How do you remove paint overspray from a dash pad?

[Gary Wilkerson]

I'm helping a friend work on his 66. He just had it painted but some paint overspray is on one dashpad and the center section of the dash.
I thought about alcohol or lacquer thinner but I'm worried about drying out the vinyl.

Any thoughts?

Gary

[Michael H.]

Re: How do you remove paint overspray from a dash

Hey Gary -

You can try a clay bar and see if that works. If you end up trying a solvent test it in an inconspicuous place before you use it.

[Michael H.]

Re: How do you remove paint overspray from a dash

Hey Gary -

You can try a clay bar and see if that works. If you end up trying a solvent test it in an inconspicuous place before you use it.

[kelly theaker]

Re: How do you remove paint overspray from a dash

if you know the paint - base ,enamel ect , you would use a solvent -reducer or depending on the what overspray to melt the overspray and not the dash pad . dash pad would probably be a lacquer so try a reducer. something to soften the overspray but not the dash pad colour, you get the drift . and the length of time since the overspray has been on . If the paint is fresh - the overspray , it should come up . dont soak the rag just a little and might work . try a spot not so visible and not in the heat .

[kelly theaker]

Re: How do you remove paint overspray from a dash

if you know the paint - base ,enamel ect , you would use a solvent -reducer or depending on the what overspray to melt the overspray and not the dash pad . dash pad would probably be a lacquer so try a reducer. something to soften the overspray but not the dash pad colour, you get the drift . and the length of time since the overspray has been on . If the paint is fresh - the overspray , it should come up . dont soak the rag just a little and might work . try a spot not so visible and not in the heat .

[Michael H.]

Re: Brake Fluid Works Well

Gary,

I've tried a lot of different methods of removing paint or overspray from vinyl and nothing I've found works as well as brake fluid. Everything else seems to dull or fade the vinyl and some remove the dye that's in it. I coat the painted area and a few hours later, the paint just rolls off.

I don't know about todays brake fluid as several things have changed in it's chemical makeup over the years but it's sure worth a try.

Michael

[Michael H.]

Re: Brake Fluid Works Well

Gary,

I've tried a lot of different methods of removing paint or overspray from vinyl and nothing I've found works as well as brake fluid. Everything else seems to dull or fade the vinyl and some remove the dye that's in it. I coat the painted area and a few hours later, the paint just rolls off.

I don't know about todays brake fluid as several things have changed in it's chemical makeup over the years but it's sure worth a try.

Michael

[terry leeker]

Re: How do you remove paint overspray from a dash

I have removed enamal and lacquer over-spray on vinyl seats with "Goop" the hand cleaner and a soft bristle scrub brush. I purchased two new black Porche 911 seats from a body shop that had peen painted white. When I finished they looked brand new, even took the paint out of the threads for the sewn-in pleats. Sat on these seats for years in a hot rod, seat showed no ill effects. I'd test it on an unobtrusive part of your dash pad to be absolutely sure.

[terry leeker]

Re: How do you remove paint overspray from a dash

I have removed enamal and lacquer over-spray on vinyl seats with "Goop" the hand cleaner and a soft bristle scrub brush. I purchased two new black Porche 911 seats from a body shop that had peen painted white. When I finished they looked brand new, even took the paint out of the threads for the sewn-in pleats. Sat on these seats for years in a hot rod, seat showed no ill effects. I'd test it on an unobtrusive part of your dash pad to be absolutely sure.

[Michael D.]

Re: How do you remove paint overspray from a dash

Try Mineral Spitits. Spot test first. Acry-Solve is what I use in the upholstery field. After using this there may be a white residue on the vinyl I would use a small amount of Vinylex or Amor-All and work it into the vinyl. It depends on how long the paint has been sitting on the vinyl, some paints WILL eat into the vinyl. It may be possible to lightly spray the pads with a vinyl paint to match the rest of the pad. SEM is a good vinyl paint. The most important aspect is to PREP the vinyl as per manufacture of the dye/paint that is used. I hope this helps. Mike D #1787

[Michael D.]

Re: How do you remove paint overspray from a dash

Try Mineral Spitits. Spot test first. Acry-Solve is what I use in the upholstery field. After using this there may be a white residue on the vinyl I would use a small amount of Vinylex or Amor-All and work it into the vinyl. It depends on how long the paint has been sitting on the vinyl, some paints WILL eat into the vinyl. It may be possible to lightly spray the pads with a vinyl paint to match the rest of the pad. SEM is a good vinyl paint. The most important aspect is to PREP the vinyl as per manufacture of the dye/paint that is used. I hope this helps. Mike D #1787

[Michael H.]

Re: How do you remove paint overspray from a dash

I've used about every chemical or cleaner that there is and several things that weren't even made for vinyl at all and each had some very negative results. Scrubbing always seemed to dull the physical texture and make the vinyl a little shinner than it was supposed to be. Anything that contains petroleum of any kind tends to have a very negative effect on the vinyl and also removes a lot of the surface dye and that's exactly why the area will look white and colorless after cleaning. Adding a coat of Armor-Oil will only temporarily hide the white surface and it will surely come back in a short time. One day it occured to me that brake fluid was not a petroleum product of any kind and it definitely removed paint. I used it on a magnificent original set of red 63 seats that had a lot of black overspray on them and they came out looking perfect without the use of any Armor-Oil.

If you've ever spilled even a few drops of brake fluid on your paint, you know how effectively it removes paint if allowed to sit overnight. Pretty powerful stuff for having been made out of vegetable oil or whatever it was. I don't know if todays fluid is the same but it sure worked as of about 15 years ago. Todays formula may be totally different but.

Michael

[Michael H.]

Re: How do you remove paint overspray from a dash

I've used about every chemical or cleaner that there is and several things that weren't even made for vinyl at all and each had some very negative results. Scrubbing always seemed to dull the physical texture and make the vinyl a little shinner than it was supposed to be. Anything that contains petroleum of any kind tends to have a very negative effect on the vinyl and also removes a lot of the surface dye and that's exactly why the area will look white and colorless after cleaning. Adding a coat of Armor-Oil will only temporarily hide the white surface and it will surely come back in a short time. One day it occured to me that brake fluid was not a petroleum product of any kind and it definitely removed paint. I used it on a magnificent original set of red 63 seats that had a lot of black overspray on them and they came out looking perfect without the use of any Armor-Oil.

If you've ever spilled even a few drops of brake fluid on your paint, you know how effectively it removes paint if allowed to sit overnight. Pretty powerful stuff for having been made out of vegetable oil or whatever it was. I don't know if todays fluid is the same but it sure worked as of about 15 years ago. Todays formula may be totally different but.

Michael

[Gary Wilkerson]

Re: How do you remove paint overspray from a dash

Thanks everyone I've got a couple o options it looks like. I'll try any and all in an inconspicuous spot however

Thanks Gary

[Gary Wilkerson]

Re: How do you remove paint overspray from a dash

Thanks everyone I've got a couple o options it looks like. I'll try any and all in an inconspicuous spot however

Thanks Gary