Build Your Own Arcade Controls Forum

Arcade Collecting => Miscellaneous Arcade Talk => Topic started by: ArcadeNoob on July 16, 2005, 09:07:34 pm

Title: How to Remove Spray Paint?
Post by: ArcadeNoob on July 16, 2005, 09:07:34 pm
I was considering buying another arcade cabinet, but was wondering-How do you remove spray paint?  When removed, will there be any residue left/will it damage the original wood underneath?  And lastly, what is that smooth laminate like stuff above the wood?(not paint, not plastic.......I have it on another game of mine, I will take a picture of if need be).  Thanks alot!



Oh yea, and last question-How would I go about putting a coating on INSTEAD of the horrible looking spray paint?  And what would it be?  Thanks alot!
Title: Re: How to Remove Spray Paint?
Post by: RayB on July 17, 2005, 01:36:03 pm
That smooth laminate like stuff is....

[brace yourself]

... laminate.
Title: Re: How to Remove Spray Paint?
Post by: ArcadeNoob on July 17, 2005, 02:47:48 pm
 ;D  Thanks alot............I had a suspicion it had some crazy, new fangled name like that.




BUT, is there any way to sand down, and then RE LAMINATE?   I know there is usually a particle board core, and then a colored laminate cover............and way to replace the laminate cover?  Any ideas welcome.
Title: Re: How to Remove Spray Paint?
Post by: RayB on July 17, 2005, 08:53:06 pm
I'm about to do the same thing...I'll let you know what comes of it, but I assume that you can just apply new laminate on top of the old. THat is assuming that the old surface is smooth and flat...
Title: Re: How to Remove Spray Paint?
Post by: Stingray on July 18, 2005, 10:35:54 am
You should be able to relaminate right over the old with no problem. Like Ray said, just make sure your surface if clean.

-S
Title: Re: How to Remove Spray Paint?
Post by: ChadTower on July 18, 2005, 10:43:17 am

If he just puts new laminate on top of the old, will that make the side thick enough that it no longer matches the T molding?
Title: Re: How to Remove Spray Paint?
Post by: RayB on July 18, 2005, 10:51:01 am

If he just puts new laminate on top of the old, will that make the side thick enough that it no longer matches the T molding?

Yes. Noob, can you tolerate a bit of extra underlap with your t-molding?

The difficulty here is that removing laminate that was "applied at the factory" could and probably would rip out alot of the fragile particle board underneath. If the laminate was applied by an operator, then chances are it will come off easily without damage to the subsurface.

Title: Re: How to Remove Spray Paint?
Post by: Karetaker on July 18, 2005, 12:29:22 pm
I'd just fill any holes with Bondo (body filler). Sand them and scuff the surface with 220 grit sandpaper. Prime it and paint it. I use a roller and house paint.
Title: Re: How to Remove Spray Paint?
Post by: RayB on July 19, 2005, 10:35:35 pm
Welp, the bad news is you can't use acrylic latex enamel on laminate. The paint just scratches right off. I even sanded it down first, but it doesn't seem to have helped much.
Title: Re: How to Remove Spray Paint?
Post by: ChadTower on July 20, 2005, 08:52:40 am

Not if you prime it properly.
Title: Re: How to Remove Spray Paint?
Post by: Karetaker on July 20, 2005, 02:00:42 pm
Did you prime it first? I did it with all my Dynamo cabs, and didn't have it happen.  As a matter of fact I have a Deer Hunting in the shop here that I did like that. I just walked over and took a look at it and it and other than a few nicks it still looks great. Maybe it just needs a bit more sanding or a rougher grit (100 maybe). I did mine with a palm sander. If you get the surface roughed up enough it should adhere. You have to prime though it or it will never adhere. Sorry, don't know what else to tell you, I didn't have any problems like that when I painted mine. Now I feel bad, like I gave you bad advise..... are you close to me? Bring it over to my shop, and I'll paint it for you....hehehehe
Title: Re: How to Remove Spray Paint?
Post by: RayB on July 20, 2005, 03:58:06 pm
I used paint that supposedly didn't need primer.

Anyways, I just went out and bought a proper primer/sealer meant for glossy surfaces (Zinsser brand). Should work out now... Will post the results in my thread on painting laminate.


Title: Re: How to Remove Spray Paint?
Post by: Mark70 on September 29, 2005, 01:17:08 pm
Aren't there two kinds of "laminate"

There's melamine, which as I understand it, is a thing plastic film with a pattern printed on the adhesive side.

And there's "plastic laminate" which is like a very thin plastic board that has a colour to it.  This is the kind of stuff that you kitchen counters are made of.

I was wondering about removing laminate as well, of either kind, since I'm considering trying to buy a local cab with a wood pattern on the side.  I have only seen pictures so I don't know if it's melamine or plastic laminate.  All I know is that I would want that wood grain pattern gone.
Title: Re: How to Remove Spray Paint?
Post by: stratjakt on September 29, 2005, 01:27:25 pm
The wood grain is most likely vinyl with an adhesive backing. 

Just pull/peel it all off, use a heat gun to loosen the adhesive. 

Be aware it's probably particle board underneath, and you'll pull out a bunch of the particles, resulting in a whole lot of puttying and sanding to get it smooth enough to get a good paint finish - I'd plan on laminating it just to avoid the hassle.
Title: Re: How to Remove Spray Paint?
Post by: ChadTower on September 29, 2005, 01:28:34 pm

I just completely stripped a Dynamo cab of adhesive vinyl.  If you do it right, you will take off zero particle board chunks.

Of course, I'm left with a lot of glue on the cab, and I have to sand that off.
Title: Re: How to Remove Spray Paint?
Post by: Stingray on September 29, 2005, 01:30:02 pm
You can almost certainly get the glue off a lot easier with some paint thinner than if you sand it off.

-S
Title: Re: How to Remove Spray Paint?
Post by: ChadTower on September 29, 2005, 01:33:14 pm

Hrm... I wonder how to do that without soaking it into the particleboard.  It sure would be easier than moving the cab outside and sanding all weekend.
Title: Re: How to Remove Spray Paint?
Post by: Stingray on September 29, 2005, 01:36:19 pm
Get some "hot" thinner like laquer thinner. You want something that evaporates quickly. Stay away from something like mineral spirits, which probably would soak into the wood.

-S
Title: Re: How to Remove Spray Paint?
Post by: ChadTower on September 29, 2005, 01:37:51 pm

Cool.  I am working on this cab in the basement, near working stuff, and wasn't looking forward to sanding anyway.
Title: Re: How to Remove Spray Paint?
Post by: Stingray on September 29, 2005, 01:39:52 pm
Fast evaporating enamel reducer should also do the job. I'm sure I don't have to tell you this, but I'll say it anyway. Make sure to test it on the inside of the cab first just to make sure it won't damage the wood.

Get a plastic scraper too. Soften the glue with the thinner, then it should just scrape off.

-S
Title: Re: How to Remove Spray Paint?
Post by: ChadTower on September 29, 2005, 01:40:37 pm

For softer stuff, I use a spackle spreading thingie, forget what it is called, but it is metal.