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Remove silkscreen(?) ink from plastic switch?

Discussion in 'Fred's House of Pancakes' started by egg_salad, Sep 9, 2018.

  1. egg_salad

    egg_salad Active Member

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    After much searching, I finally found a junkyard switch that fits the G2 dash. However, it has an icon I don't want. Does anyone know of a solvent that will remove the icon but not damage the underlying plastic?

     
    #1 egg_salad, Sep 9, 2018
  2. William Redoubt

    William Redoubt Senior Member

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    It depends on what kind of plastic and ink it is. The ink is generally a solvent base that is either silk screened or pad printed. Here is a document that can give you some kind of guidance. There are some videos on the internet that show how to identify plastics, but it is likely the switch is ABS.
     

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    #2 William Redoubt, Sep 9, 2018
  3. egg_salad

    egg_salad Active Member

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    Thanks for your help. Although I'm fairly certain the switch is ABS, beyond that, your linked document is stratospherically over my head.
     
    #3 egg_salad, Sep 9, 2018
  4. ChapmanF

    ChapmanF Senior Member

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    Sometimes, if the switch is meant to be illuminated, the 'ink' is where the black surface is graven away to let the light through.

    -Chap

    [​IMG]
     
    #4 ChapmanF, Sep 10, 2018
  5. alanclarkeau

    alanclarkeau Senior Member

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    If you're going to re-screen print it, can you do it in a dark grey layer first?
     
    #5 alanclarkeau, Sep 10, 2018
  6. The Electric Me

    The Electric Me Go Speed Go!

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    After I buy a car, the fear is the image fading away. I've never really thought about trying to remove an image.
     
    #6 The Electric Me, Sep 10, 2018
  7. egg_salad

    egg_salad Active Member

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    Oh. Huh. I hadn't thought about that, but you're probably right. A few quick dustings of Krylon Fusion ought to solve my problem.
     
    #7 egg_salad, Sep 10, 2018
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