removing paint from the back of an acrylic tank...

[wright4lfe]

Alright-

Just picked up an acrylic tank with the back painted a light blue color, it looks like it was painted on with a brush. I'd like to remove the paint and go back to a clear background but; i don't want to use a razor blade to take the paint off and scratch the acrylic and i don't know what liquids are safe to use on the acrylic. I tried a basic paint thinner but it didn't do anything to the paint. i think i may need to use a stronger paint remover but i don't know what effect it will have on the acrylic...

any thoughts?

 

[Liam]

methylated spirits would work if you the paint was an acrylic... not sure how the metho would go on the acrylic tank though.

 

[CHOMPERS]

You can not use solvents to remove the paint. All commercially produced paint removers will drive part of the paint into the acrylic. The only product that stands a chance of not doing this is citric acid.

Buy an orbital hand sander and then use progressively finer sand paper. Use a medium grit to remove most of the paint but use care when reaching the surface. Then go to a slightly finer grit so not to gouge the acrylic. You will get spirals in the acrylic but they are removed with finer grits of sandpaper.

 

[thedizzyduck]

if you can find a bag big enough or a some way to enclose the painted section spray oven cleaner and let it sit for a day and most of the paint will come off with a rag i use this method on removing paint for model cars and it sould be safe with the tank just make sure you clean in very very well b4 fish go in

 

[Oreo]

If you absolutely had to, you could use sand paper- say, 200grit to remove the paint, & then wet-sand with 400, 600, 800, 1000, 2000, then use polishing compound & random orbital buffer to work out the scratches in the plastic. It sounds like an impossible amount of work- and it is a lot of work but it's not impossible. I've done it several times on old car headlights pitted by road debris. They come out looking brand new, & it's not nearly as much work as you'd think.

It's a little scary at first though 'cause the plastic will look totally ruined till you get up to that 2000 grit sand paper. You don't get the smooth lustre of the plastic back till you've buffed it with the polishing compound.

 

[ShroomMastap]

So I'm about to have to do this on a 300 gal, what method did you use? I read somewhere last night that googone works but i'd have to use a cloth with that but I don't know what kind to use that wouldn't scratch the acrylic.