Removing white polyurethane drip off the old sage green.

[locoqueso]

Yesterday I finished putting a second coat of paint on my pop-top and I think it looks great. A vast improvement over the fuzzy, gelcoat-less top I had just a few days ago. I haven’t put the new seals on yet but that will come soon.

After removing the plastic and tape, I found that some of the white Polyurethane paint somehow leaked onto the top of my green bus. It’s not much at all and probably won’t be visible when the top is down, but it’s sure bugging the Hell out of me. I thought I was very careful to tape off the surrounding areas.

I tried using my fingernail to scratch it off, but that didn’t do much. I thought out hitting it carefully with some thinner on a Q-tip and then washing it down once the white paint is gone, but I’m afraid that could still mess up the original paint.

Does anyone have any suggestions for removing the paint drip without harming the OG paint?

[bretski]

Hopefully this reply is not too late, as the paint may have cured by now. I repainted my pop-top about 3 weeks ago using oil-based enamel. On the first coat, I was lazy about masking off the bus, and got a bunch of spatter on the auto paint. To get it off, I used a clean rag soaked in mineral spirits. Followed with a clean rag to wipe away the solvent. My dakota beige came out unscathed, but sage green might be different...

Needless to say, I masked everything off really well for the 2nd coat.

[locoqueso]

Thank you for the reply. I actually had to head down to San Antonio shortly after I made my post, but I will try that as soon as i get back tomorrow. I was in a rush to get the 2nd coat on before I left to come down here.

If it is too late maybe I'll just do a little touch up over the white.

[Amskeptic]

Thank you for the reply. I actually had to head down to San Antonio shortly after I made my post, but I will try that as soon as i get back tomorrow. I was in a rush to get the 2nd coat on before I left to come down here.

If it is too late maybe I'll just do a little touch up over the white.

Sooner is better than later, but solvent will easily pick up the white and the green is 30 years cured, it will hold up fine. I use GumOut carb spray followed by car wax to clean up little painting errors.
Colin

[vdubyah73]

Did ya use marine type poly paint? If so let it harden for a while. Poly paint like "Brightsides" or "Easypoxy" cure by humidity in the air. If the OG paint was waxed or oxidized the poly paint won't stick well, when it hardens up it'll chip off for you. Maybe just with your finger nail. Live with it for the summer and do it when the weather gets cold.

Bill

[locoqueso]

I got back to Chicago late last night so I waited until this morning to work on the paint. I uased mineral spirits and it took off more than 95% of the white paint and the green looked untouched. It left a hint of green on the Q-tip but you can't tell by looking at the bus.

@vdubyah73: Yes, I used marine poly paint. I can live with what's left on the bus, but I will take your advice and see if I can chip off the rest after the summer.

Thanks all!!!

[karl]

If you wait til the end of the summer, it will cure and you will not remove it.

Best to do it now!

[vdubyah73]

I agree with Karl now. You removed most of the paint. The trick is to leave it alone and then when its cured you have an edge to work with. It's like paint on glass. If it's more like a brush stroke you have to get it while soft. If it was more like a run under the tape with defined edges and a body in the middle, it would just chip off of unprepared or waxed paint. Keep working it with a solvent now.

[locoqueso]

I worked on it some more tonight, but I think I've cleaned up what's going to come off at this point. It's a mere speck now that won't be visible unless I'm looking for it.