Remove spray paint from a windshield - possible?

My '94 VFR750 came with a "custom" flat-black windshield.  Is there any way to remove spray paint from a windshield without damaging the plastic, short of sanding it off and trying to polish the screen clear again?

I remember hearing about using oven cleaner to remove paint without damaging plastic.  Does anyone know if oven cleaner would damage the windshield?  What is the stock windshield made of?

Also, the tank and fairing have been sprayed or maybe brushed with a "sparkle" paint, and I don't even know if the original paint underneath was scuffed with sandpaper.  How should I go about removing the sparkle paint without damaging the oem paint?  I hope to do this as a stop-gap measure, with plans to do a re-paint in the future.  But the sparkle has got to go NOW!  I know most spray paint will soften with gasoline, what else would help remove it without hurting the factory finish?

Thanks,
Scott in Penfield NY

[image: View Post]80sDweeb, on 20 March 2010 - 02:37 AM, said:

My '94 VFR750 came with a "custom" flat-black windshield.  Is there any way to remove spray paint from a windshield without damaging the plastic, short of sanding it off and trying to polish the screen clear again?

I remember hearing about using oven cleaner to remove paint without damaging plastic.  Does anyone know if oven cleaner would damage the windshield?  What is the stock windshield made of?

Also, the tank and fairing have been sprayed or maybe brushed with a "sparkle" paint, and I don't even know if the original paint underneath was scuffed with sandpaper.  How should I go about removing the sparkle paint without damaging the oem paint?  I hope to do this as a stop-gap measure, with plans to do a re-paint in the future.  But the sparkle has got to go NOW!  I know most spray paint will soften with gasoline, what else would help remove it without hurting the factory finish?

Thanks,
Scott in Penfield NY

Try using some brake oil on a small area. Avoid any solvents(thinner, paint removers) on it will discolor the plastic

[image: View Post]AnikMankar, on 20 March 2010 - 05:54 AM, said:

Try using some brake oil on a small area. Avoid any solvents(thinner, paint removers) on it will discolor the plastic
I wouldn't do that - my windshield has some blotches on it that I'm pretty sure are from brake fluid, and I can't get them out, no matter what I polish the screen with.
Try using something mildly abrasive, like very fine sandpaper (1200 grit or finer, and the wet and dry stuff), and see how that goes. Somewhere on Interdweebland, there's a demo of scratch removal using progressively finer wet'n'dry, followed up by cutting compound, swirl remover, plastic polish, etc.
If you're a bit leery of using sandpaper, just try a cutting compound first.
I'm not sure what you can use in the solvent range that will attack the paint and not the windshield or OEM paint, but as you said, gas is one fairly safe bet for the tank, as it won't harm the lacquer. It should be OK on the windshield as well, but even if you do use that, you're still going to have to polish it. If the PO has used a lacquer-based paint, then it becomes a lot trickier.

Windscreens are so cheap, I'd just get a new one and be done with it.

Check EBAY for a Dubious Chinese Double Bubble, or perhaps a Zero Gravity factory second.

Here is the first cheapest one that popped up, there are a bunch more on there at the moment. $25 SHIPPED:

http://cgi.ebay.com/...sQ5fAccessories

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[image: View Post]enzed_viffer, on 20 March 2010 - 05:26 PM, said:

[image: View Post]AnikMankar, on 20 March 2010 - 05:54 AM, said:

Try using some brake oil on a small area. Avoid any solvents(thinner, paint removers) on it will discolor the plastic
I wouldn't do that - my windshield has some blotches on it that I'm pretty sure are from brake fluid, and I can't get them out, no matter what I polish the screen with.
Try using something mildly abrasive, like very fine sandpaper (1200 grit or finer, and the wet and dry stuff), and see how that goes. Somewhere on Interdweebland, there's a demo of scratch removal using progressively finer wet'n'dry, followed up by cutting compound, swirl remover, plastic polish, etc.
If you're a bit leery of using sandpaper, just try a cutting compound first.
I'm not sure what you can use in the solvent range that will attack the paint and not the windshield or OEM paint, but as you said, gas is one fairly safe bet for the tank, as it won't harm the lacquer. It should be OK on the windshield as well, but even if you do use that, you're still going to have to polish it. If the PO has used a lacquer-based paint, then it becomes a lot trickier.

Yeah, DON'T do that! Brake fluid eats plastic! There's nothing you can do to that screen that will be easier or cheaper than buying a new one. Sorry bro!  http://www.vfrdiscus...tyle_emoticons/default/sad.gif

You could shoot some gloss black on both sides...   :woohoo:

Try a pressure washer.  Might be enough pressure to remove the crappy paint but leave the OEM.

There's a product called Goof-Off. Won't damage the finish on the windscreen but it'll remove paint no problem. I've used it around the house when painting things that, well, shouldn't have paint on them.