Removing painted "Brake" on top tube

[MURDERF4CE]

Definitely just nail polish.. I would try rubbing alcohol first

[Uncle Cranky]

There is a Goof Off product called "graffiti remover" that is "safe for some auto finishes" for whatever that's worth... I've user it to remove housepaint from vintage bikes. Always leaves the original paint, decals, pinstripes but those are not cleared.

[tctyres]

Rubbing alcohol ... either isopropyl or ethanol. Go quickly, with elbow grease. Rinse with a wet rag when it's off.

[jamesdak]

Well, it just laughed at the alcohol. I'll get some Meguiars Mirror Glaze #2 and try that next.

[zmudshark]

Mineral spirits (paint remover).

[Uncle Cranky]

This is the stuff I use. Only the pro strength seems to work for me.

https://www.acehardware.com/departme...movers/1385723

[Dave]

Not many paints can be removed with mineral spirits or even goof-off. Nail polish requires lacquer thinner or acetone.

If the base paint is a modern urethane, lacquer thinner won't hurt it, but you should test a spot under the BB. It's usually easy to tell if a dab of acetone softens the paint.

The idea of using fine sandpaper and then some buffing compound is sound, but I'd go finer, like 1500 grit. When modern urethane is buffed out, the wet sanding has to conclude with 1500-2500 grit or modern buffing compounds won't remove the scratches. I know, from painting a hot rod and using the latest high quality compounds from Meguiar and 3M. In the old days, wet sanding was done with 600 grit and the compounds used to remove the scratches were much coarser.

[Hawker]

Since we seem to have a consensus here that this is nail polish, perhaps your wife's nail polish remover should be tried before straight acetone? I love acetone because it really works....but it also REALLY works so, be careful. Sometimes all you need is just a hint of the stuff on a rag.

[MURDERF4CE]

Use nail polish remover...Just hit it with some polishing compound after you finish

[tctyres]

Originally Posted by jamesdak

Well, it just laughed at the alcohol. I'll get some Meguiars Mirror Glaze #2 and try that next.

Normally, it's got to soak into the nail polish a little before it starts to move ... maybe 5-10 min. After that, it will come off. I've removed plenty of decals and nail polish with alcohol.

[benb]

I thought nail polish remover WAS acetone.

I would not be going near it with Acetone myself.. if the bike meant that much I'd pay someone who knew what they were doing.

Having used acetone I agree with the comment about it REALLY working.

[Hawker]

OK, what we need now is a live video stream while the OP attempts the ultimate nail polish removal. Winter is getting long huh?

[Lewis Moon]

2000 grit sand paper and/or polishing compound. For the sand paper, use alcohol as a lube. You're not gonna do this w/o some damage to the paint. You can minimize it but the damage has basically already been done.

[jtbadge]

Originally Posted by benb

I thought nail polish remover WAS acetone.

I would not be going near it with Acetone myself.. if the bike meant that much I'd pay someone who knew what they were doing.

Having used acetone I agree with the comment about it REALLY working.

Yeah, nail polish remover is acetone, but usually at a lower concentration as to be gentler on skin tissue. You can find 100% acetone pretty easily, but it's usually marketed differently.

[bigman]

Klasse
Great product - I've used this for scratch removal with great results.
If no clear coat this should work with a slightly abrasive towel and elbow grease.