Removing Latex Paint

[tumbleweed56]

I have a postwar car that has latex paint on it. I have scrapped off quite a bit off, but I am going to have use a chemical to get the rest off. I hate to use mineral spirits or paint thinner and risk damaging the original paint, but I don't know what else to use. Any ideas?

Thanks.

[Dave Farquhar]

I've removed latex paint from a lot of things it shouldn't be on (MPC-era Lionel cars, household vent covers and power outlet covers, etc.) with generic Pine-Sol knockoffs. The knock-offs are supposed to be better for this than the real thing.

I've heard war stories about removing overpaint from painted items like postwar and prewar-era cars. Basically you have to work very, very slowly--apply some, rub a little, then wash right off with water, and quit as soon as you see paint. I've heard the process described as scary at best, and the success rate isn't anywhere near 100%.

If someone else has a better process, I know I'm game to hear it.

[brianel027]

Well this all depends too on whether you are going to "strip" the car entirely or you are just trying to remove the latex paint on top and hopefully have the orginal paint scheme underneath left intact.

Original Pine-Sol (and even the knock-off's) do a fine job at removing paint. But again, my experience is stripping the care entirely for total repainting. Depending on the car (the way it was made, painted, etc) it takes a good day or two of soaking in the Pine-Sol to do the job. In this department, I've also used automotive brake fluid to strip down cars.

I would imagine something strong like mineral spiritis has a good chance of damaging the plastic underneath the paint. I know a guy who has repainted and restored for years using the same methods with good results. For some reason, a postwar Lionel shell he was redoing just sort of melted... got all warped and disfigured by the stripper. He called me and asked why, since he'd done so many others the very same way? Probably some defect in the plastic or possibly it was a repro of an original.

But there's always some risk factor when trying to remove paint from a train car, especially if you want to keep the original paint below.

[lionelsoni]

Latex paint removal was recently discussed: http://www.trains.com/community/forum/topic.asp?TOPIC_ID=29561

Unfortunately, it seems that it is very difficult, particularly without removing whatever other kind of paint it is applied over.

[underworld]

There is a product called "Goof-Off" that is formulated specifically to remove dried latex paint. Since your original finish is a baked enamel.....there shouldn't be any problems. Of course you will want to test an area first. A small container is less than $5.00. It's available at most hardware, paint, and discount stores.
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