I Need Help! Cleaning paint off clear plastic.

[Harlock]

I am working on the Merc CLK Amg DTM, it is coming along great. Today I was painting the windshield. I masked it as best as I could but some paint still bled through. Can someone please tell me how to remove paint from clear plastic, without melting/destroying the piece. Thanks for the help.

[Sigmaman]

Strip the entire window as you would ordinary model styrene and repaint.I cant speak for CCastrol Super Clean or acetone basesd products but the other popular paint strippers wont harm the plastic.check the FAQ,s.

[pflau]

you need to tell what paint it is.. there are different methods for stripping/touching up different kinds of paints.

[Harlock]

I used Tamiya semi gloss black spray. Thanks for the help so far.

[pflau]

Originally Posted by Harlock

I used Tamiya semi gloss black spray. Thanks for the help so far.

you can try stripping it with 91% isopropyl alcohol.. $.99 from your local drug store.

when you mask the window.. make sure the tape sticks all the way and there is no gap.

also.. when you spray.. spray a LIGHT MISTY coat first to seal the tape.. after that light coat has dries a little then continue spraying and finish up.

if the first coat is too wet paint would leak underneath the tape.

[primera man]

[quote=pflau]

also.. when you spray.. spray a LIGHT MISTY coat first to seal the tape.. after that light coat has dries a little then continue spraying and finish up.

QUOTE]
Also, try a clear spray first as this will help seal the tape edges.

[Harlock]

Thanks for the help. Since this is clear plastic will the alchohol leave any residue that can't be cleaned off or fog the glass? Thanks again for the help.

[V1nce]

just tried some isopropyl on clear plastic at work and it hasnt fogged it. dont know how well it remove paint thou

[David_]

hmm.... i made similar error.... althought i painted too much black.... what will remove acrylic paints (tamiya acrylic)...

would water? or water dispersant? or do i have to go buy a product?

[pflau]

Originally Posted by David_

hmm.... i made similar error.... althought i painted too much black.... what will remove acrylic paints (tamiya acrylic)...

would water? or water dispersant? or do i have to go buy a product?

try fantastik first.. if that does work 91% isopropyl alcohol would take it right off..

and the good thing about alcohol is that its totally non-toxic.

[Harlock]

Alright, I was playing around with it today, because I want to get this fixed before I finish the model. I already have everything painted, just needs to be assembled. I found out that brake fluid works wonders! No fogging and with a little elbox grease comes right off. Now my question, the problem I am having is that I am using a rag with a little fluid on it and rubbing it off, but this is getting some of the surronding paint as well. I thought about masking, but figured that if paint bled through the brake fluid probably would too. So my most recent Idea is to take a small paint brush paint it on leave it sit, then wipe off with the rag. Are there any other suggestions as to how I may get this done and looking nice.

I really got to thank you guys for all the help. I don't have too many posts here, but I am looking at the board every day and your skill never ceases to amaze me. It has given me a lot of great ideas and I thank you for it. I plan to post pics as soon as I get it finished. For my third model I think that this is turning out great.

Thanks.

[Harlock]

anyone have any suggestions?

[pflau]

why not just remove the extra paint without worrying about removing the surrounding paint and just remask and repaint?? you would never get a nice enough looking edge just by carefully removing the extra paint anyway..

[Harlock]

Didn't have school this morning and that is what I figured out I would have to do. I will remask it after class. Thanks for the help.

[Merkava]

If solvents don't work, you can resort to drastic measures with clear plastic... Sometimes I'll scrape away unwanted paint with the tip of my x-acto blade, then dip the whole piece in a jar of Future Floor Polish. It is an acrylic you can buy in any Wal-Mart or K-Mart or whatever, and it dries incredibly thin and glossy. It also takes out small sanding scratches or fogging (from my experience).