Removing sticky paper cover from Lexan

Triton106 · Post by **Triton106** » Mon Apr 09, 2007 3:41 pm

Hi All,

I recently bought an old engine instrument cover from Minney's. The protective paper cover on the Lexan is very diffifult to come off. I don't want to use scraping knife because I don't want to accidentally scratch the Lexan. Does anyone one know a way to remove the paper without demaging the Lexan?

Thanks and regards,

Duncan · Post by **Duncan** » Mon Apr 09, 2007 5:06 pm

Just a guess, but how about dampening it with Windex, and using a plastic tool (spatula, scraper, etc.)?

JetStream · Post by **JetStream** » Mon Apr 09, 2007 5:24 pm

A little heat (and just a little) from a hair dryer. Be careful to not get the plastic too hot or you'll distort it.

Rachel · Post by **Rachel** » Mon Apr 09, 2007 5:33 pm

I believe Windex can cause Lexan to haze, so it might not be a good choice.

R.

Jason K · Post by **Jason K** » Mon Apr 09, 2007 5:53 pm

I would try soap and water first. As Rachel indicated, lexan is very sensitive to solvents (particularly acetone). The adhesive that holds the paper to the lexan is very mild, so perhaps soaking it in soapy water will make the job easier.

I don't think Windex will haze lexan, but I would start with something milder just in case.

Post by **Tim** » Tue Apr 10, 2007 6:11 am

As Bruce said, a hair dryer, used with appropriate caution, should do the trick very easily and with no mess.

Quetzalsailor · Post by **Quetzalsailor** » Tue Apr 10, 2007 10:35 am

Failing the water, soap and adequate time:

Paint thinner will dissolve many such cements, too. You'd need to get the lense out to soak it or be very sparing to be sure it did not get inside and find something inappropriate to solve.

Lacquer thinner will probably dissolve the plastic, but you might get away with it working fast to clean the last of the goo.

Ahh, yes! Goo-B-Gone is worth a try as well.

Jason K · Post by **Jason K** » Tue Apr 10, 2007 12:26 pm

I would stay away from real solvents.

After I replaced the portlights in the saloon, I painted the interior. I had two paint runs down one of the portlights. I must have been a bit punchy from the fumes, because I did not notice it until the next day. I didn't want to scrape the lexan as I was afraid of scratching it. So, I tried acetone.

Dumb, dumb, dumb.

It clouded the entire portlight instantly. Once that happens, there is no fix; you have to replace the piece.

Triton106 · Post by **Triton106** » Tue Apr 10, 2007 5:13 pm

Thanks everyone for your ideas. I will try hair dryer and water/soap.

I am not sure about paint thiner. I was painting my deck a couple of months ago and must have dropped a couple of drops of paint thinner on my hatch and overnight resulted in cracks in the Lexan hatch.

Hirilondë · Post by **Hirilondë** » Tue Apr 10, 2007 7:04 pm

If you scratch the polycarbonate try this stuff: http://www.cruisercustomizing.com/detai ... t_ID=10421
I did the corners and bungs of a new smoked polycarbonate top for a teak frame hatch for a Hinckley by sanding in stages from 80g through 2500g wet paper then finished with the Novus polish. It came out optically clear. It is a sick way to spend 3 days work, but the stuff will bring back scratched plastic.

Capn_Tom · Post by **Capn_Tom** » Wed Apr 11, 2007 9:29 am

If you find you need a solvent on plex or lexan naptha is the one to use.

Triton106 · Post by **Triton106** » Mon Apr 16, 2007 10:12 pm

Hi All,

I thought I will let everyone who helped with free advices know how it came out. I tried hair dryer and it did not work effectively. So I next soaked it in warm water and, viola, that is all it took to get the sticky paper off lexan (with some scrubbing using soft sponge).

Thanks everyone for your help!

Best regards,