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Removing 3 year old Sign Paint from Windows
- Thread starter Texas_Signmaker
- Start date
Texas_Signmaker
Very Active Signmaker
So a wide paint scrapper and a 16 year old who otherwise would sleep till 3pm? I got both this summer.
Not sure I'd worry about chemicals... the jobs are located in the toilet of Texas.
Not sure I'd worry about chemicals... the jobs are located in the toilet of Texas.
SignosaurusRex
Active Member
The first thing you want to do is to test 'bond of paint to glass' with a fresh razor and soapy (slick) water.
If the lettering is on the exterior glass... Give the painted areas several liberal wipes of Lacquer Thinner to soften the paint. The paint may even crinkle and nearly fall off on it's own which would be helpful. You can also use some 0 to 000 grade steel wool with soapy water to buff/abrade the surface of the paint before applying the Lacquer Thinner. The steel wool and soapy water method will not damage the glass and will also allow the solvent to 'get in to' the paint. You can follow up with a fresh razor and soapy water. You only need enough soap in the water to make it lightly slick so that the razor will glide and shave the paint easily without scarring the glass.
If the lettering is on the interior... you will need to use the wet razor method unless you can make proper arrangements to employ the solvent method. Unfortunately the wet razor method alone can be much more time consuming.
If the lettering is on the exterior glass... Give the painted areas several liberal wipes of Lacquer Thinner to soften the paint. The paint may even crinkle and nearly fall off on it's own which would be helpful. You can also use some 0 to 000 grade steel wool with soapy water to buff/abrade the surface of the paint before applying the Lacquer Thinner. The steel wool and soapy water method will not damage the glass and will also allow the solvent to 'get in to' the paint. You can follow up with a fresh razor and soapy water. You only need enough soap in the water to make it lightly slick so that the razor will glide and shave the paint easily without scarring the glass.
If the lettering is on the interior... you will need to use the wet razor method unless you can make proper arrangements to employ the solvent method. Unfortunately the wet razor method alone can be much more time consuming.
Texas_Signmaker
Very Active Signmaker
I'm sure whatever law that would be broken by spraying soapy water everywhere, would be better then the ones he's been breaking...
I might be the only adult he knows that doesn't collect disability or vacation in Lew Sterrett every now and then.
SignosaurusRex
Active Member
Creighton
New Member
I'll chime in that Home Depot used to have a nice little scraper with 3" or so wide blades with rounded corners meant to not scratch glass. $9 or so as I recall, with a bunch of spare blades.
Hear you on the chemicals, but there are some eco friendly strippers, like Franmar's SOY-gel stripper. May be worth a squirt or two from something drain safe on the shelf at Home Depot (if there is anything) while the 16 year old is there buying your nifty scraper.
Texas_Signmaker
Very Active Signmaker
I got one of those last year and used it to remove vinyl floors, thanks for reminding me about it!
Billct2
Active Member
Only tried Easy Off (original formula) on boat transoms. It worked, but sometimes left a yellow haze which too a bit of work to get rid of. I don't think I'd try it on a painted surface. There are plenty of "eco friendly safe" paint strippers around now that I would try first
Good point... Just thinking out loud... I wonder if a eco friendly paint stripper and a power spray washer would be the way to go...
Sidney
New Member
I agree with BillC2 (use razor scrapers) Not the large one because they are very difficult to lay flat on glass. You need to use the regular 3" blades (purchase at Home Depot along with several 100 pk blades)...yes, it takes time, but it is the quickest, non staining, least messy approach. I have extensive experience with window paintings application and removal. You have to charge them according for the labor. One window you can go through 7-8 blades...the paint is very easy to remove with sharp blades.
Home Depot:
1) Titan 100-Pack of Razor Blades-TIT11038 - The Home Depot $7.95 x 5
2) Lisle Razor Blade Style Scraper $10.45 x amount of workers
JR's
New Member
I haven't read all of the post so I am not sure if it's been mentioned before.
You might want to spray some soapy water on the windowsill and surrounding moldings.
This way when you are scraping the paint off the window and it falls, it will not stick to
the windowsill and surrounding moldings.
One job I did not do this and the paint that I scraped off the window stuck to the paint
that was on the molding. It would not come off and I had to repaint the surface.
You might want to spray some soapy water on the windowsill and surrounding moldings.
This way when you are scraping the paint off the window and it falls, it will not stick to
the windowsill and surrounding moldings.
One job I did not do this and the paint that I scraped off the window stuck to the paint
that was on the molding. It would not come off and I had to repaint the surface.
Texas_Signmaker
Very Active Signmaker
Is this a different kind of paint then is regularly used for long-term lettering?