Primarily Petroliana Shop Talk Forums Shop Talk Petroliana Forums General Petroliana Discussion Varnish Removal from Gallon Markers

I've seen suggestions for lacquer thinner, Oven cleaner, acetone, MEK, Oxiclean, carb cleaner, denatured alcohol, gasoline, Toluene, Xylene, Naptha, turpentine and diesel fuel.

For every post where someone claims it's worked like a miracle I see where someone says it was ineffective.

I need to be cautious so as not to remove the paint or fade it.

There has to be a way that the professionals use that does not involve hours of tedious labor and yet preserves the paint. Any suggestion?

American Gallon Markers

Don't we all wish it was that easy! LOL

I have used Ironout with some success.I just did a set like that after you soak them dont rub on the numbers they may come off. marty

You could also buy new ones

I don't know who you would consider a "professional", but I've been restoring gas pumps for more than half my lifetime, and I've gotta tell you...the paint on those markers is not salvageable. You either look for a better set or get ready to do some REALLY tedious work in repainting them. I've done a number of Boyle Daytons that have the same style marker and I'll strip the paint and then take them to my air brusher and have them re-painted. It's work and costs some $$$ but it looks amazing when done. If you find a set that has only minor oxidation, then you can use the Iron-Out method already mentioned which works quite well...but as already noted, if you try to scrub the numbers after they soak, the paint will come off.

Never tried on markers but try soaking in simple green. I start all of my restoration cleaning with simple green. I soaked this gunky varnish covered VR totalizer cover and it cleaned up beautiful.



Jeff