior panels?
If it were chipping and if you could get under the layer the plastic razors might help also but that does not look the case in this example. Might help others though
I guess what I am going to do is work with the paint on the screw and on the door itself and see what happens before I ever touch the tag.
I'm going try cleaning mine in a pot of boiling water. If it doesn't work, I'll try soaking the data plate in lacquer thinner.
if you use thinner you will lose the original black. you will have a clean plate though.
You might try some Dot 3 brake fluid. Do what Jeff suggested and use a test piece. Try wetting the test piece but not soaking it. Don't expose the test piece for long before you wipe it free of brake fluid. It might remove the paint in layers which will allow you to control how much you remove per application. Be sure to neutralize the brake fluid by soaking it in water after you are finished. Then rinse it in alcohol.
We all know how brake fluid removes paint when we don't want it to, Maybe it will work in our favor for once.
Frank
Great idea starting with one of the screws for experimentation. I'm not sure if you plan to remove the plate from the door or not but the rivets would be a similar substrate as the tag, they might work well to experiment on. I like jeff's recommendation of enamel reducer, it can be very mild. You might even experiment with fingernail polish remover on a small spot. You can always work up to the really strong solvents like lacquer thinner if necessary. It is nice that you have the original tag in place in spite of the paint. Good luck.
finger nail polish might work as noted above.
I used citrus paint remover on my 66 tag turned out perfectly. No scrubbing just paper towel to remove so no scratches.
Quote from: Shawn on August 27, 2023, 08:15:13 PM
I used citrus paint remover on my 66 tag turned out perfectly. No scrubbing just paper towel to remove so no scratches.
How long did you leave it on?....it did not remove any of the original screen printing on the tag?.....do you know the brand you used?......Thanks!
Citristrip and it did not remove any of the black from the original tag
before and after pictures using Citristrip
Nice!! Have used it on other problems; good to know.