Stripping Applied Background

[Deepsixer]

I have a 55 gal Acrylic Aquarium my dad gave me and it has some sort of painted background on it that I want to remove. Can I use a stripper on this? Any recommendations would be appreciated.

[tims]

the background is painted to the inside of the tank?

i would be careful with that. if it is glass then maybe acetone and a razor blade. i would think any chemical used would be a very bad thing in the long run... you could never be sure if you got it out.
take a lot of care with the silcone sealent.

opps just re read do not use acetone an un glass..

[Deepsixer]

Originally posted by tims
the background is painted to the inside of the tank?

i would be careful with that. if it is glass then maybe acetone and a razor blade. i would think any chemical used would be a very bad thing in the long run... you could never be sure if you got it out.
take a lot of care with the silcone sealent.

opps just re read do not use acetone an un glass..

Nope it's on the outside. Some sort of spray on that was popular 12 or 13 years ago. I want to strip it if possible and re-paint it a solid blue.

[Geoff]

Welcome to TRT!!!



is it showing any signs of flaking? if not then you may be out of luck. acrylic scratches very easily. about the only thing i can think of would be heating it to remove it. look up flame polishing in google and see what it says. i have never done it, but it sounds like it may work.

G~

[Deepsixer]

Originally posted by Geoff
Welcome to TRT!!!



is it showing any signs of flaking? if not then you may be out of luck. acrylic scratches very easily. about the only thing i can think of would be heating it to remove it. look up flame polishing in google and see what it says. i have never done it, but it sounds like it may work.

G~

Thanks!

No, actually there is nothing wrong with it. No chips, I just wanted to re-do it with a solid blue. Some told me to try mineral spirits but that didn't work. I am now thinking I will just leave well enough alone and move on to the next project on the list.

[Geoff]

i was afraid of that. it is prolly chemically bonded to the acrylic. you could possibly try painting over it in another colour like black and see if it darkens it to a colour you like better.

just an idea.

G~

[Acrylics]

Using mineral spirits or any other solvent will most likely craze the tank (badly) and heating it up by flame will degrade the acrylic as well. As you said, prolly best to move on the the next project

James

[Geoff]

Acrylics- Welcome to TRT!!!



do you work with acrylics alot?

G~

[Acrylics]

Originally posted by Geoff
do you work with acrylics alot?

Geoff, it's what I do for a living, building tanks for public aquariums and the rich & shameless

James