Help! Someone spray painted graffiti on my 2007 AS

[DaCosta]

I am so upset some one sprayed paint, graffiti on my 2007 airstream helllllllp me how do i get this offff please am so depressed. thank you

[loudruff]

There is a Graffiti remover chemical that comes in a can. I got some at Lowe's in the cleaning dept. Our school system uses it on walls etc.
Don't know what it will do to Aluminum though. Maybe use a little on a test spot in an inconspicuous place.
Hopefully, some others with more experience can give you some advice here.
Take lots of pictures. Notify your insurance company and the police dept. before you touch the aluminum. But you need to try to get it off as quickly as possible.

[twilder]

Check with a graffiti removal company, that may be the safest. check your insurance too, they might help.

[Melody Ranch]

This is an Airstream ...not a brick wall. Graffiti should be handled accordingly by someone other than a guy with brick wall-box car experience. With luck, if you had a wax coating on the trailer you may be able to re-wax off the paint. ...and not your clear coat. It may even come off with an aggressive washing. Other than that go for an automotive/aircraft paint shop for ideas. Stay close to the insurance company rep.

[Mikethefixit]

When I was working, we had to contend with graffiti all the time.White painted trailers with large lettering VERY TEMPTING. We used something like GOOF OFF I think . I know its a citrus based paint remover. Take pictures IMEDIATELY ,NOTIFY the COPS. NOTIFY your Insurance carrier. DO NOT DELAY in the removal any longer that nessesary. The longer you wait the worse it will get. I think the clear will stand up too this stuff.

[thecatsandi]

A light application of Acetone will work. If your are not familiar with it don't use it. I can take off the coating on the trailer too.

[DanB]

A few years ago my truck was spray painted. Surprisingly, a mild detergent and some patience took care of it. I would just start with a sponge and soap and go for it.

I would not hesitate getting some Simple Green on it either.

[Foiled Again]

With fresh paint HOT water will often work. The water should NOT be too hot to put your hand in - about 120-125 degrees F.

Use a plain old terry wash cloth, dip in hot water and apply wiping semi-vigerously.

The bond between the paint and your clearcoat will strengthen as time passes - so try at least one spot immediately. If it works, change your wiping cloth out frequently and just keep going.

A plastic razor blade may help with the stubborn stuff too.

That is a terrible thing to happen, but it is fixable. You can get one or two panels re-clearcoated at several renovators - the ones in Helena Ohio regularly do just the top sections.

Hope you can get it off without needing to strip the clearcoat. Let us know your progress. Sympathy Karma to you.

Paula

[dwightdi]

The weakest solvent that sometimes gets some paint off is mineral spirits. Charcoal lighter by a different name. The paint on the later model Airstreams, like yours are precoated at the sheet aluminum maker and have a more resistant paint system. Older Airstreams with the Spray on Plasticoat are more susceptible to solvent so you need to test more and get the solvent on and off them as quickly as you can.

[DaCosta]

Thank you all, i tried most of the ideas you have given. This was tagged by a city rat that used a paint that isn't easy to take off. So far rubbing alcohol and been working, it takes two hours a letter. I guess i have been lucky but now i am worried. Please keep sending me more and thank you from my hard

[Jim Foster]

A friend who was a sign painter, did fancy signs and boat transoms, used a remover that would take off only one layer of paint. You might check out high end paint stores, also, automotive paint supply stores. There is lots of stuff out there that the box stores do not carry as it is not a big seller.

[Maniscalco's]

DO NOT USE ACETONE, MEK OR LAQUER THINNER! These are all way to aggresive... you will soften and dissolve the clearcoat!

Use nothing more than mineral spirits (AKA paint thinner). You can also use marine stove fuel (AKA denatured alcohol), goo gone. If you are brave you can try naptha (lighter fluid, not charcoal lighter)

If all else fails, a wet sanding grade of sandpaper can be used (4000-6000 grit) or a 3M cutting compounding gel.

The last thing you want is to soften the AS clear coat!

Don't forget about old fashioned clay as well!

Bastards!

Good luck!

FYI a 2x yearly coat of NuFinish (orange bottle wax) makes this less of a trauma!

[Hoosierdaddy]

A sign painter once told me that he uses oven cleaner to remove lettering enamel off from an automotive finish.

[GetOutDoors]

What about Goof-Off?

[Beginner]

I know this sounds nuts but WD 40 not only removes road tar without damaging the paint but it may also remove the paint. Another method that has worked for me is wet a rag, wring it out and apply New Finish to the wet rag. Worked on my van.
Beginner

[LHall]

I was able to remove some unsightly pin striping from a used car with some stuff called TR3 car wax cleaner, I also used some liquid McGuires wax and a microfiber cloth with lots of rubbing, the pin striping was painted on with a brush

[blmitch5]

I'd try the mineral spirits. Just make due not to have long exposure to your skin, don't ask how I know.

[clancy_boy]

STOP - all of you are killing me with all these chemicals. Simple, you have a clear coat on the trailer - even if you are really bad and have never waxed the camper it is still on there from the company (getting thinner every year so get on it just for this reason). Get some paste wax (any brand will do) TODAY and coat (save the scrubbing just apply out of the sun) the paint with the wax and let sit NOW. Try in an hour and see if it softened the paint - I am willing to bet is will wipe right off. Done this 3 times on cars - worked every time and once it was on 5 day old spray paint mess on a friends car. Hey, I live near New Orleans and Mardi Gras brings out the scum of the earth.

This is cheap, non-cancer causing and safe for the AS, it will work.

[StreamNTyme]

That is terrible, what kind of jerk would do sucha thing to a wonderful Airstream!Good luck, be careful taking it off! Some cleaners are too harsh, call Airstream!

[drew05]

I'd used Skin So Soft and baby Oil to remove some adhesive and tree sap with non noticeable harm.

Good Luck