How to remove paint from PVC pipe?

[MiamiCuse]

I have a section of PVC pipe I need to put a ball valve in. The pipe was
previously painted (I believe water based paint) and I need to clean that
paint off so I can apply PVC primer and glue. What is the best way to clean
the paint off? I tried sandpaper and that did not go very far,

Thanks,

MC

[Nate Nagel]

Coarser sandpaper... OR if the pipe was just painted over without prep,
you might have luck with hot water (as hot as you can stand) and a soft
scraper (think bondo spreader)

nate

--
replace "roosters" with "cox" to reply.
http://members.cox.net/njnagel

[George]

I would just use a little coarser open coat sandpaper initially to break
through the paint and then follow up with finer paper.

[ransley]

alcohol will soften latex, even booze. Cover it with a rag and soak it
for an hr or two

[Oren]

Acetone?

[Smitty Two]

In article <1Y6dne5XK6o2rnfU...@dsli.com>,
"MiamiCuse" <nmbe...@hotmail.com> wrote:

> I tried sandpaper and that did not go very far

Uh, sandpaper alone is useless. You have to mix it with elbow grease.

[hr(bob) hofmann@att.net]

On Apr 18, 4:36 pm, Smitty Two <prestwh...@earthlink.net> wrote:
> In article <1Y6dne5XK6o2rnfUnZ2dnUVZ_tydn...@dsli.com>,

>
>  "MiamiCuse" <nmbexc...@hotmail.com> wrote:
> > I tried sandpaper and that did not go very far
>
> Uh, sandpaper alone is useless. You have to mix it with elbow grease.

I would use a wire brush or a wire wheel in an electroc drill

[Clot]

Not good with PVC from recollection. T'was many years ago,1970s, when re
plumbing a 1920s house with PVC waste pipes.

[Red Green]

ransley <Mark_R...@Yahoo.com> wrote in
news:d74c3d3f-c64a-4eae...@q16g2000yqg.googlegroups.com:

Mechanical suggestions are better but as far as chemicals, xylene is what's
in Goof-off. Then, there's regular old paint stripper.

[Bob F]

Acetone will definately disolve the PVC.

[Phisherman]

On Sat, 18 Apr 2009 16:10:18 -0400, "MiamiCuse"
<nmbe...@hotmail.com> wrote:

There are 80, 100, 150 and 220 grit sandpapers. I'd try the 100 grit
first.

[bfr...@hotmail.com]

Have you tried the primer yet. I would think that the primer by
itself might do the trick. It's job is to clean the pipe.

[nor...@earthlink.net]

Paint remover will soften paint almost instantaneously. If removed as
soon as the paint wrinkles up, it probably won't soften the PVC. Fine
steel wool for final clean-up.

[Frank]

Correct. Solvents that remove paint will attack PVC.

[ransley]

> Correct.  Solvents that remove paint will attack PVC.- Hide quoted text -
>
> - Show quoted text -

Not alcohol, alcohol will make it just peel off .

[larry moe 'n curly]

MiamiCuse wrote:

Brake fluid eats paint, leaves most plastics alone, even styrofoam.
I used some to remove the paint from my Ford wheel covers made of an
ABS-lexan blend.

[Red Green]

"larry moe 'n curly" <larrymo...@my-deja.com> wrote in
news:45b966f4-bfb1-4126...@j18g2000prm.googlegroups.com:

>
>
> MiamiCuse wrote:
>
>> I have a section of PVC pipe I need to put a ball valve in. The pipe
>> was previously painted (I believe water based paint) and I need to
>> clean that paint off so I can apply PVC primer and glue. What is the
>> best way to clean the paint off? I tried sandpaper and that did not
>> go very far,
>
> Brake fluid eats paint, leaves most plastics alone, even styrofoam.

Makes sense since many brake fluid parts are plastic. There are so many
plastics though. Can be impervious to one plastic and liquify another.

If OP does try this, wear safety glasses. This is one time you really
need them! I'm told it's one of the most damaging fluids you can get in
your eyes. It sucks the water out of what it comes in contact with, aka
brake fluid is hydroscopic (absorbs water).

[Joe]

On Apr 19, 7:11 pm, Red Green <postmas...@127.0.0.1> wrote:

>snip<

> It sucks the water out of what it comes in contact with, aka
> brake fluid is hydroscopic (absorbs water).
>

Correction: 'hygroscopic'. You're welcome. <G>

Joe

[Red Green]

Joe <jbo...@aol.com> wrote in news:8491bb8c-0f84-4a1d-b6f3-41e107c3afd2
@k2g2000yql.googlegroups.com:

Well, either way, it still sucks. :-)

[mi...@poolproblemssolved.com]

I use a file, cleaning the file whenever the paint buildup in the grooves reduces cleaning ability. So far I haven't found anything more efficient or cost effective.