I have been commissioned to repaint a 4x8, 2 sided Sign Foam sign. I attempted to upgrade them to a new sign, but they're being "economically cautious" So, we removed the sign and installed a temporary banner, and it is now in our painting studio.
Heres my question: What do you use to clean the road grime from the sign face before painting?
[ July 30, 2011, 11:57 AM: Message edited by: Rick Beisiegel ]
""Good judgment comes from experience; and a lot of that comes from bad judgment" - Will Rogers Posts: 3484 | From: Beautiful Newaygo, Michigan | Registered: Mar 2003
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I just washed one with a plastic brush and a water/ammonia mixture. Nothing very scientific about it. I just wanted to get the grime off, then rinse with clean water.
-------------------- Mike gatlinburg Sign Crafters Posts: 1051 | From: Gatlinburg, TN | Registered: Oct 2005
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Some tri-sodium phosphate ( available from any paint store ) in a bucket of water...use a sponge to saturate the surface and scrub gently to loosen any dirt or grime, then rinse with clean water. What you should have is a surface free of dirt, dust or oily residues. Most paint/prep directions on paint cans recommend this treatment, and the TSP is quite inexpensive.
-------------------- Ken Henry Henry & Henry Signs London, Ontario Canada (519) 439-1881 e-mail: kjmlhenry@rogers.com
Why do I get all those on-line offers to sell me Viagara, when the only thing hardening is my arteries ? Posts: 2684 | From: London,Ontario, Canada | Registered: Feb 1999
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Bio Green Clean, if you can find it in your area.
-------------------- Jack Wills Studio Design Works 1465 E.Hidalgo Circle Nye Beach / Newport, OR Posts: 2914 | From: Rocklin, CA. USA | Registered: Dec 1998
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You'd be surprized how Rapid Remover just melts off road grime and road tar. I'd start with that, followed with a dish detergent bath. Using a tooth brush and good scrubbing. Then hose the whole thing down. Use the hose nozzle that has the tight hard spray for hard to reach areas. Let dry completely. Then I'd lighting sand, 220 grit, as much of it as I could, wipe off the dust and get to painting. Hey, is the sign really small? Try putting it into the dishwasher machine.
-------------------- Signs by Alicia Jennings (Mudflap Girl) Tacoma, WA Since 1987 Have Lipstick, will travel. Posts: 3813 | From: Tacoma, WA. U.S.A. | Registered: Dec 1999
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Alicia that dishwasher thing is NOT gonna fly in Mrs. Wayne's kitchen..... she is so fussy...she wouldnt even let me track dog dirt on her carpet!~
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I would spray it down with greased lighting and rinse off or hit it with a low powered pressure washer like one at a car wash.
-------------------- You ever notice how easily accessible people are when they are requiring your services but once they get invoice you can't reach them anymore
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Rapid Tac or Rapid Prep, the rapid prep will clean most anything off the surface including silicon, polymer, wax,grease, etc. Disregard Prep if paint was cheap lacquer.
Roger
-------------------- Roger Bailey Rapid Tac Incorporated 186 Combs Dr. Merlin Oregon 97532 Posts: 3020 | From: Merlin Oregon | Registered: Dec 1998
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I have had great success with Rapid Prep for cleaning oxidized, streaked, and faded paint on signs. You go thru a lot of paper towels but it cleans all that nasty stuff off. A final cleaning with Rapid Tac and you are ready to refinish.
-------------------- Dana Blair Blair Signs Wooster, OH www.blairsigns.com
If sign makers go on strike, is there anything written on their picket signs? Posts: 835 | From: Wooster, OH, USA | Registered: Jul 1999
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""Good judgment comes from experience; and a lot of that comes from bad judgment" - Will Rogers Posts: 3484 | From: Beautiful Newaygo, Michigan | Registered: Mar 2003
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Roger, I even use Rapid Remover for cleaning the engine in my Toyotas. Werks like a charm!
-------------------- Signs by Alicia Jennings (Mudflap Girl) Tacoma, WA Since 1987 Have Lipstick, will travel. Posts: 3813 | From: Tacoma, WA. U.S.A. | Registered: Dec 1999
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I commented earlier on TSP. I also use Rapid Prep and Rapid Remover for clean up. Rapid Prep is also awesome lens cleaner for my glasses. I keep getting little finger prints on them... I wonder why?
-------------------- David Harding A Sign of Excellence Carrollton, TX Posts: 5084 | From: Carrollton, TX, USA | Registered: Nov 1998
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36 grit sand paper? Battery acid? Chisel? Buck shot? No way. I use some bon ami on a sponge, rinse with clear water...wipe down with mineral spts and park in the sun for a few hours and scuff down with a red scuff pad. Seems to work fine, Never had a complaint or any adhesion problems.
-------------------- Preston McCall 112 Rim Road Santa Fe, New Mexico 87501 text: 5056607370 Posts: 1552 | From: Santa Fe, New Mexico | Registered: Nov 1998
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quote:Originally posted by Michael Boone: Alicia that dishwasher thing is NOT gonna fly in Mrs. Wayne's kitchen..... she is so fussy...she wouldnt even let me track dog dirt on her carpet!~
July 30th....guess I missed this.... I should check in more often.
Yeah, she said if I ever brought a Habanero drinkin', doggie dirt trackin' Yankee in her house again, she'd put HIM in the dishwasher.
-------------------- Wayne Webb Webb Signworks Chipley, FL 850.638.9329 wayne@webbsignworks.com Posts: 7403 | From: Chipley,Florida,United States | Registered: Oct 1999
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All I've ever used is 1 part bleach to 4 parts water. Let set for 10 minutes and lightly brush off, rinse with a garden hose. But that was for algae, mold and mildew.
-------------------- Wayne Webb Webb Signworks Chipley, FL 850.638.9329 wayne@webbsignworks.com Posts: 7403 | From: Chipley,Florida,United States | Registered: Oct 1999
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