acetone vs light switch

[Hactar]

When the room was painted, the painter swiped/splashed paint on the door
knobs/handles/hinges, the floor, outlets, and light switches. Door
hardware is easy, remove it before I clean it. If I can't remove it, it
scrapes off with a fingernail and some effort. Floors are easy, it's
tile. What about the others? Acetone dissolves paint, but will it
dissolve switches and outlets too?

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[Hactar]

In article <q417dbtrmqm7rov7d...@4ax.com>,
Les Albert <lalb...@aol.com> wrote:

> On Sun, 28 Feb 2016 14:21:12 -0500, ebenZ...@verizon.net (Hactar)
> wrote:
>
> >When the room was painted, the painter swiped/splashed paint on the door
> >knobs/handles/hinges, the floor, outlets, and light switches. Door
> >hardware is easy, remove it before I clean it. If I can't remove it, it
> >scrapes off with a fingernail and some effort. Floors are easy, it's
> >tile. What about the others? Acetone dissolves paint, but will it
> >dissolve switches and outlets too?
>

> Try some of these other methods that won't dissolve plastic:
> http://www.doityourself.com/stry/how-to-remove-paint-from-plastic#b

Interesting, thanks. It does say to try nail polish remover, but it
doesn't specify standard or non-acetone stuff.

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-eben QebWe...@vTerYizUonI.nOetP ebmanda.redirectme.net:81
Drive nail here > < for new monitor.

[Pierre Jelenc]

In article <8utbqc-...@pc.home>, Hactar <ebenZ...@verizon.net> wrote:
>When the room was painted, the painter swiped/splashed paint on the door
>knobs/handles/hinges, the floor, outlets, and light switches. Door
>hardware is easy, remove it before I clean it. If I can't remove it, it
>scrapes off with a fingernail and some effort. Floors are easy, it's
>tile. What about the others? Acetone dissolves paint, but will it
>dissolve switches and outlets too?

I always start with mineral oil (baby oil) and patience. Paint the spot
lightly with oil and let it sit several days. Usually that will soften it
so that it can be scraped or rubbed off, then washed with detergent
without affecting the plastic. If the surface is vertical, try a paper
towel pad soaked in oil and held against the surface with tape.

This works also extremely well to remove labels with adhesive backings.

Pierre
--
Pierre Jelenc
The Gigometer www.gigometer.com
The NYC Beer Guide www.nycbeer.org

[Tim Wright]

On 2/28/2016 1:21 PM, Hactar wrote:
> When the room was painted, the painter swiped/splashed paint on the door
> knobs/handles/hinges, the floor, outlets, and light switches. Door
> hardware is easy, remove it before I clean it. If I can't remove it, it
> scrapes off with a fingernail and some effort. Floors are easy, it's
> tile. What about the others? Acetone dissolves paint, but will it
> dissolve switches and outlets too?
>

If the paint is only on the switch plate or outlet cover, just replace
them. You can get them for < 30¢.

--
Suppose you were an idiot, and suppose you were a member of Congress;
but I repeat myself.
- Mark Twain

Tim W

[Hactar]

In article <lfGdne3BkuqKKU7L...@supernews.com>,

Tim Wright <tlwri...@gmail.com> wrote:
> On 2/28/2016 1:21 PM, Hactar wrote:
> > When the room was painted, the painter swiped/splashed paint on the door
> > knobs/handles/hinges, the floor, outlets, and light switches. Door
> > hardware is easy, remove it before I clean it. If I can't remove it, it
> > scrapes off with a fingernail and some effort. Floors are easy, it's
> > tile. What about the others? Acetone dissolves paint, but will it
> > dissolve switches and outlets too?
> >
> If the paint is only on the switch plate or outlet cover, just replace

> them. You can get them for < 30ข.

It's not. Besides, the covers are flat and therefore relatively easy to
de-paint.

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virus. You are the Lord of the Dance, no matter what those

[bill van]

In article <ajpcqc-...@pc.home>, ebenZ...@verizon.net (Hactar)
wrote:

> In article <lfGdne3BkuqKKU7L...@supernews.com>,
> Tim Wright <tlwri...@gmail.com> wrote:
> > On 2/28/2016 1:21 PM, Hactar wrote:
> > > When the room was painted, the painter swiped/splashed paint on the door
> > > knobs/handles/hinges, the floor, outlets, and light switches. Door
> > > hardware is easy, remove it before I clean it. If I can't remove it, it
> > > scrapes off with a fingernail and some effort. Floors are easy, it's
> > > tile. What about the others? Acetone dissolves paint, but will it
> > > dissolve switches and outlets too?
> > >
> > If the paint is only on the switch plate or outlet cover, just replace
> > them. You can get them for < 30ข.
>
> It's not. Besides, the covers are flat and therefore relatively easy to
> de-paint.

