Removing paint from plastic.

[Salted_Chipmunk]

You kow how every rice boy decides to pain their plasticy bits in the their car?

Well i wanna remove the paint that the dude before me put in as its starting to peal and looks even more shithouse.

I tried using a little thinners on it then rinsing with wather before it started to eat at the the plastic, but it looks like the person primed it before painting and is being really stubborn to get off.

I also tried blasting it with an electric high pressure water hose, but it only gets a small amount, most stays still.

Am i best to rub it down with some wet and dry and then mask up and paint to the original colour?

If worst comes to worst then i'll hunt through the wreckers and source second hand parts.

[That_Bloke]

Try as you might you won't get paint off plastic in any satisfactory way, you could:

A: if you hadn't already tried to remove the paint, Rub it all down with scotchbrite(the grey or the maroon, but not the usually the green) to take the shine off the paint & then prime & paint(you'll have to add plasticiser to both so they dry flexible) over the top of it in the colour of your choice, this doesn't work so well if you've already tried to remove the paint another way, as there will be chunks taken out of the paint & making this surface flat again(although it can be done) will kill you elbows, finger tips & wrists

B: If you want an unpainted look your option might just have to be buying new plasticy bits(Bumber bars about $80, side trims $30-$100ish)

[frednurk]

Which bits in particular? Are we talking Bumper bars and exterior stuff or interior? Sorry but i am ignorant of ricey trends. :)
I can help I think.

[Salted_Chipmunk]

Its interior stuff, the outside has been kept stcok thank god.

I think that im gonna go the stock way and try and source some parts, i know of a similar car that has just been pranged in my area so im gonna hit the guy up if hes selling it in pieces.

[frednurk]

Okay!
Are we talking chrome vaporised covered parts, dash, console or what?
How extensive is the offending paintjob? Is it acrylic or enamel spraypaint, or something worse like vinyl colourspray? Can you scratch it off with your fingernails? (How hard is it?)
If the paint is just over chrome vaporised stuff, then this is good. Strong chemicals can be used.
To remove paint from chrome- use acetone- but quickly. Do not rub too much or the flash chrome will rub off as well. :(
Work in small patches at a time. Do not be discouraged by white streaking as this can be polished off later with a mild abrasive. I use Jiff. Mechanised polishing can be done - but carefully to avoid heat friction and melting the plastic substrate. Work wet, and wipe away any excess later.
How to tell the difference between acrylic and enamel? Test for hardness. Apply acetone (nail polish remover) and see if the paint bubbles. Quick bubbles equals enamel. This is good as sprayed enamel is much softer and easier to chemically remove.
There is more, but I would need some further info.
If you decide to take the nuts and bolts solution and replace the lot, then I can understand. Still though, I like a challenge. Could save you hundreds too :)

[Salted_Chipmunk]

Well the only things that are left now is the middle of the centre console and the surround around the dashboard instruments. Im going to leave the dashboard part as it looks quite alright.

For the door handle surrounds, i have actually rubbed them down with thinners, which in my stupidity did melt them slightly, but i have rubbed them down with some sand paper and then wet ''n' dried them down to a smooth finish. (They did originaly have a cracked finish to them, i think that they look better now. Im going to prime and paint them to the original colours soon.

The centre console is in a bit of a mess though, dont have a digi cam at the moment, waiting for my bro' new one to come and ill take a picture of it, but i think that i will maybe rub it down and do the same as there are some scratches in it at the moment.

If it looks shit then i'll just buy a new centre console.