Need help!! Spray Paint Removal???

[Silver Bullet02]

Hi guys, well, sadly I had some mischief happen around my place.. Some other kids came by and spray painted my plastic toolbox. Basically like a big metal or aluminum Husky toolbox for the back of a pickup, but just plastic. It's a black plastic, and the spray paint is greyish/white. I don't know if that makes a difference.. Also, I've tried gasoline, and just cold water & bleach and I haven"t got much progress with that. I was hoping somebody on here could give some advice on how to get the paint off??

 

[Turdle]

Acetone might do it.

There is also a product called "Goof Off" which works, however I'm not sure if you can use it on plastic.

 

[Silver Bullet02]

Would I be able to buy Acetone at like a True Value or an Ace store??

 

[Turdle]

Would I be able to buy Acetone at like a True Value or an Ace store??

If you have any nearby females ( or other nail polish wearers) you might ask to borrow a dip of normal nail polish remover . ( some are acetone free)

I'd try this before buying any.It may not work.
Walmart-true value and autozone -Home depot have it in the painting section. You should be able to find goof off also. Maybe Home depot for that--

 

[Blee1099]

Acetone is sold in the paint aisle at Lowes/Home Depot/etc

 

[waskly]

might be cheaper and just easier to pick up a can of spray paint and repaint the plastic box.

 

[Silver Bullet02]

Thank you Turdle, Blee, and waskly. I took your advice waskly and just repainted the box. I went to my local hardware store and picked up 2 cans of Krylon Fusion Satin spray paint. I didn't even have to sand or prime the box! This stuff worked very well IMO. Took less than 10 minutes to dry once sprayed, and you can still see the manufacturer's detailing! Thanks again everbody

 

[LONO100]

sorry to come late to the party on this but this might be a useful tip for some of you in the future. the best thing i have found to take paint off a surface without ruining it is a pot of boiling water and a wash cloth. you just dip the wash cloth in the boiling water and start dabbing away. its done wonders for me in the past. just be safe and very careful if you try it.

 

[AlexSport'00]

I wish you could find those useless kids and make them pay for the paint and have them repaint it, but their parents might be the stupid ones that try to defend their child's wrong actions, so you probably wouldn't be able to.

 

[Essex4x4]

Brake cleaner. I have no idea what it will do to plastic but it should take it off. Hopefully it is not oil based paint because in that case I am not sure.

 

[waskly]

Brake cleaner. I have no idea what it will do to plastic but it should take it off. Hopefully it is not oil based paint because in that case I am not sure.

brake cleaner on alot of spastics stains them white.

 

[Silver Bullet02]

Alex, I wish I could find those rotten kids too! Some people just have no respect for others' property.

Lono, thanks for the tip too man, if something happens like this again maybe I'll try that and save a few bucks!

 

[AlexSport'00]

Alex, I wish I could find those rotten kids too! Some people just have no respect for others' property.

I know. And they make all of us look bad. I'm 18, and I can't stand stupid kids/teens/young adults who think it's fun to go break stuff. I mean, yeah, it can be fun, but do it on something that doesn't matter or on your own stuff. People pay good money for their things. It's so annoying.

 

[Essex4x4]

brake cleaner on alot of spastics stains them white.

I believe you mean "plastics" but alright I was not sure what it would do to plastic. I know it will work on paint if you are careful however I have never seen brake cleaner used on a plastic surface.

 

[koda2000]

I'd be real careful with most of the suggestions given as they will probably damage the plastic. I'd try brake fluid to see if that would desolve the paint and it shouldnt bother plastic the way acetone or brake-clean can. hot water shouldn't hurt, but i don't see it working. if all else fails, i'd just repaint it and krylon fusion works pretty well on plastic.

 

[LONO100]

boiling water will work, just try it. i used to work for a laboratory that formulated inks and resins to adhere and print to many different surfaces. raising the temperature of of an ink or paint with hot water, or even ambient temperature can alter the pH of the ink which will then alter its viscosity. you can actually bring back an ink to its fluid form after it solidifying if you can raise its pH enough. i worked in an ink lab and an ink kitchen and we never had to use anything more than hot water or a formula we called "ecosafe" to get any surface in the lab cleaned up. try it. ive used this method at home to remove paint and ink from slate tile, painted walls that got i got ink on, to spray paint i accidentally got on one of my cars before. as long as the ink or paint is water based, and the surface you have isnt very delicate, a little hot water and some elbow grease can go a long way.

 

[waskly]

I believe you mean "plastics" but alright I was not sure what it would do to plastic. I know it will work on paint if you are careful however I have never seen brake cleaner used on a plastic surface.

it depends which brake cleaner, but most common ones sold, will actually alter, stain plastics, or fade them. Or that clear white residue that forms on plastic from brake cleaner.