Surely this is the painter's responsibility. Is there no way to get him
to clean up after himself?
--
bill

[Lesmond]

Sometimes all I have to do is read the subject and know exactly who posted
it.


_
Queen of the fucking universe.

[Hactar]

In article <billvan-A42623...@shawnews.vc.shawcable.net>,

It's my mother. Apparently I'm a lot pickier than she is.

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What is this called? http://imgur.com/c6bHOCc 19 cm/7.5" tall
-eben QebWe...@vTerYizUonI.nOetP ebmanda.redirectme.net:81

Answer: two spoonfuls in my cup, please.
Question: how much should I use? (why top-posting is bad)

[bill van]

In article <br2dqc-...@pc.home>, ebenZ...@verizon.net (Hactar)

wrote:

> In article <billvan-A42623...@shawnews.vc.shawcable.net>,
> bill van <bil...@delete.shaw.ca> wrote:
> > In article <ajpcqc-...@pc.home>, ebenZ...@verizon.net (Hactar)
> > wrote:
> >
> > > In article <lfGdne3BkuqKKU7L...@supernews.com>,
> > > Tim Wright <tlwri...@gmail.com> wrote:
> > > > On 2/28/2016 1:21 PM, Hactar wrote:
> > > > > When the room was painted, the painter swiped/splashed paint on the
> > > > > door
> > > > > knobs/handles/hinges, the floor, outlets, and light switches. Door
> > > > > hardware is easy, remove it before I clean it. If I can't remove it,
> > > > > it
> > > > > scrapes off with a fingernail and some effort. Floors are easy, it's
> > > > > tile. What about the others? Acetone dissolves paint, but will it
> > > > > dissolve switches and outlets too?
> > > > >
> > > > If the paint is only on the switch plate or outlet cover, just replace
> > > > them. You can get them for < 30ข.
> > >
> > > It's not. Besides, the covers are flat and therefore relatively easy to
> > > de-paint.
> >
> > Surely this is the painter's responsibility. Is there no way to get him
> > to clean up after himself?
>
> It's my mother. Apparently I'm a lot pickier than she is.

Ah. Well, I assume you got a good price, then. Good luck with the
cleanup.
--
bill

[Greg Goss]

ebenZ...@verizon.net (Hactar) wrote:

>When the room was painted, the painter swiped/splashed paint on the door
>knobs/handles/hinges, the floor, outlets, and light switches. Door
>hardware is easy, remove it before I clean it. If I can't remove it, it
>scrapes off with a fingernail and some effort. Floors are easy, it's
>tile. What about the others? Acetone dissolves paint, but will it
>dissolve switches and outlets too?

My new North Van apartment was similar. Whatever happened to the idea
of painting the wall BEFORE screwing the covers on?

In my case, fingernails worked fine on the plug / light switch covers,
too.
--
We are geeks. Resistance is voltage over current.

[Osmium]

"Hactar" wrote:

> In article <q417dbtrmqm7rov7d...@4ax.com>,
> Les Albert <lalb...@aol.com> wrote:
>> On Sun, 28 Feb 2016 14:21:12 -0500, ebenZ...@verizon.net (Hactar)
>> wrote:
>>
>> >When the room was painted, the painter swiped/splashed paint on the door
>> >knobs/handles/hinges, the floor, outlets, and light switches. Door
>> >hardware is easy, remove it before I clean it. If I can't remove it, it
>> >scrapes off with a fingernail and some effort. Floors are easy, it's
>> >tile. What about the others? Acetone dissolves paint, but will it
>> >dissolve switches and outlets too?
>>
>> Try some of these other methods that won't dissolve plastic:
>> http://www.doityourself.com/stry/how-to-remove-paint-from-plastic#b
>
> Interesting, thanks. It does say to try nail polish remover, but it
> doesn't specify standard or non-acetone stuff.

My interpretation of that is that acetone is OK. I think most people think
nail polish *is* acetone, and the author is writing for "most people", not
chemists.

[Hactar]

In article <djivrr...@mid.individual.net>,

Greg Goss <go...@gossg.org> wrote:
> ebenZ...@verizon.net (Hactar) wrote:
>
> >When the room was painted, the painter swiped/splashed paint on the door
> >knobs/handles/hinges, the floor, outlets, and light switches. Door
> >hardware is easy, remove it before I clean it. If I can't remove it, it
> >scrapes off with a fingernail and some effort. Floors are easy, it's
> >tile. What about the others? Acetone dissolves paint, but will it
> >dissolve switches and outlets too?
>
> My new North Van apartment was similar. Whatever happened to the idea
> of painting the wall BEFORE screwing the covers on?

