I need to remove the original paint from a 1098 petrol tank without damaging the plastic tank, any ideas?
I’ll follow this with interest. I need to replace the decals on a brand new tank as the ones currently on it are the wrong colour for the bike I want to fit it on. The only way I can see is a complete respray which would require removing the existing paint. Andy
My 996R has an Infostrada decal kit lacquered in all over the carbon fairings - my paint guy is confident he can rub through the lacquer, remove the stickers and re lacquer so you can tell and without damaging the original paint - so your silver tank decals should be fairly easy for someone who knows what they are doing...
Suspect that it will be many hours rubbing by hand with wet and dry as mechanical means will be too aggressive for the plastic and chemicals may attack the plastic, you could enquire to the tech depts of some manufacturers re the effects of their products on plastic. What has happened that makes it necessary to remove all the paint?
we used to have a few resident paint pro's - @Red998 comes to mind? I will be doing similar "soon" - same tank even, but was going to rub off top layer and hopefully use existing paint as a key if it doesn't react.
I think that might be what has happened to it already. I bought it cheap to mock up a project I'm working on. It has a bubble under the paint in one of the "creases" in the tank, might be ethanol damage. I am hoping to seal it inside and repaint the outside. Lets hope somone knows how to remove paint without damaging the plastic .
pretty sure there is no easy way as solvents/agents capable of making the paint react and separate will also be absorbed by the plastic. Had similar experience on fairings over the years, the polyamide/nylon type of material might not look melted or distorted on inspection, but new paint might not stick to it.
if the bubble(s) have water in them when popped then almost certainly caused by ethanol use but just as likely it's been left somewhere exceptionally damp.
You could try media blasting. This can be done by plastic pellets, walnut shells or even very mild grit. A blasting company could best advise. This will strip off all paint and leave the surface ready for preparation and paint. Soft plastic media would probably be the best option in your case as that is used along with walnut shells on fibreglass that needs to remain undamaged with the Gelcoat intact, so it should be fine on plastic and other softer materials.
This media is available by post, but you would need the correct gun\setup to blast it. https://www.sandblasters.co.uk/grit...1eXq5sxLWxIPUDAcV1g3NIUqq8F99JyxoCS-kQAvD_BwE
