senkoman85 Posted May 20, 2008 Report Share Posted May 20, 2008 I've been searching the forums for some time now about this and can't find anything. Is there a way to remove paint from lures without sanding? I want to keep details like scales and gill plates, and can't do that (or haven't figured out how) with a dremal tool or sand paper. I would have to imagine that there is a product out there that can strip the topcoat and paint off of a lure fairly quickly. Thanks for all the help! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BobP Posted May 21, 2008 Report Share Posted May 21, 2008 You can use fingernail polish remover or a similar solvent but it's a messy messy job and takes awhile. If the solvent is too active (eg, acetone) it can melt the underlying plastic (and details). And every solvent I've tried that will remove finish will also cloud the lip. If the detail is important to you, I recommend dulling the existing shine on the bait with some 400 or 600 grit paper and painting over it. I hear, but haven't seen, that some repainting businesses use a blast cabinet to remove finish. It will dull the detail slightly but is probably the best compromise if you have one handy. So there's no magic paint remover that I'm aware of. If you find one, give a shout! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Spike-A-Pike Posted May 21, 2008 Report Share Posted May 21, 2008 I would think some type of media blasting (sand, walnut shells, glass, plastic, etc.,) would work. You would really need to find a dealer who knows his product to find a speedy method for taking off top coat and color without loosing all the details. I don't know what the minimum required equipment needed would be, but I'm surprised that a small pencil blast cabinet with foot pedal cost about $150.00. In order to make it a usable system, it looks like you would need to add a dust collection system about $175.00, media separator about $210.00. There's my food for thought... Good luck. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MR KNOW IT ALL KIND OF Posted May 22, 2008 Report Share Posted May 22, 2008 Simply Green...... 2 to 4 weeks... Good luck!!! I heard motor oil will do it too and not hurt plastic.. but I have tried..... Finger nail polish... DOESNT WORK!!! you will hurt your lure.. it will take the paint off but the detail is SHOT!!! Rubbing Alcohol... The lip will crack or break off later.. it takes moisture out of the plastic.. dont know if plastic has moisture in it because Im not a chemist.. but it drys out the plastic so much it makes it weak and it will break!!!! I put a lure in my wifes jewlery cleaner once... Thought the sonic vibs would stripe the paint... That didnt work!!! but hey I give myself a A for effort... Then I found a hobby post online that said to use simply green to take paint off a model car.. it will not hurt the plastic.. The only down fall is you have to wait 2 to 4 weeks... I striped a vision 110 once with the simple green trick... mainly because the sucker sunk right out of the package.. it was a Mat Crackleback finish.. and Megabass had way too much paint on it.. so I knew I couldnt just scuff and paint it..... It already was screwed up.. so I soaked it for 3 long weeks in Simply Green and the paint came off by taking my finger nails too it... Its still a pain in the butt.. but it worked.. Sorry I dont have a super fast and super quick way to help you out.. Just keep checking it every week or so and see how its working out for you.. the good news is.. if is doesnt work it will not hurt your plastic or your bait. The Rookie Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
blackjack Posted May 22, 2008 Report Share Posted May 22, 2008 two words, "Soda Blasting" Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DeHeron Posted May 25, 2008 Report Share Posted May 25, 2008 Coke or Arm&Hammer? I thought you mite know the secret solution? I have seen pictures of a clear... yellowy substance but still know not thou name. Come to think of it..It looked more like a Corona. Maybe it was..no I won't go there. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
blackjack Posted May 25, 2008 Report Share Posted May 25, 2008 Arm and Hammer is the ticket, search soda blasting on google and you will find a ton of info, alot safer than using silica blasting media and does not remove the surface detail!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DeHeron Posted May 27, 2008 Report Share Posted May 27, 2008 Wow..thanks! That is pretty cool. I had no idea that was going on. I might actually try it. Repaints are not high on my list but I am allways corking off on something! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MR KNOW IT ALL KIND OF Posted May 27, 2008 Report Share Posted May 27, 2008 Soda Blastin!!!! Wow Thanks Blackjack!! I will have to try it out!!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
danderson Posted May 27, 2008 Report Share Posted May 27, 2008 If I want to strip a lure I've painted I just drop it in a jar of denatured alcohol. After a day or so the paint (if not already peeling) will peel right off. Maybe there is a catch but I haven't had any trouble with the lure coming a part or dissolving or anything like that. That's not to say it wouldn't. I have not tried this on store bought lures just ones I have painted myself and no longer liked. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Husky Posted May 27, 2008 Report Share Posted May 27, 2008 I've been searching the forums for some time now about this and can't find anything.Is there a way to remove paint from lures without sanding? I want to keep details like scales and gill plates, and can't do that (or haven't figured out how) with a dremal tool or sand paper. I would have to imagine that there is a product out there that can strip the topcoat and paint off of a lure fairly quickly. Thanks for all the help! Here is a totally unorthodox method, but it worked, See pg 2 for a look at a stripped version. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BobP Posted May 27, 2008 Report Share Posted May 27, 2008 Well they do say heat helps to remove epoxy. Raging flames do it much quicker! Of course, I'd rather not melt my Lexan or circuitboard lip while flambe'ing a lure. But other than that, I'd do it in a heartbeat And you get that great camp fire smell as a bonus! