How best to remove painted pin strip names and symbols

gator1606 · Oct 18, 2019

I bought a used Trike, in excellent shape, but has painted names on back and some religious symbols that I want to remove. What is the best way to remove them without damage to the clear coat?

thanks,

bill P a/k/a gator1606

LadyonaMission · Oct 18, 2019

Willam, I can't help you but I can offer you a Big Texas :welcome:

rhino 2 · Oct 18, 2019

William Welcome to Trike-Talk.....:wave4:.....

1dn5up · Oct 18, 2019

:welcome: William , try white compound, even after removal , it will always be there as a ghost image! Unfortunately a repaint will be needed.

FuzzyWuzHe · Oct 18, 2019

Welcome to the Gang from Western Colorado.

You might try Easy Off Oven Cleaner, spray on a micro fiber rag and rub ... it has worked for me before ... just be careful and test it in an inconspicuous spot first, not all clear coats are alike.

peteg59 · Oct 18, 2019

Perhaps a custom vinyl graphic wrap can be made to cover what you're trying to "erase"?

Other then that, depending on what type of paint was used and how long it's had to cure, as Frankie said, only a repaint will truly get it gone.

Good luck, and welcome to the site William...

leo3wheel · Oct 18, 2019

Have heard folks talk about acetone.

Gorilla · Oct 18, 2019

William welcome aboard

Sully · Oct 18, 2019

Welcome from North Ga. .:wave4:

trikeman · Oct 19, 2019

:wave4:

hogcowboy · Oct 20, 2019

leo3wheel said:
Have heard folks talk about acetone.

I would think acetone would start getting to any clear-coat and dull the finish. No?:Shrug:

FuzzyWuzHe · Oct 20, 2019

hogcowboy said:
I would think acetone would start getting to any clear-coat and dull the finish. No?:Shrug:

Yes .... eventually the clear coat will yellow over time if acetone is applied ... did this to a 1 ton dually truck ... white ... got some overspray from a trailer I was working on, on the truck, came right off with acetone ... within months the clear started to yellow ... about a year it was cracking and pealing ... ended up getting the whole rear of the truck repainted.

trike lady · Oct 20, 2019

Hello and :welcome: to Trike Talk, glad to have U with us. :clapping:

I brought the painted part to an auto body shop where they used compounds that would not damage the clear coat but remove the names from the trunk lid.

paws · Oct 20, 2019

What was the name of that stuff that ‘Zook recently (either August or September I think) highly recommended to remove overspray? He buys it at either Home Depot or Lowe’s. Said it would not damage the bike’s paint... I can’t remember the name of it... would it help in this situation?

Gorilla · Oct 20, 2019

Texan · Oct 21, 2019

No matter what different products you use you're always going to have a ghost image of the names/designs. A re-paint is about the only sure method of covering it up. Sorry !!

Welsome aboard !!

8~\o

FuzzyWuzHe · Oct 21, 2019

Dang Paws ... totally forgot about that ZEP stuff.

I used it on my little trailer and the Toyota.

This is the stuff:

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B001PNEVK6/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_asin_title_o05_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

It did work well on the overspray ... not sure how well it would have worked on long dried pinstripes and other things. At less than $20 it is worth a try.

Oldrodder · Oct 21, 2019

FuzzyWuzHe said:
Welcome to the Gang from Western Colorado.

You might try Easy Off Oven Cleaner, spray on a micro fiber rag and rub ... it has worked for me before ... just be careful and test it in an inconspicuous spot first, not all clear coats are alike.

I once watched a pinstriper called "Jake" remove a bad striping job on a '34 Ford Streetrod with Easy Off oven cleaner before re-striping the car. Didn't appear to leave a "ghost" image.

As Fuzzy said, proceed with caution!

FuzzyWuzHe · Oct 21, 2019

Oldrodder said:
I once watched a pinstriper called "Jake" remove a bad striping job on a '34 Ford Streetrod with Easy Off oven cleaner before re-striping the car. Didn't appear to leave a "ghost" image.

As Fuzzy said, proceed with caution!

That's where I learned of it ... had my 01 red wing pin striped ... that night it poured and the pin stripping got weird looking. The pin stripper used easy off to remove them so he could redo them ... no charge ... very nice vendor ... he got a nice tip ...