Cleaning paint off of tail light lenses

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68 CUDA FORMULA S

68 CUDA FORMULA S

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I received a new set of tail light lenses for my 68 barracuda, only problem is that who ever had them before did not want the back-up lights to shine through the lenses so he painted the inside white BLACK!!! Does anyone have a good solution that I can use to remove the paint without hurting the lens. It just looks like he taped them off and sprayed them flat black.
Thanks
Bob

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Easy off oven cleaner is gentile on plastic...I used it on plastic models cars before when stripping chrome and paint. Not sure how it would work on these, could try a small spot?
 
I had one someone painted red on the inside like that. I used lacquer thinner and a paper towel. It took a bit of work to get it out of the crevices but it did clean up nicely. I will look and see if I have any before and after pics
 
Be careful with laquer thinner, thats some harsh **** that melts some plastics. Test that on a small spot before getting after it with that. Ditto for enamel thinner. Both will eat plastics. If it was rattle can sprayed it's likely cheap spray enamel. Sheesh If he didnt want reverse lights coulda just removed the bulbs from the damn sockets.
 
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Maybe try some hand cleaner. Work it in and leave it for a day or so.
 
Dont use windex, i think the ammonia in it crazes the plastic. I used it on a lens and literally watched it craze like an ice cube in a glass of water.
 
Nail polish remover is acetone. That's some harsh ****. Test it on a small area as well.
 
What about Brake Fluid?

I need to remove some spray paint from my grille and redo. Was wondering if that would work.
 
Why would they use black paint anyways. I am still shaking my head, you can see it on the outside. I can see silver maybe.
 
Well fellas after about 1 1/2 hours I am finished with one of them. It's a lot of work but I am happy with the way it came out. I will save the other one for another day. We have a parts/carb cleaner at work called First Aid, it did not hurt the plastic but it was the only thing that would loosen up the dried paint. I tried nail polish remover,gas, grease and wax remover, and another carb cleaner that I had and non of them did a thing to remove the paint. I also used a lot of Q-Tips and Cotton Balls and clean soft rags.
Bob

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Turned out nice Bob. I've never seen them that white before.
I was going to suggest headlight cleaner, but looks like you got it figured out.
 
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