Acetone is a common chemical solvent used in laboratories around the world. Among other things, it’s often used for dissolving plastics, cleaning glassware, and, you guessed it, removing paint. But can acetone remove paint from metal?
Acetone will remove paint from metal. This solvent effectively removes most paints from metallic objects by dissolving the paint’s organic components. However, the solvent must first soak the surface to achieve the desired results.
Read on for more information on how acetone strips paint from metal and how to use it to get the job done. I’ll also touch on a few other ways to remove paint from metal.
Will Acetone Remove Paint From Metal?
Acetone is good for removing paint from metal. Not only can you use acetone to remove paint from metal, but it may be the best option that you have available.
However, it’s crucial to soak the object in an acetone bath for a sufficient length of time. This dissolves the paints’ organic components and facilitates easier removal.
Here’s a YouTube video of acetone removing unwanted paint stains from a metallic surface (a car in this case):
Risks Associated With Using Acetone to Remove Paint From Metal
Before you decide to use acetone on metal surfaces, you should know the health risks associated with it.
The Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry lists acetone as a widely available, hazardous chemical product that should be handled with care. Acetone is flammable and may irritate skin, eyes, mucous membranes, and respiratory system upon contact.
If ingested, this chemical may cause nausea, vomiting, abdominal pain, the sensation of floating or flying (known as derealization), and hallucinations. Therefore, ensure you put on a respirator mask, gloves, and eye protection when using this substance.
How Does Acetone Strip Paint From Metal?
Acetone strips paint from metal by breaking down its organic components. Most paints consist of various ingredients, including oils, resins, and waxes. This solvent reacts with these materials, breaking them down into smaller molecules that can easily be removed from the object.
Acetone strips paint off for two reasons — solubility in water and surface tension.
Chemicals that dissolve in water are known as “hydrophilic.” Acetone is hydrophilic because it dissolves readily in water-based solutions like paint. This solvent pulls dissolved components like color pigments from the paint coating during soaking.
Additionally, acetone lowers the surface tension of water. This allows it to reduce the cohesive forces between paint molecules. These forces usually bind pigment particles together to create a solid color, but chemical additives like solvents decrease these attractive interactions.
Lastly, acetone can rapidly evaporate from water by turning into a vapor. This reduces the paint’s film thickness and thins out its components until they become unbound and detach from metal surfaces entirely.
How To Remove Paint From Metal Using Acetone in 6 Easy Steps
Here are the materials needed to remove paint using acetone:
- Metal object (aluminum cans work best)
- Scraper
- Acetone cleaner solvent (in a spray bottle)
- Soft brush
- Clean, lint-free rags
- Water
- Rubber gloves such as the Squish Disposable Gloves (available on Amazon). They’re non-toxic, highly versatile, and resilient. Besides, they come in compact, easy-to-store boxes).
- Safety glasses or goggles
- Respirator mask. I recommend the Parcil Distribution Full Face Respirator. Its dual carbon filters effectively keep out the toxic fumes. So, you can rest assured of safe operation. Besides, it’s designed for use in various applications, so you can also use it for other projects.
Here are the steps:
1. Remove Any Dirt and Debris on the Object
The first step is to clean and wipe down the metal object. You can scrub it with a special cleaner, like toothpaste or denture cleaner. Or you can simply rinse it off with water and dry it off before continuing.
Removing dirt and debris first ensures a better result. If there’s dirt on the metal object, removing paint will be more difficult since the acetone may not make proper contact with the surface.
2. Scrape Off As Much Paint As Possible
Use a paint scraper to remove paint from your metal object. Don’t push too hard on it since you don’t want to scratch or damage the surface. Since you’re probably removing old, flaky paint, most of it should come right off.
Once most of the paint has been removed, clean off any remaining residue from your paint scraper by rinsing it using running water and drying it with a towel.
3. Prepare an Acetone Bath and Soak the Object
You’ll need to prepare an acetone bath that’s deep enough for the object. Pour some acetone into a container large enough to accommodate your metal object.
But make sure the container is still shallow enough so you can easily reach in and pull out the object when it’s time to remove paint from the final side.
Next, place your metal object in the acetone bath. Ensure that it’s fully submerged, then let it soak for about ten minutes. This allows acetone to act on the paint coating. You can then remove it with your scraper or an old toothbrush.
4. Scrub Off Remaining Paint
After your metal object has soaked, it should be easier to remove paint from the final side. This is because acetone loosens and dissolves oil-based paint. You can then use a soft-bristled toothbrush to remove any remaining traces of paint from the surface.
You can also use a soft cloth or old T-shirt to remove paint that a brush doesn’t catch. Don’t use steel wool since it’s very abrasive and will damage your metal object’s surface, but you can scrub gently using a clean rag soaked in acetone.
5. Rinse the Metal Object
After scrubbing the metal object, rinse it with water to remove all acetone residue. Pour about half a bucket of clean water over the metal object and let it soak for several minutes.
You can then pour out this water and fill your bucket with fresh soapy water to perform one final cleaning rinse if desired.
6. Dry the Metal Object
Lastly, dry off your metal object using a towel or rag. You can let it air dry, but drying it with a towel is faster. Ensure that no water droplets are left on the metal object’s surface as they might cause rusting.
After everything has dried, inspect your metal for discolorations or other signs of damage. If everything looks good, then you’re done!
Otherwise, you may need to repeat the process.
Other Ways to Remove Paint From Metal
Besides using acetone, there are several other ways of removing paint from metal. These methods are equally effective. However, some are more expensive or risky, so you should only use them as a last resort.
Here are other ways to remove paint from metal:
Chemical Stripper
Chemical strippers usually contain a solvent that softens paint so it can be scraped off with a plastic scraper or wire brush.
Some strippers work more quickly than others and may require a special additive to activate them.
Be sure to test your stripper solution on a small inconspicuous area of the metal object first to make sure it doesn’t affect the surface.
Heat Stripping
Another method of removing paint involves heating it with water or steam, sometimes in combination with chemicals. This process requires less effort but usually takes more time than acetone.
Also, it can be dangerous if you’re not careful. It involves using very hot equipment that may cause severe burns if touched. Therefore, it should only be performed by those with experience handling high temperatures.
Sanding and Abrasive Blasting
Sanding or using an abrasive blasting tool will remove paint from metal, but it’s also very time-consuming. In addition, sanding can damage the metal object’s surface since it doesn’t strip away materials uniformly like acetone does.
Nonetheless, sanding is still one of the most common ways to remove paint from metal.
Electrolysis
You can use an electrolytic solution containing lye, sodium carbonate, or potassium hydroxide to dissolve rust and paint off an object made of cast iron or steel. The chemical reaction requires electricity to work, so it’s only feasible for home use if you have the right equipment.
Metal Restoration Services
If paint removal from metal is particularly extensive or if the process fails, you may need to hire a restoration service instead. In this case, it’s best to consult your local hardware store for recommendations of services that have done this type of work before and are familiar with your metal object’s material.
Bottom Line
Acetone does a great job of removing paint from metal objects. It dissolves paint by breaking down its chemical bonds, making it reasonably easy to remove with a scraper or brush.
That said, it would be best to wear proper gloves, goggles, and a respirator mask to prevent inhaling acetone fumes. Now that you know how to use acetone to remove paint from metal objects, you can get started on your next project!