What damage will this do?

[mrquadriga]

Since my '80 1100L is not rideable at the moment, I've been polishing and polishing and polishing....etc. It looks like I have that dreaded clear coat on the casings or it is some other kind of grime or film. Steel wool will remove it but holy Budweiser!!!!, does that ever take some elbow grease! It has been suggested to me that perhaps Acetone might work to strip that off so that I may then use Jay B's technique for really making it shine! So far I've used finger nail polish remover, (didn't work and blackened the casing a little) and the all purpose "Gas Soaked Rag". (didn't work either but what a buzz! :? ) Any "strippers" out there that could give me the definitive word on Acetone being applied without causing damage? I've never used the stuff....Thanks, Pete.

 

[xxwaldoxx]

Fingernail polish remover is mostly acetone as far as i know. i would think there wouldnt be much difference if you used the straight acetone.

You could try M.E.K. (Methyl Ethyl Ketone). Beware, the fumes are pretty harsh. Use it in a well ventilated area.

You should be able to pick up M.E.K. in a paint store or somplace like home depot

*EDIT*
If you do use the mek try it on something small thats out of site. Better yet, maybe a spare part, not a part of your bike. If your polishing metal i cant imagine it doing any damage, but ive only ever used it in wood finishes and for melting lacquer.

 

[Rock]

I used acetone on mine. It pretty much came right off with a little fine bronze wool without much work at all. Works great.

 

[schinae]

Aircraft stripper. A little pricey, but eats paint off in seconds. Autoparts stores may have a diluted version that still works better than anything else ive ever used.

 

[ringo00]

Be EXTREMELY careful with MEK. It will eat through aluminum and aluminum alloys. I don't know it the engine covers are aluminum or steel so do some homework before working with that stuff.

 

[Jay B]

Whenever I set out to polish anything I use regular old paint stripper (Zip Strip) from Wally World. I'm really really careful around anything that is rubber or plastic and will tape the heck out of that peice if I need to. Havent hurt anything yet.

 

[tconroy]

removing clearcoat

removing clearcoat

What do you do to casings after removing clearcoat to shine them up and protect them? I have that clearcoat peeling on both casings and that white stuff that looks like dried up toothpaste. How do you get ride of that crud????????????

 

[Rock]

This is a site someone else here recommended a while back. http://www.caswellplating.com/bbs/index.php

 

[Anonymous]

I used a variety of sandpaper starting with 120 grit up to 800 grit and then polish with Mothers or Autosol both work great. Once you get the clear coat off start using finer and finer sandpaper and then poilish. Great results Andy