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Any safe way to remove overspray from radiator?

SweetFeet

SweetFeet

Well-known Member
If anyone knows...

(PICS POSTED of the radiator core somewhere below Royse' first reply)

Husband is wondering if there is any product that will remove overspray from a radiator core WITHOUT damaging the core/solder joints.

Asking because we bought a core from an F20 with red overspray... would like to clean it up for putting on our rusty Regular. Thanks if you can help.

P.S. Tried searching discussions... always an abysmal failure for me (even using quotes and +'s).
 
How much over spray Sweetfeet?
If its just a little bit you could use a little paint thinner on a Q-tip.
Obviously it would be easier to paint over it, but I know that's not the look you are going for.
 

try some 409 and a toothbrush or scrub brush or maybe some oven cleaner (don't know if oven cleaner would cause any damage tho)...
 
David G,

Thanks, but paint isn't an option because we won't be painting the tractor - she will remain forever rusty.
 
Royse,

Here is a pic of it.

You can see overspray along both edges and about the bottom third on the front. The back also has a significant amount. Disregard the entire housing - only the core will be used. Husband will put it into the rusty Regular housing. (If housing is the correct terminology).

Thanks for idea. We may try it, or Dave2's idea...sounds like a job for SweetFeet.
 
I can't see the picture Sweetfeet.
I see it posted several times, so something's probably not working right.
With all the great pictures you post, I know it's not you!
 
Wow...computer screen wavered and I posted three times! That must be a record of some sort!

Forgot the photos.
a86182.jpg

a86183.jpg
 
Radiator shops cook them in a solution of sodium hydroxide (lye) and water. Takes off the paint and cleans the lime & minerals from the insides.
 
Paint remover thinned with 20% lacquer thinner will not eat copper or solder. Assuming the paint is not holding the structure together, it should be fine. Jim
 
Dave2,

I just may give 409 a try!

Never thought of it - but when removing old tar-backed flooring in our house, we ran out of some gunk that cost about $25 per gallon. Husband mixed a strong 409/water solution and it actually removed the black junk better.

If that does not work, I'll try paint thinner or other suggestions that may be posted.
 
teddy52,

Thanks, will copy all replies to my husband... as there are several suggestions here.
 
A can of good oven cleaner will loosen it and take the paint right off after letting it soak for a bit with a garden hose or pressure washer
 
Janicholson,

Thanks much! Will pass info along to husband.

Paint should not be holding it together... we bought it at a junkyard, but it looks like someone had recored that tractor some years ago (compared to the original on our Regular - which is literally crumbling to pieces).
 
JMOR,

Thanks! Will copy all for my husband.

Will be fantastic if we get all the red off of it, since it is going onto a tractor that will remain rusty.
 
I think lacquer thinner would take that off with no problem.
You don't want to soak it in the stuff, but you can wet it and wipe it off with
a brush, Q-tip, what ever is not too stiff that will fit between the fins without bending them.
Depending on the type of paint, Dave's idea of 409 might work fine too, and it wouldn't hurt to try.
You can always move to something more caustic as long as it's rinsed good so you're not mixing chemicals.
 
Royse,
Thanks again. I too am leaning toward starting with least caustic... but will let the boss decide for sure.
 
I'd throw some red primer on it and bolt it on. I've got some rusty equipment, and when I make a modification, I paint it with Rustoleum Rusty Metal Primer, and it's hard to notice the new from the old. One wouldn't want anything to look too shiny, you know - at least not around here. . .

Paul
 
Sodium Hydroxide which is a component of oven cleaner will damage lead solder. Lacquer thinner would be a very slow process to remove hardened dry paint. I believe I would either use a paint remover wheel or just sand the paint off the areas other then the core and prime and paint it. If you just have to get rid of the paint on the core I would probably use a methylene chloride paint remover. It also has sodium hydroxide but a much less then oven cleaner.
 
Stephen N,
Thanks. Good to know! We definitely do not want to ruin it - we got it very reasonably priced and hope to not spend $300 on a new one if possible.
 
What about some of the paint removers you can buy at the hardware ? On This Old House they were using some kinda enviromentally friendly stuff made from citrus to strip old houses.
 
Anything you use that will remove the red will also remove the factory black that rad suppliers use on their cores. You will end up with copper color core or corroded copper color. Maybe that's what you are after.
 
Aerosol Brake Kleen will wrinkle & looosen the paint, keep it off the areas you wany the paint left on though. Remove residue with compressed air.
 
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