Catch 22

So I scored what appears to be an excellent '89 CRX Si shell. No wrecks, no rust, no nothin'. The interior still even looks extremely good and it appears to have the original paint on it (not great, but OK).

But the car is from Oklahoma, and it has a very un-CRX like pinstripe job on it. A pinstripe job that isn't quite subtle and would seem to be more at home on a Ford F-150 Lariat pickup.

I didn't think of it as a big deal until I got it home and actually looked at it closely. Its not your regular pinstriping, its actually painted on the car. And from the looks of it, I'm betting it cost somebody a fair amount of money. Its a very good job, if you like that sort of thing, which I don't.

So, any suggestions on how I might be able to get this off without ruining the paint underneath? Is there a magical product out there for doing such jobs?

TIA

Todd00

Someone once told me that oven cleaner and a firm wax-off technique was good for the painted on stripes. I have never personally tried it though.

DMF

I used acetone and lots of elbow grease. Didn't seem to hurt the clear coat. I did this about 5 years ago and you still can't tell.

Want2race

There is a pneumatic tool that removes them. I never had any luck getting it off any other way.

http://www.ai-supply.com/image...b.jpg

thawley

Color sand and compound. Or just hire a detailer to do it for you. Surely that doesn't have to count in the $2005 total...

Vandemar

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">There is a pneumatic tool that removes them. I never had any luck getting it off any other way.

http://www.ai-supply.com/image...b.jpg</TD></TR></TABLE>I've had good luck with an eraser wheel for vinyl pinstripes, and the foam adhesive for badges & such (non-Honda stuff), but I wouldn't really expect it to work for painted-on stripes .

jisu009

We need pics of the car!

JoelG

body guys use a razor blade and a steady hand

burnitup

yea ive seen the detailers at my work use rubber razor blades to take them off with soap and water i think thats what he was using.

leadfoot321

The rubber wheels work well for vinyl tape stripes but will not remove painted stripes.

Chances are you will not be able to remove any painted on pinstripes without ruining the finish underneath. The paint is most likely 1Shot lettering enamel. It is used by many sign painters and pinstripers and is considered the best lettering paint in the industry. It is very durable and I have personally painted several signs with it that are ten years old and still going strong.

Below is a link to the description of the paint:
http://www.1shot.com/Lettering.html

SJR

how about you sand it off, and replace it with a nice Starsky and Hutch white stripe? I think that would be awe-some on a rex. If it's red, of course.

Catch 22

I experimented with a little Acetone... Nada.

This is no BS pinstriping job. Its primo work.
I just happen to hate it.

FormulaIntegra

Just get some Krylon of a contrasting color, and spray your own Ghetto Pinstripes over them. Surely a $4 can of spraypaint won't impinge the $2005 budget, will it?

jisu009

Pics I say! Humor us....

johng

Paint over it.

Catch 22

Back from the dead...

Just a little update. 1200 grit rubbing compound is doing the job without damaging the paint. BUT...
It took nearly three hours to do one fender, and I have blisters on 3 fingers of my right hand (I'm hopelessly right handed).

This is just crazy. At this rate, removing the evil Cowboy pinstriping is going to end up being the most labor and time intensive part of this project.
No, I wouldn't have guessed that one correctly.

I'll try to get a pic of this awful pink, green, and blue striping posted later. Right now the camera needs batteries.

Scott, who says "Yes, the car was previously owned by a female in Oklahoma and I'm betting she owns at least one rhinestone denim skirt."

thawley

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by Catch 22 &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">Just a little update. 1200 grit rubbing compound is doing the job without damaging the paint. BUT... It took nearly three hours to do one fender, and I have blisters on 3 fingers of my right hand (I'm hopelessly right handed).

This is just crazy. At this rate, removing the evil Cowboy pinstriping is going to end up being the most labor and time intensive part of this project.</TD></TR></TABLE>
If the striping paint is thick enough, a "run-razor" might save you a little bit of time. And they're pretty cheap, as tools go...



Eastwood sells them: http://eastwood.com/shopping/p...razor

Also might try a sanding pad and some wet/dry 1200 grit paper. Probably be a bit easier on your fingers. Though maybe not as therapeutic.

Catch 22

Thanks John,
I may try the run razor, but I'm not sure if the striping is thick enough for it to work. If it was that thick I doubt I'd be making any headway at all with rubbing compound.

And this whole thing passed therapeutic after about 30 minutes. Now its just frustrating. I tried 1200 grit paper first (wet and dry) but it was scratching the clear coat. The compound isn't damaging the finish on the car at all.

Now, when I'm rubbing, I kind of chant to myself "who... puts... blue and pink... country and western... stripes... on... a... CRX..."
It helps pass the time.

thawley

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by Catch 22 &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">this whole thing passed therapeutic after about 30 minutes. Now its just frustrating.</TD></TR></TABLE>
I can relate. It's amazing how easy it is to get obsessed with **** like that (which does not matter a whit for performance) just because it bugs me. At least you've got the 2006 Challenge Concours points to justify your efforts. I just do it 'cause I'm unbalanced...

california dude

use a new razor blade like a scraper, even if you slightly touch the paint you'll be able to rub it out, if you use it like a chisel the chance of cutting is real high.

SpiceyRice

Just paint over the pin-stripe. This is a the GRM budget CRX you're working on right? You're a racer, you shouldn't be trying for concourse points - it's un-natural.

tnord

mask the area around the pinstripes (you don't have to get right up next to the stripe), wetsand with 1800 or 2000 grit sandpaper and respray it with krylon.

Catch 22

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by SpiceyRice &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">Just paint over the pin-stripe. This is a the GRM budget CRX you're working on right? You're a racer, you shouldn't be trying for concourse points - it's un-natural. </TD></TR></TABLE>

I all goes as planned, from a distance of about 20 feet people are going to look at this car and say "there's no way thats a $2006 challenge car."
But, if they know what to look at, when they get close they'll say "Oh... OK."

thawley

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by california dude &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">use a new razor blade like a scraper, even if you slightly touch the paint you'll be able to rub it out, if you use it like a chisel the chance of cutting is real high.</TD></TR></TABLE>
Scott, did you try this? Did it work? The Dude knows his scrapers, so I was just wondering...

Catch 22

Yes, briefly.
I was either not removing striping or scratching paint.
I've never been really good at detail work.