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ghiamanjc Samba Member
Joined: August 16, 2020 Posts: 144 Location: Vancouver BC
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Posted: Tue Feb 15, 2022 9:05 pm Post subject: *Need advice* How to remove a paint tatoo |
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I bought this car last year knowing it had a tattoo from a few POs ago.
** Note to the new KG owners out there - please don't paint your initials on your car**
Its paint not a decal.
Its under the clear coat I believe. Looks like PO did a restoration including a repaint about 10 yrs ago including adding his name.
Yes - I can do a full sand and repaint but I can't do that myself (no facilities nor interest) and that will cost $20k. That would also fix two minor rust spots I have under one door and the usual paint nicks. The car is only worth $20k so not a great ROI.
My wife's idea is to take some matching paint and nimbly paint Red over the black lettering. Not perfect but will block the tattoo to the casual viewer.
I'm not a fan of that idea but I like the ROI - low cost and would cover 80% of the tattoo. I could then wait a few years for the rust + paint to get worse and then justify the $20k job.
Any other suggestions? Thx
Last edited by ghiamanjc on Tue Feb 15, 2022 9:31 pm; edited 1 time in total |
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kiwighia68 Samba Member
Joined: October 20, 2013 Posts: 2867 Location: Auckland, New Zealand
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Posted: Tue Feb 15, 2022 9:25 pm Post subject: Re: *Need advice* How to remove a paint tatoo |
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Oh my!
Not all bad. A good panelbeater can sand and repaint that panel for under $500 and feather the new paint in so that you won't notice the difference.
Here where I live anyway.
Good luck with your acquisition. _________________ Festina lente - hasten slowly
1968 Ghia named Emiko
Resto completed Dec 2015 |
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sputnick60 Samba Moderator
Joined: July 22, 2007 Posts: 3907 Location: In Molinya Orbit
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EverettB Administrator
Joined: April 11, 2000 Posts: 69733 Location: Phoenix Metro
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irvanm Samba Member
Joined: January 09, 2008 Posts: 609 Location: Lawrence, Kansas
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Posted: Wed Feb 16, 2022 5:30 am Post subject: Re: *Need advice* How to remove a paint tatoo |
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I would just very carefully sand letters lightly taking my time, not a perfect result but with a bunch of rubbing might be an improvement. |
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Tom K. Samba Member
Joined: March 10, 2005 Posts: 1600 Location: Central Pennsylvania
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Braukuche Samba Member
Joined: September 03, 2004 Posts: 10968
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Posted: Wed Feb 16, 2022 8:31 am Post subject: Re: *Need advice* How to remove a paint tatoo |
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Change your nicknames to match? _________________ Go Reds! Smash state!
Retirement is here!
1956 Ghia
1959 SO-23 Westfalia
1960 double cab
1960 Baja Bug
1963 stretched double cab
1962 Golde sunroof Ghia
1963 356 B coupe
1963 Notchback
1967 21 window less rusty now |
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c21darrel Samba Member
Joined: January 22, 2009 Posts: 8206 Location: San Dimas
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kman Samba Member
Joined: November 04, 2005 Posts: 739 Location: Michigan
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Posted: Wed Feb 16, 2022 11:25 am Post subject: Re: *Need advice* How to remove a paint tatoo |
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It would be strange for that to be cleared over instead of pinstriped on top of the clear but stranger things have happened. To test put a little lacquer thinner on a cloth and rub the letters a little. If single stage on the top a little of the black will come off and it shouldn't hurt the clear unless you really go at it. _________________ 71 vert build. http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=572951&highlight=dead |
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TDCTDI Samba Advocatus Diaboli
Joined: August 31, 2013 Posts: 12815 Location: North Carolina
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Posted: Wed Feb 16, 2022 1:20 pm Post subject: Re: *Need advice* How to remove a paint tatoo |
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Personally, I’d start with a bit of acetone on a soft rag. Test it on the base coat in an inconspicuous place to see if it reacts with the red. If not, gently rub over the script to see if it starts to lift it.
If that doesn’t work, oven cleaner is known to remove certain paints without damaging automotive paint. There again, test it in an inconspicuous place first. _________________ Everybody born before 1975 has a story, good, bad, or indifferent, about a VW.
GOFUNDYOURSELF, quit asking everyone to do it for you!
An air cooled VW will make you a hoarder.
