Removing Paint from Tank

[JohnH]

I have four 2 foot tanks that have been painted on the back. The way I am using them in my rack the backs are now the sides.

What is the best method to remove the paint from the back?

[Squiggle]

I'd use a razor blade or you could use a paint scraper but don't press very hard, let the blade do all the work :encouragement:

[torface]

I once had to remove some superglue from a kitchen benchtop. I used a razor blade and olive oil to prevent scratching. Maybe you could use oil too so you dont scratch the glass?

[JohnH]

Ok, thanks guys, I'm on it with a a razor blade. Took about a hour to do the first tank. ;) It will look heaps better without the paint.

[Squiggle]

Well done dude, saw the pics in your other thread, looks sooooooooooo much better :encouragement:

[joller]

for the record, if you leave the tanks outside in the cold overnight and get onto it with a razor before it warms up the paint seems to come off 10x easier, i think it has something to do with the contraction of the glass at low temps messing with the paints bond.

[BlueBolts]

Thanks for that jollier, sound advise :encouragement:

[JohnH]

It's a good time of the year in this area for things to get cold overnight. If I have to do it again, I'll try that next time.

[Robert]

for the record' date=' if you leave the tanks outside in the cold overnight and get onto it with a razor before it warms up the paint seems to come off 10x easier, i think it has something to do with the contraction of the glass at low temps messing with the paints bond.[/quote']

Not sure if Joller is still around SKF but id like to thank him/her for this above advice. It made the job much much much easier. I quickly discovered this was the case during the day with the tank was half full/half empty (depends how you see it :P) and the bottom half of paint was coming off in massive sheets as compared to flaking off. So i stopped what i was doing, topped the tank up to the brim and went to work for 8 hrs and came back and did it at midnight and it literally took me less then 10 minutes to strip the tank including the edges of the glass and inside the silicon seals. I recommend anyone taking paint off a tank to go out to some type of warehouse shop, i went to Sam's warehouse and pick up a $1 paint scraper that come with 5 extra blades, it made the job much much easier. Similar to this one:

Tissue box for size ref:

[northboy]

Another way is to put a wet towel over the painted surface for 30 minutes and the same effect is achieved, comes off easy, softens the paint.

Bob