How to Remove Paint from Car Body?
2 Answers
Here are five methods to deal with paint on the car surface: 1. Banana Oil: Commonly known as thinner, dip a towel in banana oil and gently wipe the paint spots. It can dilute the paint and effectively clean the spots, followed by rinsing with clean water. However, banana oil is toxic, volatile, and slightly corrosive, which may damage the car paint, so extra caution is needed during use. 2. Gasoline: Gasoline can dissolve paint effectively with minimal corrosion. The steps are the same as with banana oil. 3. Alcohol: Paint can be removed by wiping with alcohol (industrial alcohol). Use a soft cotton cloth dipped in alcohol and gently wipe the paint. 4. Essential Balm: Essential balm has a paint-dissolving effect and can also be used to clean paint spots, following the same steps as with alcohol. 5. Tar Remover/Paint Thinner: Tar remover can also dissolve paint. Spray it evenly on the paint spots, wait for a while to soften and dissolve the paint, then wipe with a towel and rinse with clean water.
I've modified my car before and tried removing the paint from the body, so I'll share my experience. There are several methods for paint removal, and the first consideration is the size of the area: for small scratches, simply sand them down with sandpaper, using 80 to 200 grit. Start with coarse sandpaper to remove large chunks of paint, then switch to finer grit for smoothing, being careful to apply even pressure to avoid damaging the primer. For a full-body paint removal, I recommend the chemical method: apply a dedicated paint remover, wait a few minutes for it to soften the paint, then scrape it off with a scraper. Remember to wear gloves and a mask and work in a well-ventilated area, avoiding skin contact with the chemicals. There's also the heat method, like using a heat gun to bubble the paint for quick scraping, but improper temperature control can burn the car's surface. From my actual experience, I learned that safety comes first. Tools like an electric sander can save effort but are noisy and require outdoor space. After removal, it's essential to clean any residue with soapy water, scrub, and let it dry before applying new paint. It's suitable for DIY but time-consuming—I spent a whole day removing paint from the entire car.
