Removing paint?????????

[puccini]

The guy that owned my /7 before me painted the front engine cover black

Crappy job too.

Whats the best (and easiest) way to get the paint off the cover without
messing up the alloy in the process.

I'm scared to use stripper and blasting is out of the question.

Gerry

[manicmechanic]

Easy-Off oven cleaner will strip paint, as well as brake fluid. The oven cleaner may be a little more agressive. You can even get the lemon-scented stuff and do it in the basement. Get some cardboard, place the piece, spray liberally, wait for it to bubble up, then use rubber gloves and an old toothbrush, or even some Scotch-Brite to scrub away the residue. Rinse well, re-apply if necessary.

I would use this method on model cars when the paint wasn't just right.

[28796]

Any liquid that will strip the paint will discolor the alloy. The ideal method would be bead blasting or soda blasting as it will not only remove the paint but also leave the alloy with an "as new" look.

[Isamemon]

soda blast
one of the better investments I have made
...........soda
and it is not real expensive for the home wrench turner
doing small jobs
just check out harbor freight
but they wont list it as soda blaster
they will list it as a sand blaster or something like that
the one I got is # 9588 cost me less the 40 bucks
but like I said, its home wrench turner quality
which is ok with me
im not in this to make money
Im in this just to save money

[ccolwell]

The best results I've had have been with DOT 3 brake fluid. None of them was intentional. :doh

[EXR911]

The guy that owned my /7 before me painted the front engine cover black

Crappy job too.

Whats the best (and easiest) way to get the paint off the cover without
messing up the alloy in the process.

I'm scared to use stripper and blasting is out of the question.

Gerry

I had this situation with the valve covers on a /7 which had been painted blue to match the pinstripes of the silver Hannigan fairing.

Test the paint with various solvents to see what kind it is (enamel or lacquer). The blue paint in my situation was soluble in lacquer thinners and soaking and brushing with stiff fibre and brass wire brushes (including rifle cleaning brushes to get in the crevices) worked to remove the paint without damage to the covers. Work outside in the open air and do not smoke or have open flames anywhere near!

PT9766