Taillight paint removal

Anyone know how to remove candy apple red paint from clear tails? I tried paint thinner and that didn't work. I'm not sure what kind of base the paint is.

try heating it up with a hairdryer and then try pulling the paint off slowly

You do NOT SCRAPE plastic you will ruin them.

I used brake cleaner on a rag and a little elbow grease. Just make sure you rinse the taillights off with soap and water and WEAR GLOVES!

Brake Clear, eh? Is that a brand name? I'll look for it if it works well.

Try Mineral Spirits, but it if you look on the can, it will say 100% Paint Thinner and if you look at Paint Thinner it will say 100% Mineral Spirits. Anyway, they are pretty much the same thing. Get some Strip Ease, that will work. Was it latex or oil-based paint?

If it was in a spray can, like spray paint, then it is oil-based. All spray paint is oil-based. Try Strip Ease, EZ Strip or something. It will be next to the spray paint at your local Home Depot or Lowes. I should know b/c I've worked at both of them!

No you're wrong, the spray paint must not have been oil-based, because the paint thinner says it would've taken it off. Like I said I don't know what base the paint is of, but obviously not oil. And the paint thinner doesnt say mineral spirits so maybe I'll try that if the brake clear doesn't work.

[QUOTE]Originally posted by CXHatchback
No you're wrong, the spray paint must not have been oil-based, because the paint thinner says it would've taken it off. Like I said I don't know what base the paint is of, but obviously not oil. And the paint thinner doesnt say mineral spirits so maybe I'll try that if the brake clear doesn't work. [/QUOTE

LISTEN! Damn, paints are either latex (acrylic) or oil-based. Some spray paints D) come in latex form. If so, then you should be able to clean up w/ warm water, soap, and elbow grease. That would be my hunch since Mineral Spirits and Paint Thinner are ONLY for oil-based paints and aren't doing anything for you. Try using warm soapy water, a sponge, and scrubbing the hell out of it. It should come right off.

ok ok, I'll give it a shot. But if I scratch my tails, your ass is buying me new ones! :D

OK, as the self proclaimed in-house tail-light painting expert, I will school you in the ways of the DIY tails. Here's the secret: EASY OFF Heavy Duty Oven Cleaner (in the yellow can). Thats it. Here's how to do it. Get some gloves take everything outside, having a hose handy would be great. Put the tails on some cardboard or whatever. Spray the hell out of them, it will foam white. Let the tails sit for about 20 minutes then take the hose and run water over the tails and the paint will just peel right off. You may have to do it twice if you encounter any little stubborn areas. When finished removing the paint, make sure to clean the tails with hot water and soap. I'd let them sit for a day and then repaint them if thats what you are planning on.

Ok you seem you know what you're doing, so I'll give your way a shot first, thanks!:D

I guess that 'ole soap and water did it! Yep, YEP, my job here is done.....

Originally posted by nemesls_2000
I guess that 'ole soap and water did it! Yep, YEP, my job here is done.....
Soap and water doesn't work. If that were the case then everytime I wash my car the tails would fade.

Ok damnit, I'm in the process of doing this to my taillights right now. I've tried paint thinner, laquer thinner, brake cleaner, wax and silicone remover and nothing. I'm going to try soap and water and see how that goes.

EDIT: ok it took me about 2 minutes to realize soap and water isn't going to work. Anybody have some normal red/clears for sale?

HELLLLLOOOOOOO!!!! Oven Cleaner!!! Read my above post!!! I promise you it will work, I've used it 3 times with excellent results!!!

do you think paint thinner would damage the plastic? just wondering

Originally posted by Xplocivic
HELLLLLOOOOOOO!!!! Oven Cleaner!!! Read my above post!!! I promise you it will work, I've used it 3 times with excellent results!!!

lol, thanks dude! Yeah I tried it and it worked perfectly! Damn, that shit is strong. I didn't like the idea of it on my skin. Thanks again. :D


Originally posted by grrltoy
do you think paint thinner would damage the plastic? just wondering

I tried it on my tails and it had no effect on anything. But my friend tried it on his interior plastic pieces and it melted and warped the hell out of them. I guess it all depends on the type of plastic you're using it on.

No problem. I'm here to help. It worked pretty fast huh? I love that stuff. I got some on my hand and it kinda burned a little, but I ran my hand under the faucet and it was alright. A dude in a hobby shop told me about the oven cleaner and at first I was like, "this crap isn't gonna work, nothing has!" and then voila! magic paint remover! Are you gonna repaint them? Thats what I had to do, cause mine were fading a little.

Yeah, I just repainted them today. I had clears that I bought off ebay that were painted by some guy half-red. But he did a half-ass job apinting them and made them too dark and the line was all wobbly. SO I stripped them and painted them myself this afternoon. Came out awesome.

Well hopefully my mom has some oven cleaner cause I'm going to look http://forums.off-topic.net/images/smilies/fruit.gif going into the store buying it.

holy fuck...you can use oven cleaner...no shit...I'm going to wipe some dust off some old ass tail lights and try some oven cleaner....See if I can sell some clear lights to some ricer.

CXHatch, let's see a pic.

MEK will get it off w/o a doubt!

Originally posted by nemesls_2000
MEK will get it off w/o a doubt!

Let it go, bro. The paint's been off and I've already repainted them. Try to keep up. :rolleyes: