Primarily Petroliana Shop Talk Forums Shop Talk Petroliana Forums General Petroliana Discussion How do I remove paint from an Enamel sign?

I have an Enamel Sign and I need to remove the paint on one side. What is the best way without damaging the sign?

Mike

is it porcelain enamel? if so, paint stripper will not damage the sign, and will only take a few minutes to remove.

IT'S AMAZING HOW OFTEN THIS QUESTION GETS ASKED! FEW X's A YEAR. ALWAYS A GREAT SUBJECT THOUGH.

I USE SPRAY ON CITRI-STRIP FROM HOME DEPOT. NICE ORANGE ODOR AND A PUTTY KNIFE FOR THE REMOVAL OF HEAVY AREAS AND ON OLD TERRYCLOTH TOWEL RAG TO WIPE OFF THE REMAINING GOOP. WASH IT OFF WITH WATER AND WIPE THE REMAINING BITS 'N PIECES OFF WITH "0000" STEEL WOOL AND LACQUER THINNERS.

>>>> ALWAYS WEAR PROTECTIVE GLOVES!!!!

It looks like there is a primer and then a layer of paint, will that effect what way I need to strip the paint?

ASSUMING IT IS A PORCELAIN ENAMEL SIGN, USING PAINT STRIPPER SHOULD REMOVE EVERYTHING AT ONCE. IF NOT DO IT ADDITIONALLY IF NEEDED. KEEP LACQUER THINNER AND A SINGLE EDGE RAZOR BLADE ON AN ANGLE TO PERSUADE THE REMOVAL OF WHAT MAY NOT COME UNDONE.

Gonna try it. I will post results.

Mike

Maybe the Owners/moderators could add a how to section for such discussions.

I agree with doc.
Citristrip-put it on, go do something else for a few minutes, it bubbles that paint up, a lot just falls off then rinse the rest.

Plus it smells nice and is biodegradable.

You do need to rinse with thinner though to get the rest off but not much is needed.

I WOULD NOT USE A RAZOR BLADE AT ANY ANGLE ON A SIGN.

Here's my Coke sign in process, the gray stuff is what had to be rinsed off after the paint bubble and peeled.



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Looks like that's going to clean up nice! If you start rubbing with Steel wool, make SURE it is 0000.

I use aircraft remover (use a respirator!), it's the strongest stuff I've found.

MY STRIPPED 1935 COCA-COLA SIGN FROM A FEW YEARS AGO.
BOUGHT IT FOR 2-DIGITS, SOLD IT FOR 4!

AS PURCHASED.....


AFTER THE STRIPPER AND LACQUER THINNER BATH.....


IT TOOK ROUGHLY 2-HOURS TO GET IT ALL PURDY!

BOUGHT THIS CALSO ON EBAY A FEW YEARS AGO AS WELL. PICKED IT UP IN MASS KNOWING ONE SIDE HAD AN UNIDENTIFIABLE AMOUNT OF "OTHER THAN" PAINT CRUD ON IT.

BEFORE.....


DURING THE USE OF A TORCH AND A PUTTY KNIFE......


AFTER SEVERAL HOURS OF BLODD, SWEAT AND TEARS AND A THINNER WIPE DOWN.....


TURNS OUT THE CRUDDY SIDE WAS BETTER THAN THE EXPOSED SIDE DISPLAYED IN THE AUCTION.

What if the sign was painted and not porcelain? How would you strip that?

Torch?

A painted sign may or may not clean up if it's been painted over. I've heard of people using vegetable oil. It would be easy to damage the original paint, but I guess what do you have to lose?

Obviously paint stripper is a bad idea on a painted sign. Unless, of course, you want to "restore" it and repaint everything that was there...

Wes

Rolled on paint.