Removing spray paint from plastic

[Uncle Gump]

So... one of the stores I maintain was broken into two nights ago. I was there yesterday to fix a couple things but they actually spray painted the plastic domes on the cameras with cheap black spray paint. I tried test spots with some brake clean I had on the truck along with a bottle of dollars store nail polish remover. Both of those fog the cover.

Any recommendations on what won't hurt the clear plastic but get the paint off?

 

[Ramcharger90]

There was a paint stripper that came with the duracoat for an old rifle I restored once. It took the paint right off the plastic. Maybe look at that stuff.

Or easy off I remember reading once.

 

[sgtsandman]

Rubbing alcohol can remove paint. It's takes some rubbing but it will remove it.

 

[duffy]

Mineral spirits or de-natured alcohol and some elbow grease might do the trick without damaging the plastic. Paint strippers etc will damage the plastic.

 

[Snoranger]

Brake fluid... it won’t hurt most plastics.

 

[Shadowrider6661]

This is just a suggestion. Since the lenses are plastic, you can use a fine rubbing compound to remove the paint. I've used it to restore old emblems on cars that are impossible to find. Any good plastic can be polished crystal clear using a fine rubbing compound for automotive paints, I use a dremel with a soft polishing wheel to make it easier.

 

[Eddo Rogue]

This is just a suggestion. Since the lenses are plastic, you can use a fine rubbing compound to remove the paint. I've used it to restore old emblems on cars that are impossible to find. Any good plastic can be polished crystal clear using a fine rubbing compound for automotive paints, I use a dremel with a soft polishing wheel to make it easier.

This. A headlight polishing kit will have it all

 

[Shadowrider6661]

That'll work too, just didn't cross my mind. Sucks to get old, the mind goes first.

 

[Uncle Gump]

I wish I would have brought them home with me to try some of these methods. But I left them in the store.

I used easy off oven cleaner before to remove some painted on lettering.

I got a bag of tricks to try tomorrow including oven cleaner... alcohol... rubbing compound... I'm also thinking maybe some Coleman fuel.

 

[Snoranger]

I wish I would have brought them home with me to try some of these methods. But I left them in the store.

I used easy off oven cleaner before to remove some painted on lettering.

I got a bag of tricks to try tomorrow including oven cleaner... alcohol... rubbing compound... I'm also thinking maybe some Coleman fuel.

The guys who restore old radio control cars use brake fluid to strip the paint off the plastic bodies before they repaint them.

 

[Uncle Gump]

I forgot to add that I have a bottle of brake fluid too. Thanks.

I was going to just order new domes... but the boss said try to clean them first. I get paid by the hour... whatever he wants.

 

[Curious Hound]

They make cleaners for removing graffiti that would work. But they might cost as much as buying new domes, or maybe not.

 

[Roert42]

Goof off or goo gone.

 

[Uncle Gump]

Hell... never thought of goof off.

In the bag...

 

[black_demon69]

Bug and tar remover as long as paint is fresh. Or Novus plastic polish https://www.amazon.com/Novus-7100-Plastic-Polish-Kit/dp/B002UCYRZU/?tag=959media-20

 

[Uncle Gump]

I'm probably not getting back to that store until next week. The problem got a bit worse then just cleaning the domes. It got broken into a second time... the same people... but this time they spray painted the cameras themselves. Looks like it will get new cameras now.

Cops picked up two people yesterday... a recently fired assistant manager and a crew person still employed there at the time of the second break in. Seems they would leave the back door to the service hall unlocked and use a piece of cardboard to defeat the lock on the service hall entry door.

I guess what they didn't take into account was the surrounding businesses and their cameras...

 

[JOLENE_THE_RANGER]

brake fluid for sure