Pinstripe removal?!

[TheRonTom31]

How can I safely remove a pinstripe that was handpainted on over the clear coat without damaging the clear underneath it?

[SW20Racer]

um...you'd still need to buff the clear if you manage remove the pinstipe, so i guess you could try to wetsand VERY CAREFULLY

or just flatblack the shit out of it and run an exhaust through your hood madmax style since we need to start jocking boso's nuts so import tuner will feature it

[TipStylez]

get a pinstripe remover tool, i think the pros call it a eraser wheel.

[MrFairlady]

Yep..Eraser Wheel Is the bomb.It'll do it.

Mostly made for air tools but you can put it on a Drill and use it.
Carquest has them...if you have those up there.

[tdub377]

Me and my buddy just did his GMC sierra. We wet sanded with 2K grit then buffed with a orbital, then used a polish on the orbital and it came out pretty good. Ill try and get pics.

[BustedS13]

Originally Posted by SW20Racer

um...you'd still need to buff the clear if you manage remove the pinstipe, so i guess you could try to wetsand VERY CAREFULLY

or just flatblack the shit out of it and run an exhaust through your hood madmax style since we need to start jocking boso's nuts so import tuner will feature it

mos def.
what you need to do is go to the arts and crafts store, and buy all their glitter and glue. that's step one
step two, get some extended wheel studs and mount your rims backwards so they stick out like five feet
step three add more pinstripes

[upSLIDEdown]

Originally Posted by TheRonTom31

How can I safely remove a pinstripe that was handpainted on over the clear coat without damaging the clear underneath it?

Just to make sure people see that.

[usajdm]

Laquer Thinner.

Painted on pinstripes are 99% of the time enamel.
The laquer thinner will eat away at the enamel before causing damage to the clear-coat.
If the pinstripe is already fading away from age, then a safer trick is to use WD-40 and alot of effort, but definitley less risky.

There is always a danger, so definitley try rubbing some on the paint in your door-jam or under your trunk-lid.

Goodluck.

........and yes, Ive used both methods plenty of times.
If Ive never actually done it, then I dont speak on it.
I dont post info that I read in some trendy mag or possibly passed on through the web by a none experienced builder who is able to type like he knows what hes talking about.

[DaPCWiz]

My buddy used that paint cleaner stuff they advertise on tv... I think its called G4 or something. Worked wonders on his black G20.

[TheRonTom31]

I do actually have access to an eraser wheel. Will that really work on a painted on pinstripe?

[projectRDM]

No. No one seemed to read that yours is painted on. An eraser wheel will not remove paint. Your best option is to wetsand carefully, then buff it again once it's off.

[INeedNewTires]

Originally Posted by projectRDM

No. No one seemed to read that yours is painted on. An eraser wheel will not remove paint. Your best option is to wetsand carefully, then buff it again once it's off.

NOOOOOOOOOO! I work at a dealership and we have to remove them all the time on brand new cars, if its painted, get a soft rag and soak it in either a solvent of some kind or paint thinner, and get a plastic razor blade, then start at the back of the car and take your left hand with the rag and run it over the stripe as you follow the rag/stripe with the razor in your right hand. it should come right off, maybe a few tries if your thinner you use is crappy.

Funny story we had a dude who bought a black M45 and wanted it removed, the jackasses used everything they could think of in the detail shop, i mean everything, clay bar, wax, rubbing compound, etc. they fucked it all up and had to pay a ton to get it fixed.... hahaha put some bitches out of a job! sad but true.

[usajdm]

Originally Posted by projectRDM

No. No one seemed to read that yours is painted on. An eraser wheel will not remove paint. Your best option is to wetsand carefully, then buff it again once it's off.

The method I put is for the "painted on" pinstripes.
It will eliminate the need for buffing since your not using anything that could scratch the finish.

[thejapino]

If someone has a VINYL pinstripe but doesn't have an ERASER wheel, I used an old valvestem. Stick the threaded part of the valvestem in your drill.

Honestly, I've never used an actual eraser wheel so I don't have anything to compare to, but the old valve stem removed the old adhesive from the brittle pinstripe.

Valvestem, free, free, free. Get a handful of them next time you go get tires done.

[TheRonTom31]

ok so it looks like laquer thinner and a plastic razor blade

[98s14inaz]

My pinstripes came off with a claybar kit and some elbow grease.

[fromxtor]

glad this came up as my wife's pinstripe on the corolla is cracked to hell because she never waxed the car. Guess Ill be removing pin striping this weekend.

[INeedNewTires]

Dont forget that if the car's paint is old and/or dark it will probably be faded a bit, so when you remove the pinstripe the paint under it will be a bit fresher so it may still look like theres a ghost stripe............ hahaha may be cool but i doubt it, i hate pin stripes myself!

good luck removing it, take your time, use plenty of solvent, and you should be fine.

[TheRonTom31]

I used nail polish remover. Took some elbow grease but works great and didn't do squat to the paint of the car. I tried a laquer thinner but the spot i test the clear came right off. Thankfully I tested on a spare fender i had.