Quote:
Originally Posted by Arragonis
I have some plastic which I mistakenly sprayed with black acrylic matt paint a couple of years ago. The plastic is the soft stuff models are made of - its actually a car model I was painting at the time. I need to remove the paint without damaging the plastic and removing detail so I can paint it correctly. I've tried oven cleaner which removed enamel paint without any issue but is not doing much for the acrylic.
Anyone any ideas what may be safe to use ?
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You have two alternatives: solvents or abrasion.
The trick is to find which solvent will dissolve the paint without harming (melting) the plastic. I doubt that any solvent will work, as acrylic paint itself is related to plastic composition. Start with the least volatile solvents and progress to the more aggressive ones. Begin with naphtha (benzine). If it does nothing, try MEK (methyl ethyl ketone) or lacquer thinner, which is a blend of solvents. Don't try acetone alone, as it almost surely will wreck the plastic. Test cautiously in an inconspicuous area.
I'd wager that any solvent that dissolves the paint will also dissolve the plastic. The alternative is to use ultra fine sandpaper or rubbing compound (as a follow up) to wear the paint off through abrasion. If you are going to repaint the plastic it won't matter. But it's highly likely that removal of the existing paint will leave you with a dulled surface, no matter what you use.