What do I use to take layers of paint off an old mirror frame? It is not wood on the frame but green plastic.?

Question

It may be bakelite but I am not sure yet. Just do not want to ruin the plastic finish with a stripper that is too strong. It has a layer of white paint and a layer of brown paint. It is dated 1940 from Dart Indiana.

Answer 1

Start with water and ammonia, and see if that softens it. If by chance it's latex paint. If that doesn't do it, work your way towards harsher solvents. Rubbing alcohol, wood alcohol, acetone, naptha, laquer thinner are all less aggressive than stripper. If none of those do it, the "citrus" based strippers are less harsh than most other kinds. As long as you have an area to test, you should be able to find the right product that won't hurt the plastic.
Some of those older plastics, like bakelite...were very tough...and others were not. Good luck!

Answer 2

This is something that is mild enough for your hands,won't melt or discolor the plastic,but goes right through the paint. This is called,"Easy-Off"! You know, Easy-off oven cleaner. Only use the fume free,the blue can. The other one will burn. Also don't let it get on the back of the mirror as it will take the paint off to,and you don't want that!

Answer 3

I was just thinking that fake nails are made of plastic and nail polish remover is what you use to remove the nail polish. I
would try that on the back of the mirror frame in a small amount to see if it "melts" the plastic at all. If it's hard plastic, it shouldn't.

Answer 4

i found turpentine works wonders on any paint or ink, it`s liquid so it will removes it layer for layer at a time,and does not remove plastic or damage it! or u can try liquid paint removers...good luck!

ps. their found in most if not all hardware stores

Answer 5

I found out accidentally that aqua velvet aftershave removes paint very well--I think it was a latex base paint