ken88 Posted June 28, 2018 Share #1 Posted June 28, 2018 Hi, I've read many great things on this forum about a paint stripping product called Goof-off, which has lead me to ordering a can on eBay. I'm in Europe so would like to make sure there are no legal issues with importing 1 unit of Goof-off... I've done some research and apparently it's not a big deal as long as you order small quantities of dangerous goods such as chemicals, but I'd like to make sure that importing this product is safe and legal. I could really use some since I have a helmet liner with obvious markings underneath several post-war layers of paint. Unfortunately there don't seem to be a lot of alternatives to Goof-off in Europe, other than heavy duty paint stripping agents or things like Brasso that aren't proven to be as effective as Goof-off. Well, maybe there are but I wouldn't know where to look. When and if it gets here, I'd like to know how you've used it to uncover layers of paints. I guess I'll have to apply it to rags or tooth brushes rather than to the liner itself? Any experiences? Thanks Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bugme Posted June 28, 2018 Share #2 Posted June 28, 2018 Ken, you will start with a rag and rubber gloves in a well ventilated area outside the home. Start with a small area and work slow. Goof-off works but it is not a magic wand. It requires work and mostly, patience. As for dangerous chemicals you'd have to check with your customs rules. Goof-off is in the paint reducer(spirits) family of chemicals. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
P-59A Posted June 28, 2018 Share #3 Posted June 28, 2018 One other thing, keep a clean wet rag and water to neutralize your work area. When you work an area with allot of paint to be removed the paint you want to keep can start to loosen up or get gummy. Neutralize it asap and let it dry. move on to another area and take your time. Its not a race. Q-tips are useful. Good luck! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bugme Posted June 28, 2018 Share #4 Posted June 28, 2018 Goof-off cannot be neutralized with water. It is a petroleum derivative. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ken88 Posted June 28, 2018 Author Share #5 Posted June 28, 2018 Thanks both! I'll be very patient and careful in any case. If I understand correctly the wet rag is applied after the removal of unwanted paint to prevent any damage to the original, desired markings/paint layer? Does this mean the wet rag soaks up any remaining Goof-off? If so, do you let it sit for a while, then remove it and let the area dry? Besides Q-tips, can I use an old tooth brush or will this cause visible scratching? Thanks! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bugme Posted June 28, 2018 Share #6 Posted June 28, 2018 Think of Goof-off and water in the way you would vinegar and oil. They oppose each other. Water does not neutralize petroleum distillate. However, when it is finished and you want to clean it up, try an oil displacing detergent like Dawn dishwashing liquid and hot water. This works nice for final clean-up and may give you the desired effect of "somewhat" neutralizing the solvent. But honestly, this solvent evaporates so fast, I highly doubt you'd have time to use any kind of neutralizer anyhow. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ken88 Posted June 28, 2018 Author Share #7 Posted June 28, 2018 Thanks Scott! Very useful information. I hope all goes well. Will post progress and results once I've started. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mr.Jerry Posted June 28, 2018 Share #8 Posted June 28, 2018 A tooth brush is not a good tool here IMO. You use the Q-tips to "soak up" the paint that is liquefied by the goof off. I have also used Acetone (the base also used in nail polish remover) As mentioned, patience is the key here, between getting a layer off and burrowing straight down to the base metal. It can also eat through decals. Work around them. Practice on something you don't care about. I had a friend of mine do a German camo helmet for me that was covered in bright green paint. it took 3 months, but it turned out great. Also be careful of any rags soaked in any solvent. They can spontaneously combust (burst into fire). Do all work outside in fresh air. Good luck! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ken88 Posted June 28, 2018 Author Share #9 Posted June 28, 2018 Thanks a lot! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BILL THE PATCH Posted June 28, 2018 Share #10 Posted June 28, 2018 Mr Jerry is right dont use a toothbrush, Q-tips are the best. You will use a lot of them but the key here is work slow small area's at a time. Good kuck Sent from my Moto G (5) Plus using Tapatalk Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
P-59A Posted June 28, 2018 Share #11 Posted June 28, 2018 Goof-off cannot be neutralized with water. It is a petroleum derivative. Dilute would be a better word. Any way the point is it stops or slows down the reaction of the goof off on the paint. I have had paint I was removing get saturated with goof off and gum up and not react like it had been and before. The "burn time" was longer and that saturated paint I was removing started to affect the paint I was saving. Water takes the chemical off the paint you are saving so it does not "kick off" on you when are removing the old paint next to the cleaned area. Make sense? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
