Suggestions for removing spray paint without damaging the original finish?

[MaximRecoil]

My Punch-Out cabinet still has its original black finish, though it is a bit beat up. At some point, someone "touched-up" the lower halves of the sides of the cabinet with black spray paint. It is a single, thin, hastily applied coat of paint that is a little shinier than the original black finish. It is not terribly noticeable unless you look closely but I'd rather it wasn't there. I'd rather have the original beat up finish showing than some half-assed touch-up job with a spray bomb.

I don't know what the original finish is exactly, but it doesn't seem to be ordinary paint, and it doesn't seem to be a laminate or a vinyl. Maybe something similar to the finish on "melamine"? Does anyone know what Nintendo used on Punch-Out cabinets? Anyway, since it doesn't seem to be paint, I'm hoping it will be impervious to paint strippers that would remove the spray paint, leaving the original finish intact (correct me if I'm wrong).

Does anyone have any suggestions on what type of chemical to try on it?

[NightGod]

I would try Goo Gone first and if that didn't work, then move on to Goof Off. Most likely if the old surface is paint, it will be oil based and the spray paint will be latex, so the new stuff should come off easier. Of course, I would test out an inconspicuous area of the cab with the stuff before you do anything. The Goo Gone will likely need to sit for 10-15 minutes before it does anything, but I've gotten overspray off without damaging the old stuff on other wooden projects before with it. A heat gun on the lowest setting (or even a hair dryer on high) can help some, too.

[Vigo]

I use 3M safest stripper, extremely mild, but takes off a single layer of paint quite easily. Safe on almost anything but the top layer of paint.  (I think its spendy stuff though...I get mine free, so I can't say for sure)

NO matter what you try, make sure you make a test patch first, if you ruin a little tiny corner, it is much better than finding out that you used something too strong and ruined the whole part.

[NightGod]

Just saw some stuff in Lowe's today called Goof-off Grafitti Remover. Quick read said it's safe to use on vinyl, most car finishes, and oil based paint (as well as alot of other things). Sounds like something that might work well for what you are looking to do.

[MaximRecoil]

Just saw some stuff in Lowe's today called Goof-off Grafitti Remover. Quick read said it's safe to use on vinyl, most car finishes, and oil based paint (as well as alot of other things). Sounds like something that might work well for what you are looking to do.

You know, that does sound like just the thing, especially since most graffiti is done with a cheap can of spray paint, same as the stuff I want to remove from my cabinet. In fact, looking at a picture of the stuff on their site, it says right on it that it removes spray paint:



I'll check it out, thanks.

[MaximRecoil]

The Goof-Off Graffiti Remover came in the mail today and I'm in the process of using it now. I have one side of the cabinet almost done. The fumes suck (a lot like spray paint fumes, ironically) but the stuff works perfectly. It works quickly and turns the spray paint layer into a soggy goo that wipes right off, while the original finish underneath is completely impervious to the stuff, i.e. it has about as much effect on the original finish as water does but it is a magic bullet on that top layer of spray paint.

It is nice when something works exactly as advertised.

No idea why the spray paint was there in the first place. The original finish is in decent shape underneath, about the same as the top halves of the sides, which were not spray painted.