Tips for stripping a CP overlay?

kylejpatrick

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Hi all,

I'm about to start stripping the overlay off of a Centipede cabaret control panel, and I get the sinking feeling that simply chiseling it off is going to be a bear. My friend suggested reaching out and seeing if any of you use a paint stripper you like? Is there any risk to the metal underneath it?

Thanks,

Kyle
 
Full-strength stripper (e.g., Klean-strip or the like, not the citrus based stuff, which works 20x slower). Do it outside of possible, and be prepared to toss all of the paper towels, as it makes a mess, but will work (i.e., have a big trash barrel nearby, and wear gloves, as the stuff burns if you get it on your skin). Messy, but the best/fastest way to get it all off.

You will want to re-paint the bare metal afterwards, before you apply the new CPO, as rust can develop under the CPO if it isn't painted first. You can try to salvage the paint on the back/inside of the CP, so you don't have to repaint that part.
 
I use a heat gun with paint scraper, works for paint and sticker type overlays. Then I use my orbital sander with 60 grit to remove the leftover adhesive and paint.

For sticker/polycarbonate overlays don't heat it until it melts, just heat enough to loosen the adhesive and get the scraper under and peel. If it melts its a bigger mess and hassle. Overall I prefer this to chemical strippers. But those work well too.
 
Also recommend using white paint when you repaint (with maybe a 1/4 - 1/2 inch of black paint on the edges so the white paint won't be at all visible on said edges after the overlay is applied).

The white color underneath really makes the colors of the CPO "pop" out after it's applied.

I did this for my Venture upright CP, and it looked fantastic when I was done.

Jon
 
I used Citristrip, covering the entire panel and placed it in a trash bag overnight. By morning, it literally fell off the panel. Made the process MUCH easier.
 
Heat gun to remove the overlay and CitriStrip to remove the remaining adhesive. Works equally well on wood or metal control panels. Easy-peasy.
 
As most have said...Citristrip, heat gun, scraper, etc. Some people have had good luck with a hot blade scraper, others have used a gas grill with a metal control panel and cooked off the cpo. I've had luck with Citristrip to begin and then a wire wheel on a corded drill. Lots of ways to do it. depends on your fear of chemicals, patience, time and effort.
 
I use xylene to remove the glue residue. Goof off used to be made with xylene. Probably not the safest way but its cheap and very effective. Just do it outdoors and wear gloves. I brush it on, let it sit for a minute or 2 and scrape off glue with a new sharp razor blade. Usually 2 applications get 99% of the glue off. Then I just hit it with an orbital sander.
 
Been in the hobby for 20yrs. There's no good way to do it. Best I've found is to use heat and pull the overlay off, leaving the adhesive behind. You then use the nasty stripper like Strip-Eez (not the safe/citrus stuff) to dissolve the adhesive.
 
Recently, i used the cold spray method. Compressed air upside down. The cpo comes off in chunks but leaves less residue. Havent used method enough to really recommend yet but it had promising results.
 
Hi all,

I'm about to start stripping the overlay off of a Centipede cabaret control panel, and I get the sinking feeling that simply chiseling it off is going to be a bear. My friend suggested reaching out and seeing if any of you use a paint stripper you like? Is there any risk to the metal underneath it?

Thanks,

Kyle

Heat gun and metal putty knife for starters. Then, Goof-Off or gasoline for the sticky residue. Then, hose off, dry and you're done!
 
Citristrip. Yeah it takes a little longer but the crusty old mylar will fall off, many times the adhesive comes off with it. When it doesnt a paint scraper does the job.

Also doesnt hurt your skin if it makes contact.
 
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