Short story: String paint FAIL! Your advice needed: How to clean?

**Accordaz** · 08-20-2012, 03:09 PM

I was doing my first string paint on my own. Or, lets say... I was going to...!

I tried to use the red stick (from mystringersworld.com). The paint didn't came out. So I tried to push it a little bit harder.
Well... Probably you already know what happened after:
Splash! The whole color on the floor of our balcony...! You can imagine by yourself what a disaster that was. We had to clean it for at least 1 hour. And some parts of the floor are still red. I will search something aggressive to clean the floor completely.
Luckily I weared glasses. Unluckily one of my glasses got a little smudge too. But I've managed to clean the glass. But not the frame, which also has been "vandalized".

And for sure: My absolutely new strung N55 (and its string) was also painted in red, unintentional.

After this (probably for all of you entertaining) short story, I need your advice:
How to clean the N55 and my glasses frame without using something that aggressively which could damage the material?

I would very very appreciate any advices and tips. Especially from members here who also have experienced something similar like me

I don't care if I have to cut the new string, but it would be sad if the N55 would stay that dirty. I just wanna clean it.

btw: Is there something I absolutely did wrong? I just have to push the little tube stick, right? Maybe the cap wasn't fixed good enough?

I know, it's a maybe very enjoyful to you to read this, but please don't post anything senseless here to keep this thread clean. If you can't help or have no experiences to post here, let it be. Thanks in Advance.

**Avenger** · 08-20-2012, 03:20 PM

hmm.. something not corrosive..
i'm not sure if this liquid corrosive or not, but how about paint thinner? (this will certainly remove those stains on the floor really quick)

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Paint_thinner

**Borbor** · 08-20-2012, 07:27 PM

Try acetone, or brake cleaner. The acetone might be safer, because chances are it won't eat thru the racquet's clearcoat. Try a dab of brake clean on the floor. If it doesnt leave a stain, give 'er

**APB Stringers** · 08-21-2012, 07:29 AM

nail polish remover gets it off of frames and strings when you don't want it on there, not sure about floors though! :P

**Accordaz** · 08-21-2012, 07:39 AM

Yep. I've tried nail polish remover today. And guess what? It worked!
I didn't have that much time to clean it completely during the lunchtime, but it seem to work very good. It also didn't remove the paint of the racket itself.

I'll keep you updated, mates

Thanks for all the tips. Probably I just worried too much :-)
And probably I won't be able to get it 100% clean, but 97% would be okay too :-)

**R20190** · 08-21-2012, 07:42 AM

Originally Posted by Borbor

Try acetone, or brake cleaner. The acetone might be safer, because chances are it won't eat thru the racquet's clearcoat. Try a dab of brake clean on the floor. If it doesnt leave a stain, give 'er

Acetone does react with lacquer/clear coat. But a lot of nail varnish removers contain diluted acetone so it doesn't react as fast.

Yes acetone does work, I've tried it. But just be mindful that it does react and can marr the finish of your paint if you're not careful.

If it is only tiny specs of paint, then I'd be tempted to try scraping it off with my fingernail. Or you could try a clay bar (with quick detailer spray) - for removing dirt from car paintwork.

**Nauroa** · 08-21-2012, 07:46 AM

If it makes you feel any better I did the exact same thing on our bedroom carpet...

Needless to say the wife got pissed as hell and the carpet had to be completely replaced.
I could have bought many good racket for the price of a new carpet.

**Accordaz** · 08-21-2012, 07:56 AM

Originally Posted by R20190

Acetone does react with lacquer/clear coat. But a lot of nail varnish removers contain diluted acetone so it doesn't react as fast.

Yes acetone does work, I've tried it. But just be mindful that it does react and can marr the finish of your paint if you're not careful.

If it is only tiny specs of paint, then I'd be tempted to try scraping it off with my fingernail. Or you could try a clay bar (with quick detailer spray) - for removing dirt from car paintwork.

Thanks for the advices.
I also thought about using clay bar. But you have to spray on the racket before using the clay. And I'm not sure if its healthy or unhealthy for a racket to get wet. And the clay bar is usually used to remove very very small smudges on a flat surface. Especially the latter thing is not given. The frame is uneven. Some parts are / were fully covered with the paint.
Notice: The whole content of the stencil ink was pushed on the whole floor (and racket).

@Nauroa: Thanks... This cheers me up a little bit...

Be happy it didn't happen to the wall or bed

**Mark A** · 08-21-2012, 08:11 AM

I would glue the tip into the ink bottle next time as well

.

**gundamzaku** · 08-21-2012, 11:17 AM

my friend did a paint job without a stencil with a sharpie because he thought sharpie will stay on contact on most surfaces. unfortunately, not on strings, and it pretty much colored all the birdies black. nail polish works great, but i've also used sanitary wipes i got from the hospital where i used to work and it came off right away probably because of the bleach and alcohol ingredients. those wipes are strong enough to remove brake dust completely off the wheels without harming the metal