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cleaning paint off an aluminum serial tag

SweetFeet

SweetFeet

Well-known Member
My husband is wondering if anyone has a good method of removing paint from an antique aluminum serial tag. We want to be sure we do not damage the imprints on the tag by using buffing compounds... & want to make sure that no solution causes a chemical reaction with might darken/blacken the aluminum. We are restoring a 1931 Farmall Regular and just bought a toolbox with serial tag for it - but unfortunately, some goofball in the past did not tape it off when painting and it has serious overspray on the whole tag. Any advice would sure be appreciated.
 
If the tag is similar to this one, there is no way to remove the overspray. If you remove the overspray with paint and varnish remover it will remove everthing, the black background and all. All that would be left is the numbers stamped. Rubbing compound would be better but you will end up rubbing the black off in spots. You would end up having to repaint the black background with a little paint brush. Your best bet is to purchase a replacement tag. They are easy to locate.
a52519.jpg
 
I used the procedure from THIS OLD HOUSE, which is to boil it in water for about an hour, a crock pot is great for this, then brush off the old paint. I put a small amount of dish soap in the water.
HTH
 
Unless the tag is one which has no original painted back ground IMO any attempt to "Strip" the over spray will probably remove the painted portion of the tag that you wish to save.My suggestion is to find another after mrket blank tag.
 
If the paint overspray is fairly fresh some carburetor cleaner will soften it so it can be removed. Don't leave it on very long. If it has been there for years what the rest of the folks said is true. Anything you use to remove old paint from the tag will remove the original paint from that tag. Mike
 
I have done a few with a standard hardware store heatgun. The regular has a black painted background on its tag and the letters are raised. They can be painted black and then lightly sanded to reveal the wording. Tape off the stamped numbers before painting. Reproduction tags are available and may be the best option so you can put YOUR tractors number so it matches.
 
The tags were not painted they were anodized. By this time most all of them the black is gone anyway. I'd use paint stripper on it. Then if you want it highlighted spray it with black paint and gently wipe off the high spots.

00436.jpg
 
Easy off oven cleaner -will soften paint in about twenty minutes and then can be rubbed right off with a paper towel.
 
The problem with using oven cleaner on aluminum is it contains sodium hydroxide. Aluminum reacts very badly with sodium hydroxide.
 
The way to do it is when it gets soft wipe it off.The Easyoff never touches the plate just softens the paint. Easy Off is the oldest sign painters way to remove enamel. When the oven cleaner ruins it you go to the link I posted and buy a new one.{just kidding].
 
At one time I had a furniture refinishing shop. There I had a tank to dip furniture in a sodium hydroxide solution. At first I had a sheet metal shop make a tank with galvanized steel and soldered joints. Within a couple of weeks the solution was all over the shop. It had turned the lead solder into something that looked like dry window glazing. You could just pick it off with your fingers. It also turned the galvanized steel black. I had to buy a tank made of stainless steel to use this stuff. I know the amount of sodium hydroxide is much diluted in the oven cleaner but after this experience I would be afraid to use it. We also treated anything we stripped with vineger to neutralize it.
 
Oven cleaner will destroy the tag!
For slow removal with no damage, try brake fluid or vegetable cooking oil. Either will begin to loosen the paint.
 
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