Yes, that would have made sense. Or even *gasp* masking things. She
appears to have taken the outlet covers and possibly the switch covers
off before painting, but the actual outlets, switches, door handles,
strike plates, and hinges, they're now splotchy blue or white.

> In my case, fingernails worked fine on the plug / light switch covers,
> too.

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B. Who's there? \ writing/

[Charles Bishop]

In article <8utbqc-...@pc.home>, ebenZ...@verizon.net (Hactar)
wrote:

> When the room was painted, the painter swiped/splashed paint on the door
> knobs/handles/hinges, the floor, outlets, and light switches. Door
> hardware is easy, remove it before I clean it. If I can't remove it, it
> scrapes off with a fingernail and some effort. Floors are easy, it's
> tile. What about the others? Acetone dissolves paint, but will it
> dissolve switches and outlets too?

Was the paint water based? If so, it will probably easily scrape off the
light switches and outlets. Buy new switch plates.

He really "splashed" the paint on these things?

Did you pay him?

--
charles

[Hactar]

In article <ctbishop-6FEAD0...@news.individual.net>,

Charles Bishop <ctbi...@earthlink.net> wrote:
> In article <8utbqc-...@pc.home>, ebenZ...@verizon.net (Hactar)
> wrote:
>
> > When the room was painted, the painter swiped/splashed paint on the door
> > knobs/handles/hinges, the floor, outlets, and light switches. Door
> > hardware is easy, remove it before I clean it. If I can't remove it, it
> > scrapes off with a fingernail and some effort. Floors are easy, it's
> > tile. What about the others? Acetone dissolves paint, but will it
> > dissolve switches and outlets too?
>
> Was the paint water based? If so, it will probably easily scrape off the
> light switches and outlets. Buy new switch plates.

It looks like she took the switch plates and outlet covers off first.
Notably _not_ the door handles and strike plates.

> He really "splashed" the paint on these things?

There are spots of paint on the floor. Some appear to have been stepped
on or otherwise transferred from something else. A few are from the
previous painting job. I got most of them with acetone, but the stuff in
the grout is a lot harder to remove. I'm not sure I could, without
removing the grout too. Maybe hit it with a steamer to melt it, then sop
it up with a paper towel.

> Did you pay him?

No, it's my mother's house and she and my sister were the painters.

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I can't remember where I heard this, but someone once said that defen-
ding a position by citing free speech is sort of the ultimate conces-
sion; you're saying that the most compelling thing you can say for

[Osmium]

"Hactar" wrote:

>> Did you pay him?
>
> No, it's my mother's house and she and my sister were the painters.

Why does this case remind me of Judge Wapner?

[Jeff Wisnia]

When I paid my first visit to the apartment of the girl who became my
SWMBO of the last 38 years I was shocked, shocked to see that she had
wallpapered her kitchen by herself and papered right over the switch
plates and outlets.

She had punched small holes in the paper for the switch levers and plug
prongs to fit through.

We're a good match though, she's great with helping people and kids with
learning problems and I can fix anything except a broken heart or the
crack of dawn.

Jeff
--
Jeffry Wisnia
(W1BSV + Brass Rat '57 EE)
The speed of light is 1.8*10^12 furlongs per fortnight.

[Hactar]

In article <TNydncajn-Kf8UrL...@giganews.com>,

Maybe you know how to patch the crack that's developed in my rear end.
Apparently Beldar Conehead knows the secret.

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A: Because it looks dumb and is hard to read.
Q: Why is top-posting wrong? -- from lot...@xxx.com

[Lee Ayrton]

On 3/2/2016 5:41 PM, Jeff Wisnia wrote:
>
> When I paid my first visit to the apartment of the girl who became my
> SWMBO of the last 38 years I was shocked, shocked to see that she had
> wallpapered her kitchen by herself and papered right over the switch
> plates and outlets.
>
> She had punched small holes in the paper for the switch levers and plug
> prongs to fit through.

Professional paper hangers get paid money to do that.

Oh, wait. She didn't paper the cover plates separately, carefully
aligning the paper pattern on the plate with the paper on the wall?
Never mind.


Lee "Done papering the room, cannot find the cat." Ayrton

[danny burstein]

That's like all those people on tv who take a gift box, put wrapping
paper on the main portion, then put a separate sheet of paper
on the cover and for good measure a ribbon and bow, then
place the top on the box.

--
_____________________________________________________
Knowledge may be power, but communications is the key
dan...@panix.com
[to foil spammers, my address has been double rot-13 encoded]