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Seeking 56 Posted May 31, 2008 Report Share Posted May 31, 2008 Pour brake fluid in a plastic container and leave the lure in for 1-2 days. s54 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Palmetto Balsa Posted May 31, 2008 Report Share Posted May 31, 2008 Brake fluid or brake cleaner? Brake fluid, same as transmission fluid? Sounds like a great tip, but I just want to make sure it is soaking in the right stuff. Is this good for wood baits or just the plastics? Is it good for removing the factory paints? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Seeking 56 Posted May 31, 2008 Report Share Posted May 31, 2008 Dot 3 brake fluid. I used to use it for my botched paint jobs on 1 /25 scale plastic model cars. I haven't used it on wood, but am confident it would work. The paint I used to use was automotive sray paint. I now either paint over or use a heat gun, since I don't have the patience to wait anymore:lol: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CRANKNTN Posted June 5, 2008 Report Share Posted June 5, 2008 Tried the brake fluid on a Strike King series 5 crankbait and just ruined it. I let the bait soak for 24 hrs. The plastic was real cloudy and the bill snapped off. Should've known better, sounded too good. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Seeking 56 Posted June 6, 2008 Report Share Posted June 6, 2008 CRANKNTN, From what a fellow TU member confirmed to me, this method is currently being used in Japan as well. I will try it on one of my plastic musky lures and report back. s54 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
blackjack Posted June 6, 2008 Report Share Posted June 6, 2008 Brake fluid is only compatable with certain types of plastic, I know for sure that it does not work with Lucky Craft, Megabass, or any of the major U.S. Manufacturers, the brake fluid will certainly remove the paint but it will degrade the structural integrity of the lure and you can actually see fractures in the plastic. There is an answer to this problem but I can not reveal what it is as given to me by a well known Japanese lure craftsman. It is a chemical that can be purchased here in the U.S. Sorry I can't help you guys any further! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Seeking 56 Posted June 7, 2008 Report Share Posted June 7, 2008 24 hrs ago, I decided to see for myself if in fact using brake fluid would have damaging effects to a plastic lure. In retrospect I should've tried it first and then posted the results...I apologize for that. In any case.......The lure I decided to use for this experiment was a HOMER LEBLANC jointed Swim Whizz. It had been painted over with enamel spray paint. The original color was black with copper scales and was clearcoated by the manufacturer. Within 15 minutes, the topcoat started crackling and was easily removed using the paintbrush. I checked it again about three hours later and the brake fluid had started to loosen the original paint. About half an hour ago I almost effortlessly removed all of the existing paint. I hope the pictures are clear enough to show the results. The lure does not show any sign of fatigue nor sign of corrosion left by the brake fluid or any discolororation. The seems are still intact. blackjack has a valid point about the integrity of various plastics. I don't know where the Swim Whizz is manufactured but it didn't seem to get affected. Sorry about your lure CRANKNTN...... s54 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CRANKNTN Posted June 7, 2008 Report Share Posted June 7, 2008 Blackjack, I've seen you more than once on this site make claim to know how to do something but never fully explain how to do it. I became a member of this forum to learn and maybe teach others the mistakes I have made. I think it's safe to say the majority of members joined for the same reasons. I think if I knew how to help someone with something and knew I wasn't going to tell them how to do it, I probably wouldn't even comment on the subject. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CRANKNTN Posted June 7, 2008 Report Share Posted June 7, 2008 Seeking 54, sorry if you took it the wrong way, but I wasn't blaming you for ruining my lure. The brake fluid was something I haven't tried before and had high hopes that it would work. I'm not going to get too bent out of shape over a $4 bait. I think next time I'll monitor my bait a little more closely while soaking. I think this idea has promise, I just think I soaked my bait too long. I see the bait you used was not a clear plastic bait. Brake fluid may react totally different with the clear plastic type baits. I will experiment some more with the idea. Thanks for sharing the info. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SmokeyJ Posted June 7, 2008 Report Share Posted June 7, 2008 (edited) Try EZ-Off oven cleaner. RC guys use it remove paint from their RC cars and boats. EZ-Off tutorial BTW, I personally don't have a problem with blackjack not giving away something that he was asked not to give away by someone in his industry (remember, he makes these for a living, not just a hobby). You burn bridges really quick giving stuff like that away. Honestly, I probably would have just not said anything if I were him, but he probably said that to encourage guys to keep looking. Who knows, maybe the EZ-Off is what he was talking about. Edited June 7, 2008 by SmokeyJ added link Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chartreuse Posted June 7, 2008 Report Share Posted June 7, 2008 that EZ-off looks promising Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
blackjack Posted June 7, 2008 Report Share Posted June 7, 2008 http://www.tackleunderground.com/forum/hard-baits/10963-tu-etiquette-takers-vs-givers.html I think if you review my last 275 posts you will see that I have shared more than enough information, that does not include any PMs that have been sent, my post was meant to inspire those that are looking to keep trying because there is an answer. Seems that was not enough for some I guess next time I will not post. "I cannot teach anyone anything, I can only make them think"- Socrates Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Spike-A-Pike Posted June 8, 2008 Report Share Posted June 8, 2008 I watch the various forums and something I noticed is that many new guys want to shortcut the learning process. Over the years I have found that a good failure is often a better teacher than a lucky success. How did any of us figure out not to put our fingers in the fire or boiling water??? We most likely tried it once; and once was enough for a life time. Remember, knowledge is no substitute for experience, but the two do go hand in hand. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
