Paint removal from a AR-10

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  • schmart

    Sharpshooter
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    4   0   0
    Nov 10, 2014
    559
    47
    Lafayette
    Lacquer thinner will typically remove spray paint pretty easily, but you do have to watch out for what is under the paint, especially if there is any plastic. The Acetone in the thinner (one of the various solvents in it) will dissolve plastics such as ABS.
     

    churchmouse

    I still care....Really
    Emeritus
    Rating - 100%
    187   0   0
    Dec 7, 2011
    191,809
    152
    Speedway area
    Lacquer thinner will typically remove spray paint pretty easily, but you do have to watch out for what is under the paint, especially if there is any plastic. The Acetone in the thinner (one of the various solvents in it) will dissolve plastics such as ABS.

    A lot of coatings do not respond well to high solvents. They will ghost. Loose color and be ruined.
     

    AllenM

    Diamond Collision Inc. Avon.
    Industry Partner
    Rating - 100%
    132   0   0
    Apr 20, 2008
    10,387
    113
    Avon
    I've tried to clean a couple of these up but I have not had good luck making them look like they should, I always end up stripping them and re painting.
    Your results may vary, I don't have a lot of patience.
     

    mammynun

    Master
    Rating - 100%
    10   0   0
    Oct 30, 2009
    3,380
    63
    New Albany
    Why not use a pressure washer? I've never tried it, but that's always been my plan if I wanted to strip a painted AR. Am I missing something obvious?
     

    halfmileharry

    Grandmaster
    Rating - 100%
    65   0   0
    Dec 2, 2010
    11,450
    99
    South of Indy
    I've cleaned a lot of rattle can paint off of cars with grease and wax remover. I always preferred the R&M brand. It seemed to work on about any I tried.
    I haven't done any in about a decade and materials may have changed.
     

    masterdekoy

    Expert
    Rating - 100%
    56   0   0
    Feb 12, 2013
    854
    28
    Columbus
    Brake cleaner will usually take off rattle can.

    A CSM got all hot and bothered that we had painted our M4s while I was deployed. I cleaned the paint off with brake cleaner and a lot of elbow grease. Probably wasn’t the best thing for the finish, but seemed to work fine. Spray some on, let it sit 5-10 mins, and wipe it off.
     
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