Removing Paint from HDPE

[McCoy]

I recently acquired a Superchief and the majority of the lower tub had been painted black. Some of the paint had started flaking off and I decided yesterday to try & get it off. After about and hour and a half and what seemed like a thousand gallons of water, the majority of the paint was gone. However, the is still alot of paint left in various areas that the pressure washer wouldn't get off. What kind of paint remover can I use to get the remainder of the paint off that won't damage the body? I really don't want to have to end up repainting the tub.

McCoy

[LarryW]

Hey McCoy,
Well Im pretty sure there poly but if its ABS dont try it.... but if its poly which i believe all are then acetone would work. If its cheap spray paint gas can work too.
Larry

[George]

Try all the different paint thinners on the spare poly and see what happens. I don't think anything (within reason) will hurt the poly.

[Don]

We tried a bunch of different kinds of thinner and paint remover, including acetone on the bottom half of Bud's racer. Nothing seemed to work worth a darn on the black part of the camo job. I hated to do it, but I ended up putting black paint back over most of the bottom half once again. Let us know if you find anything that works, McCoy.

[LarryW]

We tried a bunch of different kinds of thinner and paint remover, including acetone on the bottom half of Bud's racer. Nothing seemed to work worth a darn on the black part of the camo job. I hated to do it, but I ended up putting black paint back over most of the bottom half once again. Let us know if you find anything that works, McCoy.

I had that same problem with black, I think it may bake on deeper or something?

[lewis]

McCoy don't know if it will work but how about a heat gun? Keep it moving and try not to concentrate it in one spot long. This may work, i know on a couple of posts it brings back the original color.

Lewis

[Mike]

What about carb cleaner? I got some on my painted body today by mistake and it came off. I don't know if it will eat the body though?

[6X6]

OK, spot test brake fluid, I doubt it will hurt the HDPE but I'm not sure. But that stuff will remove most paints not made especially to resist it. If it works glove up, wipe it on with a rag and let it sit. Paint will bubble and should wipe away with a rag, but the Pressure washer on a low setting should do it much faster.

Alternative. ZEP Commercial Cleaner/Degreaser in the purple bottle removed much of the black paint on my lower ABS tub, it came off with a GARDEN HOSE. It didn't do a darn thing to the frog green on the top though, but it's my favorite degreaser besides Simple Green (More powerfull than Green but not safe on some stuff, should spot check HDPE but should be fine)

Good Luck!

[fasteddiesllc]

oven cleaner

I used easy off oven cleaner and the car wash on mine...did the trick. also takes grease off the trans ,sprockets and motor...does turn the aluminum a dark grey color..not a big deal if you are going to paint it....

[6X6]

I used easy off oven cleaner and the car wash on mine...did the trick. also takes grease off the trans ,sprockets and motor...does turn the aluminum a dark grey color..not a big deal if you are going to paint it....

Just don't leave it on long at all. The grey color is the decay of the aluminum, Easy-Off will eat aluminum quite readily. If you have anodized aluminum it will remove the anodizing quick.