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Removing spray-paint from tolex.
- Thread starter 18eranaRic
- Start date
I work in an auto detail shop and we use stuff called Prosol (sometimes seen as Pro Solv) to remove paint. I've used it to remove paint from tolex, window glass, car paint, etc.
It shouldn't be very hard to find and is cheap, all you'd need is a spray, let it sit for a few seconds, then wipe clean.
Heck, if you know somebody that works at a car delearship, see if they can get the auto detailer to let you borrow his Prosol for a few seconds.
It shouldn't be very hard to find and is cheap, all you'd need is a spray, let it sit for a few seconds, then wipe clean.
Heck, if you know somebody that works at a car delearship, see if they can get the auto detailer to let you borrow his Prosol for a few seconds.
- Apr 20, 2009
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- I'm the Squier of Fenderbirds
I'm consciously reviving this zombie thread for future paint removers. Johnk's Easy Off oven cleaner tip is the boobies. Works like a charm for removing paint (I used a scrub brush too). DO NOT USE GOOF OFF GRAFFITI REMOVER. It melts the vinyl.
Carry on y'all.
Carry on y'all.
Regular alcohol such as Vodka works as well.
I've had to resort to acetone to get paint off of rat fur coverings. Difficult to work with because of the fumes and it absorbs into your skin. Proper gloves and a well ventalated work area are a must. But strong solvents such as acetone will melt tolex. It will smooth of the texture, worst case melt a hole in it.
I've had to resort to acetone to get paint off of rat fur coverings. Difficult to work with because of the fumes and it absorbs into your skin. Proper gloves and a well ventalated work area are a must. But strong solvents such as acetone will melt tolex. It will smooth of the texture, worst case melt a hole in it.
- Aug 3, 2007
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- Current: Blackstar, DR strings, Nady. Previous endorsements with: GK, Rotosound, Ernie Ball, Cleartone, EMG, Dean, Dava Picks, Rebel Straps, Dickies
Since this was brought back up to the top, I figured i'd bolster a previous comment. Often times even cleaning the tolex will create a discolored area on the cab regardless of how well the previous paint was removed. Short of recovering a cab, SEM paint IS a legitimate option.
It's not a quick fix, cover up, or spray bomb diy fix. It is an automotive industry standard for repairing or altering the color of vinyl and leather. It is essentially an aerosol or spray gun applied dye.
It's not a quick fix, cover up, or spray bomb diy fix. It is an automotive industry standard for repairing or altering the color of vinyl and leather. It is essentially an aerosol or spray gun applied dye.
what !! LOL Jimmy Jamerson looks authentic to me. thats a huge valuable piece of history 
- Aug 3, 2007
- 1,678
- 2,146
- Disclosures
- Current: Blackstar, DR strings, Nady. Previous endorsements with: GK, Rotosound, Ernie Ball, Cleartone, EMG, Dean, Dava Picks, Rebel Straps, Dickies
Someone put black shoe polish on an Ampeg svt210av I bought a while back. It was fairly easy to clean off and at the end of the day I couldn't figure out why they went that route other than they wanted a glossy look on their cab and had enough sense not to use ArmorAll!
Armor All has silicone and not recommended, its for tires, and alot of car guys actually hate it too for tires, so i really dont know what its for really lol. your dashboard i guess, it evaporates the next day or so and will yellow certain vinyls. makes your cab or car slippery and gooey and dust sticks to it.
im just repeating the industry blah blah cause ive used it, but it doesnt get rid of the staining in the patterns of the vinyl, after super cleaning vinyl with toothbrush and still have little haze in the vinyl patterns, shoe polish will give it a super shine and rid the stains in the vinyl pattern. and likewish im sure there is some reason not to use it...but you know lol. basically it hides the dirt you cant clean off for a restored look. a 210av...no biggie. maybe a vintage Sunn or a vintage Ampeg or Fender where you dont wanna remove the original tolex, especially sunn stuff which has impossible hard to find vinyl patterns and reduce value of the amp. you restore the original vinyl and not remove value
otherwise Lexol vinyl restore is the prude super fancy alternative to dollar store armour all, just kidding, i dont pay for brand names i buy the generic krap for dollar not brand name.
and likewise Lexol leather treatment is for real leather interiors, and number one recommended treatment in the furniture industry, if you own real leather couch/chair not vinyl
im just repeating the industry blah blah cause ive used it, but it doesnt get rid of the staining in the patterns of the vinyl, after super cleaning vinyl with toothbrush and still have little haze in the vinyl patterns, shoe polish will give it a super shine and rid the stains in the vinyl pattern. and likewish im sure there is some reason not to use it...but you know lol. basically it hides the dirt you cant clean off for a restored look. a 210av...no biggie. maybe a vintage Sunn or a vintage Ampeg or Fender where you dont wanna remove the original tolex, especially sunn stuff which has impossible hard to find vinyl patterns and reduce value of the amp. you restore the original vinyl and not remove value
otherwise Lexol vinyl restore is the prude super fancy alternative to dollar store armour all, just kidding, i dont pay for brand names i buy the generic krap for dollar not brand name.
and likewise Lexol leather treatment is for real leather interiors, and number one recommended treatment in the furniture industry, if you own real leather couch/chair not vinyl
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I tried Goo Gone with a toothbrush. Didn't budge. Going to pick up some Easy Off Oven Cleaner tomorrow and give that a try.
Tried Easy Off Oven Cleaner. Scrubbed with a toothbrush. The paint didn’t budge. Sprayed more Easy Off, let it sit an hour, scrubbed with a toothbrush, still didn’t budge. I also tried WD40, no good and then isopropyl alcohol, no good. Nothing is working. I think this paint is either very old or the best paint on Earth. At this point, I’m going to try painting over it with SEM semigloss black.
- Feb 16, 2008
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- John K Custom Basses
it sounds like it was painted with a vinyl paint like SEM. the vinyl paints actually etch and bond with vinyl (and tolex) so it won't come off with anything. now that it's clean and scrubbed, a few coats of SEM with make it look great.
I’m sorry, I wasn’t clear. It’s an Ampeg cab that has drips of white paint in it. One spot about the size of a half dollar on the top, and a run down the side that worked it’s way under the side handle.
- Feb 16, 2008
- 21,240
- 23,633
- Disclosures
- John K Custom Basses
well, if it was lacquer, nothing will take it off. enamel and water based paints can be removed with easy off oven cleaner, but lacquer also etches tolex.
If all else fails try, dabbing it with an acetone soaked cotton makeup removing pad.
Be careful with the amount of solvent applied, that’s why I said dab it. Acetone can soften the vinyl. It can also penetrate through the vinyl and dissolve the adhesive.
On some Gibson instrument cases, the vinyl color is painted on. Always best to do a spot test. As far as I know, vintage Ampeg is not like this, the color is in the vinyl.
Be careful with the amount of solvent applied, that’s why I said dab it. Acetone can soften the vinyl. It can also penetrate through the vinyl and dissolve the adhesive.
On some Gibson instrument cases, the vinyl color is painted on. Always best to do a spot test. As far as I know, vintage Ampeg is not like this, the color is in the vinyl.
Lesson learned - Easy Off works a lot better when you use a medium or stiff bristle toothbrush, rather than a soft bristle toothbrush. But it still wasn’t perfect, so after cleaning the area of any remaining Easy Off, I sprayed some semi gloss black spray paint onto a small sponge and lightly dabbed it onto the area. Finally, I used the sponge to feather the area and make it blend in. I’m happy with the way it turned out. Looks 90% better than it was!
