Author Topic: Removing paint from cement (Read 347 times)

Ohio43 · « **on:** January 20, 2006, 12:17:06 PM »

As usual, my son didn't listen to me and decided to spraypaint his plastic models
on the driveway and now has left a lot of overspray onto the cement. Anyone know of a good solvent that will remove the paint? (IE wont smear etc)
Looking for something i could possibly brush on and hose off. Boss here at work mentioned "Muric Acid" but he didnt know for sure if that would work for paint.
Any suggestions?

nirvana · « **Reply #1 on:** January 20, 2006, 12:44:06 PM »

Mineral spirits. It might have seeped into the pores, since concrete is a porous material. Mineral spirits is what I use to take anything and everything off my hands, buy it in the gallon jug.

Time for you and your son to built a hobby desk? Don't know how handy either of you are with wood but here goes. Some sturdy 2x4's About 10-12 of em, stacked in the vertical Get about 5, half inch wooden dowels. 4 of the 2 or 3 inch square beams. Cut the square beams into a manageable height, 4 and a half feet maybe? You want your 2X4's in the vertical like I said, cut them into a manageable sized length of desk as well, 6 feet is probably plenty of work room. Here's where it gets tricky. You're going to need to drill out the holes for the dowels about 2 inches into the 2X4's at each end, you can slide one in the middle if you want as well. Screw the square beam legs into your table top surface, however wide it is, allow for a few inches away from the ends 12 inches should be a fairly wide stance. Now put another square beam between the legs about halfway down, drill another hole into the square beams and insert another dowl (you don't have to go all the way through, just so the dowel is stuck in there good and tight). Drill a 2X4 at the bottom of the feet. Sand the top to a somewhat flat surface and finish it if you want.

:huhWhat did I just say? That confused me too.

I'll try to get some pictures of one my dad built. Amazingly strong. Let it be known timber is not cheap at all these days, so you could just buy him an old desk from a garage sale or what have you. And throw down some damn newspaper!

capt. apathy · « **Reply #2 on:** January 20, 2006, 12:51:05 PM »

use paint stripper to get what you can. then muratic acid will take the concrete down to a like new finish. (don't forget gloves, goggles,.....)

Ohio43 · « **Reply #3 on:** January 20, 2006, 01:07:13 PM »

Thanks for the replies. Sad part is..I already have a work bench and he didnt use it.

capt. apathy · « **Reply #4 on:** January 20, 2006, 01:09:31 PM »

cheer up. at least he dind't use a sharpie marker to sign his name to the painted dash panle on your 78 chev pu.

when you have a son, things can always get worse. (that goes double for daughters)

lambo31 · « **Reply #5 on:** January 20, 2006, 01:14:16 PM »

Quote

Originally posted by capt. apathy
cheer up. at least he dind't use a sharpie marker to sign his name to the painted dash panle on your 78 chev pu.

when you have a son, things can always get worse. (that goes double for daughters)

I have a 2 1/2 year old daughter. Please tell me your were just joking.

Lambo

nirvana · « **Reply #6 on:** January 20, 2006, 01:17:25 PM »

How old is your son if you don't mind me asking? I wasn't spray painting anything until I was 12, and that was with super close supervision from super adults. If he's under 10 i'd watch what he does, at least help him set up his area. If he's under 10 and already building level 3 models...I dunno. I suck at painting.

Ohio43 · « **Reply #7 on:** January 20, 2006, 01:21:19 PM »

Hes 13.. (The bruises heal quickly)
Ouch..a sharpie, huh? Reminds me of what my son did last month. I have a car that i got into a crash with. I replaced the hood with a black-primered new hood. Before I got it painted, my son found joy in transfering his natural finger oils into the paint by drawing out a very large swastika on the hood. (I have to drive into some bad areas here in Cleveland with Blacks around)

nirvana · « **Reply #8 on:** January 20, 2006, 01:27:42 PM »

Really spread out those kids didn't ya?

You gotta teach him the newspaper isn't just for the crapper anymore. He probably already knows that though. You do stress newspaper ALL the time right? Or have him work on a glass surface that you can put a solvent on and wipe off...old coffee table I used to work on comes to mind. What kind of model is it by the way?

Ohio43 · « **Reply #9 on:** January 20, 2006, 01:36:06 PM »

Ya he was instructed to use newspaper and to place the newspaper on the lawn.
So, needless to say I wasnt happy. I dont mind painted grass..that always goes away

Airscrew · « **Reply #10 on:** January 20, 2006, 01:40:28 PM »

Quote

Originally posted by lambo31
I have a 2 1/2 year old daughter. Please tell me your were just joking.

Lambo

Lambo, I have 3 girls and 1 boy, hes not joking. Stock up now on cleaners, solvents, and a plumbing snake. Hide anything that paints, colors, writes, and cuts. If the diameter of the object is smaller than a toilet drain lock it up

Chairboy · « **Reply #11 on:** January 20, 2006, 01:58:56 PM »

Is muriatic acid the best stuff to remove leaf stains from concrete? I was a bit slow in raking this year.

capt. apathy · « **Reply #12 on:** January 20, 2006, 02:16:27 PM »

Quote

Originally posted by Chairboy
Is muriatic acid the best stuff to remove leaf stains from concrete? I was a bit slow in raking this year.

it removes just about anything. it's what you use to prep concrete before putting down any sort of paint or finish. burns off anything on it along with etching the exposed concrete surface.

just after using it is a great time to apply some sort of sealer if you want to avoid future stains.

USHilDvl · « **Reply #13 on:** January 20, 2006, 02:24:58 PM »

Be super careful with the muriatic acid...does the job, but one accident will blind you.

Also, you might show him how to build a simple spraybooth from a large cardboard box. If you set it up right, it can be collapsible, so he can store it knocked-down in the garage between projects.

Might as well also start teaching him to wear eye and breathing protection when using airborne paints. If he starts now, he'll never do it any other way later.

Luck!

capt. apathy · « **Reply #14 on:** January 20, 2006, 02:27:31 PM »

Quote

Originally posted by lambo31
I have a 2 1/2 year old daughter. Please tell me your were just joking.

Lambo

you have no idea what you are in for.

here's a couple to think on.

Bologna, ketchup, mustard, sliced cheese, a white interior wall- (oldest daughter) "look daddy I made you a picture"

kitchen floor, eggs, left over mac & cheese, left over peas, a big-wheel and my son doing donuts and burnouts "daddy, this makes me spin out good"

8 weeks into a 11 week stretch of 7 days a week 12-18 hrs a day. 20 minutes late to work, my ride is outside laying on the horn. pull on my boots to find them each half full of miniature marshmallows. thanks son.

on the up side, when he was 5 he'd swim a beer out to me while I floated in the pool.

just be thankful you are in the easy stage. she can't yet use your car, power-tools or credit card. people complain about "the terrible 2's", we call those the good old days.

the oldest is now 21 and it hasn't got any easier yet.

raising kids is a lot like a video game. as soon as you successfully overcome a problem a tougher one comes at you. each new problem coming after you harder and faster than the last until finally you die.

edit- one more thing. be cheerful, you have about 12 years to prepare for her first boyfriend, with his saggy pants, crappy music, and a face so full of metal it looks like someone beat him with a jewelry box.