P-59A Posted June 28, 2018 Share #12 Posted June 28, 2018 Dilute would be a better word. Any way the point is it stops or slows down the reaction of the goof off on the paint. I have had paint I was removing get saturated with goof off and gum up and not react like it had been and before. The "burn time" was longer and that saturated paint I was removing started to affect the paint I was saving. Water takes the chemical off the paint you are saving so it does not "kick off" on you when are removing the old paint next to the cleaned area. Make sense? I did it again...dissipate is the word I was looking for. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bluehawk Posted June 28, 2018 Share #13 Posted June 28, 2018 As an aside, extra large Q-tips are readily available, and make the job of clearing the pigment a bit easier/faster/ Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Patchcollector Posted June 28, 2018 Share #14 Posted June 28, 2018 Will post progress and results once I've started. Yes,please do.If possible,please take photos and document every step of your restoration project. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ken88 Posted June 28, 2018 Author Share #15 Posted June 28, 2018 Will do once the Goof-off arrives... Thanks all! Willl update the thread asap. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BEAST Posted June 28, 2018 Share #16 Posted June 28, 2018 Great thread! For the first time, I am starting to strip a helmet. After reading several posts, I started to remove the paint with Goof-Off. I applied it to a corner of a sponge and started working slow. There was a major blob of paint that I wanted to start with and this came off pretty easily, but I didn't want to rush it, so I stopped and wiped the helmet down with Dawn dishwashing soap and water. I will do some more work on it this weekend, but before I do, I was wondering if anyone had any luck using an oven cleaner such as Eazy-Off? I have read about its use, but haven't seen pictures of the results like I have with Goof-off. Ken88, if the oven cleaner works, that may be an easier solution than importing Goof-off. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
P-59A Posted June 28, 2018 Share #17 Posted June 28, 2018 Great thread! For the first time, I am starting to strip a helmet. After reading several posts, I started to remove the paint with Goof-Off. I applied it to a corner of a sponge and started working slow. There was a major blob of paint that I wanted to start with and this came off pretty easily, but I didn't want to rush it, so I stopped and wiped the helmet down with Dawn dishwashing soap and water. I will do some more work on it this weekend, but before I do, I was wondering if anyone had any luck using an oven cleaner such as Eazy-Off? I have read about its use, but haven't seen pictures of the results like I have with Goof-off. Ken88, if the oven cleaner works, that may be an easier solution than importing Goof-off. Easy off is best for cleaning gun stalks, Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BEAST Posted July 4, 2018 Share #18 Posted July 4, 2018 I just finished stripping some paint off of a helmet. The helmet had a big blob of black and over spray of red paint. One tip that I have is to not leave the goof off on the helmet too long. I left it on in one spot for about 20 min and it took some of it to the bare metal. Just take your time, use a q-tip, work a small area and lint the time its on the metal. Good luck! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ken88 Posted July 6, 2018 Author Share #19 Posted July 6, 2018 This is what I will be working on... Not a helmet, but a late war Firestone liner with an overpainted MP marking. Besides paint there's an awful lot of other gunk that needs to be removed as well. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bluehawk Posted July 10, 2018 Share #20 Posted July 10, 2018 As an aside, extra large Q-tips are readily available, and make the job of clearing the pigment a bit easier/faster/ I could not stop myself... Here is an array of cotton swabs on the largish side, useful for preservation/conservation projects. The handle sticks are wood, each one approx. 6-7 inches long Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ken88 Posted July 16, 2018 Author Share #21 Posted July 16, 2018 Finally got started today.... I must say I'm pretty impressed with the Goof-off, it's pretty strong stuff... Even had to put on a mouth mask outdoors. But very effective, especially when concentrated. This is a little before and after of today's work. Removing gunk and glue has been my priority for now. Can't believe how well Goof-off has helped in eating through that old, dried glue. Oven cleaner has helped revealing the original base coat of paint for the most part. The photos aren't the best and there's still a color difference, but I'm quite happy with the first results Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Patchcollector Posted July 16, 2018 Share #22 Posted July 16, 2018 Yes that's quite a difference already.Impressive. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ken88 Posted July 19, 2018 Author Share #23 Posted July 19, 2018 Today has been the second day of my project. I can hardly believe it, but have had major success in liberating the MP marking today. I don't know exactly what combination of products I've used, but for some reason the overpaint came off really, really well when I put simple water into the mix. Oven cleaner has been part of this succes to at least 50%. As you will see, there's still a color difference where the glue was, but I'm not sure if I want to risk anything anymore. There's still some bits of darker paint on the markings as well, but I'm going to leave that as is. The cracks in the MP marking you will see are original, and not caused by any chemicals I've used. All in all, I'm really glad I've decided to buy this liner and to restore it with Goof-off, which, everything considered, really is an amazing product! Special thanks to all of you guys! Using Q-tips really was an invaluable tip (no pun intended)! Let me know what you think. Should I leave it alone now, or try to perfect the original finish? Cheers Pic 1 - today's progress (in fact almost done) Pic 2 - finished as far as I am concerned Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
72psb Posted July 19, 2018 Share #24 Posted July 19, 2018 What a great result.I would leave it as is. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ken88 Posted July 19, 2018 Author Share #25 Posted July 19, 2018 Thanks! It probably is best to leave it as it is now. I'm afraid I could ruin it should I proceed. Besides I like a bit of character. I really never thought this would be the result when I ordered Goof-off. Couldn't be happier. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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