The Ford Barn

firechief5215 · 10-18-2015, 07:16 PM

Our model a is a fire truck and has a fire pump on it. Over the years the id plates have been painted over many times. We need to get the information from these plates to rebuild the pump Any idea how to remove the years of paint. I don't think a few of the plates were stamped /

SeaSlugs · 10-18-2015, 07:32 PM

hmmm this is going to be tricky...i do know for a fact brake fluid will remove paint from chrome pieces without harming the chrome one bit...but obviously may affect any letters or numbers your tryign to preserve...

googiling around people havent had much luck. my guess would be go quickly and lightly with paint thinner on a rag and lightly rub the paint layers away and hope the screen printing ink or however they made the labels is a bit tougher than whatever it was painted over with...

Larry Jenkins · 10-18-2015, 08:44 PM

The best paint removers are Methylene Chloride. (Semi-clear paste.) Several coats and let set until "bubbly."

Wear Nitrile gloves.

Larry

Stew Masche · 10-18-2015, 09:31 PM

If you go to a 'hobby shop' you can buy a VERY MILD paint stripper that is made for using on plastics, it is very mild, and will work on any type of paint. You may have to go over several times as it removes the coats of paint, but you can stop when you get to the point where you can get the information you need. I have even used it to remove paint and have gotten down to decals without affecting them. Be patient, work carefully, and you should get the results you want.

Best Regards,

Stew Masche

Mike V. Florida · 10-18-2015, 11:58 PM

Wet sand and easy does it!

runnin hot · 10-19-2015, 12:04 AM

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I used easy off oven cleaner on one with good results, and wiped off the numbers on the second one, it really depends on how they stamped it and if they made any sort of indentation in the plate...or just used a stamp of some sort.

Dollar Bill · 10-19-2015, 05:26 AM

"I don't think a few of the plates were stamped"

All chemical paint strippers will not discriminate between paint layers. If the ID data was printed type as opposed to embossed or stamped, you will lose the information in the stripping process.

Polishing compound will slowly remove layers of paint - It will also be the most time consuming but it does offer the most control.

firechief5215 · 10-19-2015, 07:15 PM

Thank you for all your replies Ill let you know what works Thanks

SeaSlugs · 10-19-2015, 07:34 PM

maybe try a small corner where crucial data most likely isnt with different methods and see what works.

10-18-2015, 07:16 PM	#1
firechief5215 Senior Member Join Date: Aug 2012 Location: Houston Delaware Posts: 202	Removing paint from plates Our model a is a fire truck and has a fire pump on it. Over the years the id plates have been painted over many times. We need to get the information from these plates to rebuild the pump Any idea how to remove the years of paint. I don't think a few of the plates were stamped /

10-18-2015, 07:32 PM	#2
SeaSlugs Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Central, IL Posts: 3,968	Re: Removing paint from plates hmmm this is going to be tricky...i do know for a fact brake fluid will remove paint from chrome pieces without harming the chrome one bit...but obviously may affect any letters or numbers your tryign to preserve... googiling around people havent had much luck. my guess would be go quickly and lightly with paint thinner on a rag and lightly rub the paint layers away and hope the screen printing ink or however they made the labels is a bit tougher than whatever it was painted over with... __________________ 1929 Model AA - Need long splash aprons! Last edited by SeaSlugs; 10-18-2015 at 07:42 PM.

10-18-2015, 08:44 PM	#3
Larry Jenkins BANNED Join Date: Feb 2015 Location: East Central Iowa Posts: 1,275	Re: Removing paint from plates The best paint removers are Methylene Chloride. (Semi-clear paste.) Several coats and let set until "bubbly." Wear Nitrile gloves. Larry

10-18-2015, 09:31 PM	#4
Stew Masche Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2014 Location: Lake Mills, WI Posts: 261	Re: Removing paint from plates If you go to a 'hobby shop' you can buy a VERY MILD paint stripper that is made for using on plastics, it is very mild, and will work on any type of paint. You may have to go over several times as it removes the coats of paint, but you can stop when you get to the point where you can get the information you need. I have even used it to remove paint and have gotten down to decals without affecting them. Be patient, work carefully, and you should get the results you want. Best Regards, Stew Masche __________________ Always one bad decision away from a good time.

10-18-2015, 11:58 PM	#5
Mike V. Florida Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Florida between Sarasota and TampaSouth Florida Posts: 14,054	Re: Removing paint from plates Wet sand and easy does it! __________________ What's right about America is that although we have a mess of problems, we have great capacity - intellect and resources - to do some thing about them. - Henry Ford II

10-19-2015, 12:04 AM	#6
runnin hot Junior Member Join Date: Oct 2015 Location: Sutton, Ontario Posts: 21	Re: Removing paint from plates Sponsored Links (Register now to hide all advertisements) I used easy off oven cleaner on one with good results, and wiped off the numbers on the second one, it really depends on how they stamped it and if they made any sort of indentation in the plate...or just used a stamp of some sort. __________________ "Now what the heck was that noise????"

10-19-2015, 05:26 AM	#7
Dollar Bill Senior Member Join Date: Oct 2014 Location: Keystone Heights, FL Posts: 647	Re: Removing paint from plates "I don't think a few of the plates were stamped" All chemical paint strippers will not discriminate between paint layers. If the ID data was printed type as opposed to embossed or stamped, you will lose the information in the stripping process. Polishing compound will slowly remove layers of paint - It will also be the most time consuming but it does offer the most control. __________________ I Love Anything That Turns Money Into Noise Last edited by Dollar Bill; 10-19-2015 at 05:29 AM. Reason: Clarity

10-19-2015, 07:15 PM	#8
firechief5215 Senior Member Join Date: Aug 2012 Location: Houston Delaware Posts: 202	Re: Removing paint from plates Thank you for all your replies Ill let you know what works Thanks

10-19-2015, 07:34 PM	#9
SeaSlugs Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Central, IL Posts: 3,968	Re: Removing paint from plates maybe try a small corner where crucial data most likely isnt with different methods and see what works. __________________ 1929 Model AA - Need long splash aprons!