Just wondering if there's any way to strip the paint off painted
fender flares to get them looking like stock flares? Maybe there's
some sort of chemical stripper that won't affect the plastic (poly?)
underneath.

Any suggestions?
Thanks.

--
Wry-mouth
'01 TJ (with painted flares)

Spot test on the inside of the flare. You can get a gallon of "Strip-X"
from The Home Depot for $13.95 where I live. I wonder though if your flares
were sanded or otherwise prepped to get paint to stick to them. (

Earle

"Wry-mouth" <jeep (AT) route19 (DOT) com> wrote

You might want to try Eazy-Off oven cleaner. Its used on fiberglass
boats all the time to remove lettering, etc. and doesnt hurt the
fiberglass beneath. Put the mix of EazyOff on the surface, add a bit of
water, cover with saran wrap, wait for the paint to lift. Sand away the
remaining paint shadows with 1300 or 2000 grit wet and dry paper. I'd
test such a method first to be sure that there is no chem reaction with
the flare. Most polymers are chemically compatible with inorganic
solvents: caustics, acids,etc. but will readily dissolve/soften in
organic solvents found in paint strippers: MEK, Ethylene Chloride, etc.

Alternate:
Remove the flare and immerse in warm water. A long term soak in warm
water will "lift" the paint from the surface. Problem is that it will
take up to a few weeks for the paint to release.

On 'plastic' surface if you are really committed to a chemical organic
stripper ... and all the risks of dissolving the base plastic, consider
to dilute the stripper with mineral spirits. Start out with 25% stripper
and 75% sprits, see what happens and continue to increase the strength
by adding more stripper until you reach a % that will remove the paint
but not destroy the 'plastic'.

Go to an auto paint supply store. They make aerosol paint strippers
specially designed not to hurt plastic parts.


"Wry-mouth" <jeep (AT) route19 (DOT) com> wrote

For what it's worth, I have been stripping the paint in my kitchen down to
the wood work this summer, using the $13.95/gallon stuff from The Home
Depot, and I have yet to damage any plastic tool handles. If your fender
flares are made of the same stuff as screw driver handles or eyeglass
lenses, this stuff won't hurt them.

Earle

"Autotech" <fast_freddy (AT) sbcglobal (DOT) net> wrote