Do something, anything, to your project every day, and you will eventually complete it. |
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74 Thing Samba Member
Joined: September 02, 2004 Posts: 7374
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Posted: Wed Feb 16, 2022 3:09 pm Post subject: Re: *Need advice* How to remove a paint tatoo |
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That would be like 1k to sand paint then blend in expensive California. |
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Era Vulgaris Samba Member
Joined: August 22, 2012 Posts: 1662 Location: Raleigh, NC
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Posted: Wed Feb 16, 2022 3:43 pm Post subject: Re: *Need advice* How to remove a paint tatoo |
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Braukuche wrote: |
Change your nicknames to match? |
_________________ Currently own:
66 Karmann Ghia, L390 Gulf Blue, under construction, here: www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=760505&highlight=
99 Mazda MX-5 10AE, Sapphire Blue Mica, 6 speed, LSD
Previously owned:
98 Porsche Boxster, silver, 2.5L -- 67 Karmann Ghia, Black, 1500sp -- 98 BMW Z3, Atlanta Blue Metallic, 2.8L I6 -- 75 Porsche 914, Laguna Blue, 2270cc -- 72 Porsche 914, Signal Orange, 1.7 FI -- 74 Karmann Ghia, Black, 1600dp -- 74 Triumph TR6 with O.D., sapphire blue |
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Glenn Mr. 010
Joined: December 25, 2001 Posts: 76760 Location: Sneaking up behind you
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Posted: Wed Feb 16, 2022 3:47 pm Post subject: Re: *Need advice* How to remove a paint tatoo |
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You might want this moved top the paint/body forum... just ask. _________________ Glenn
74 Beetle Specs | 74 Beetle Restoration | 2180cc Engine
"You may not get what you pay for, but you always pay for what you get"
Member #1009
#BlueSquare |
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Braukuche Samba Member
Joined: September 03, 2004 Posts: 10968
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Posted: Wed Feb 16, 2022 7:41 pm Post subject: Re: *Need advice* How to remove a paint tatoo |
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TDCTDI wrote: |
Personally, I’d start with a bit of acetone on a soft rag. Test it on the base coat in an inconspicuous place to see if it reacts with the red. If not, gently rub over the script to see if it starts to lift it.
If that doesn’t work, oven cleaner is known to remove certain paints without damaging automotive paint. There again, test it in an inconspicuous place first. |
This is the best advice so far.
If it’s just single stage over the clear it’s easy, 1500 it off and buff.
If it’s under the clear then someone will have to scuff the fender from the A pillar forward to the headlight bucket from the lower fender up to the ridge at the top of the fender, fading out under the headlight and then shoot that area with color then clear then hope they can blend in the clear nicely on the ridge and in the transition under the headlight. And yeah, a shop isn’t going to be cheap if you can find one that’s willing to even mess with it. _________________ Go Reds! Smash state!
Retirement is here!
1956 Ghia
1959 SO-23 Westfalia
1960 double cab
1960 Baja Bug
1963 stretched double cab
1962 Golde sunroof Ghia
1963 356 B coupe
1963 Notchback
1967 21 window less rusty now |
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ghiamanjc Samba Member
Joined: August 16, 2020 Posts: 144 Location: Vancouver BC
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Posted: Mon Aug 08, 2022 2:44 pm Post subject: Re: *Need advice* How to remove a paint tatoo - Final Update |
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So... I took Ruby to a local body shop that was recommended.
They too off the tattoo with GunWash but that left a shadow (see pic).
So they had to sand and re-paint just the quarter panel and blend in the colour then clear coat (pic).
Turned out very good with the tattoo completely gone. There is just a very slight ridge of paint along the 'top crease' of the quarter panel. I can live with that.
I'd say a pretty good job for $1200 US. Another shop suggested I restore the whole car (paint off, new steel as appropriate and repaint) for $30k. I'm happy with my choice. Thanks for your advice !!
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chrisflstf Samba Member
Joined: February 10, 2004 Posts: 3413 Location: San Diego
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Posted: Thu Aug 11, 2022 2:37 pm Post subject: Re: *Need advice* How to remove a paint tatoo |
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Why is it still visible after paint? |
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ghiamanjc Samba Member
Joined: August 16, 2020 Posts: 144 Location: Vancouver BC
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Posted: Thu Aug 11, 2022 2:53 pm Post subject: Re: *Need advice* How to remove a paint tatoo |
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It not any longer. I'll post an 'all done pic'. That shadow remained after the GunWash wipe then they sanded and repainted. All good now. |
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