Is EZ-Off still the hot ticket for removing painted lettering or is there now something better/safer? The paint is close to thirty years old and the lettering a little less. Thanks
First, use an old Terry cloth towel, wet it with white vinegar; rub the vinegar into the lettering, be patient. It takes some time (and vinegar!) The wonderful stuff will loosen 'recent' paint, possibly raising it by itself. If you have to use E-Z Off, apply it in the same way...leave it on too long and it'll take it to the skin.
Amazing what vinegar can be used for, never heard of that but will try it before the EZ method. Thanks
I have used the EZ Off to do this a few times . It works on some paints better than others . I noticed for me you can still see the letters , because of paint fade , but in a short time in bright sunlight , it all turns out well. As stated use caution and your PPE .
EZ-OFF works well for me. I like to mask off the surrounding area. Only have it on for 30 seconds at a time. Keep going over it. Eventually it will lift. Patience and caution.
I have used lacquer thinner with good results, it's slow but you can control the the time it is allowed to work. HRP
Thanks s55, I'm not really sure what this car was painted with. Am I correct, enamel reducer won't bother either lacquer or enamel but lacquer thinner will? This is old school paint I am sure from about 1990. Thanks again to all.
Yes, as a general rule lacquer thinner will not harm cured enamels and urethanes, and enamel reducer is safe on all, but do take care. The issue I think you will have is a "shadow" from the lettering after removal, because it has been on there 30 years or so. If so, you could letter back over it, hiding the shadow to a certain extent. Post some pics! Always cool to see what folks are doing, and don't disclose the non-HAMB friendly parts if there are any.
Used it to remove One-Shot stripping many times. The paint was older by a few years and there was no evidence of the One-Shot ever being there.
Thanks again to all who have made suggestions. I'm attaching a couple of photos, one of the actual lettering which I simply want to remove and another of the car which just returned to me in NY after 10+ years in Canada. This machine is certainly HAMB friendly and is a work of art built back in the 1980s by a builder who really knew what he was doing.
I used what is called an "acid brush" metal handle and short bristles. A 1/2" paint brush with the bristles cut about 1/2" works great too. I dipped in the ez off and brushed on the "cartoon" character I wanted off, a spot at a time, as it softened the paint the brush helped move it around and I would wipe it off with old tee shirt.
Thanks again to all who offered suggestions/help with this issue. After growing a pair of Jack Daniels gonads I jumped in with the EZ-off. It took a little effort, I think the heat gun did help a little and an old tooth brush did the scrubbing. It worked well with very little ghosting after the rubbing/polishing compound and wax. I didn't have enough JD to attempt the wet sanding suggestion, paint has never been my friend. I'm pleased with the results which are good especially considering the 30 year old paint and 35k miles with no fenders in the pavement, dirt and salt(Bonneville not road salt). Next project is swapping out the heim joints for poly bushings to cut down a little on the rattling, sounds like a rolling sprint car does until you flip the mag switch.
Old school paint from 1990? Haha How about just some rubbing compound or the 3m glaze hand rubbing liquid or lightly watersand with some 1500-1000 grit? Also test in an inconspicuous area first.
Slopok, Nobody will be writing on my car, it looks very nice now as it is. May try some very fine wetsanding as Abe mentioned and then a little more compound but it is pretty close right now. This is a very unusual car with a lot of history.
Wow, good to see Doug Anderson's old car back in the area. Doug lives near Binghamton, NY and is not hard to find if you need some information. The paint was done by Dave Moyer. Is the Coca-Cola bottle opener still in place on the frame? Regards, Ron
Thanks Ron, That sure is a close "clone" minus the flathead of course. Working on a couple of maintenance issues which is to be expected, this car has been together a long time in hot rod years. Things like suspension bushings, gaskets etc. need replacement and now looking to lower the seat a bit. Thanks again.
Wow, that is the car that got me interested in Traditional hot rods! I saw Doug pumping gas here in town and started talking to him. That car made quite an impact on me as a 16 year old kid, hard to believe that was 21 years ago! I see Doug a few time a year. If you would like to contact him if send me a P.M. Doug drove the car to Bonneville a couple times Also you may want to find the July 1999 American Rodder-
Hey Robert, Doug gave me that magazine and a pile of others that had the car shown including a calendar or two, That boy got around for sure. It has faired well considering everything, still running well with the valve seals leaking a bit, not a bad thing considering the unleaded gas. Next to go are the motor mounts, Doug made them out of hockey pucks, a good idea but their time has come. I'll get new pucks, probably go with the Islanders. May be time also for a dual master cylinder just for a little safety when I can find one that doesn't look so "new". Thanks!
I just found this photo. Me with the coupe in about '99. I was 17 Thank god I grew out of the Rock-A-Silly scene.
Larry, You are one funny guy. The lettering is all gone with no apparent damage, thanks to all who helped with suggestions. After many, many hours this little coupe is back among the living with new tires, brakes, fuel system and a lot of other small stuff. Now waiting to scare the public along with myself when the sun comes back. Too late now to give up all this silly stuff, even got another Harley and the FAA says I can still fly upside down. To all the negative Nancys, KMA. Semper Fi
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