8 replies to this topic

[TxNerfer]

I bought some old pvc from ace the other day and it's pretty gnarly and dirty. It's for some guns that I plan to sell, so I want to make it looking as clean and white as possible. I heard somewhere that acetone will probably do the trick, but I wanted to be sure. If acetone doesn't work, what will do the trick?

[Langley]

Acetone will break down the surface of the plastic. I would sand it with the finest paper you have, clean it with soap, and then maybe try acetone. Acetone may remove dirt, but if there are any pigments (like in the text printed on the sides) or anything else that can stain and seep into the plastic, acetone will just blur it and spread it out.

[BOSS9]

I buy some PVC from a surplus store, and I just use soap and water with a scotch pad to clean it up, they're also very finely abrasive- good for that frosted look.

[evilbunnyo]

I think acetone is best like langely said. If this pvc isn't going to move that much in the blaster you could try and spray paint it white as a last resort.

[TxNerfer]

So basically sand it and maybe tape over the writing to avoid touching it with acetone? I also have tried soap and water, but it wasn't enough. It cleaned some of the actual dirt, but not the blemishes on the pvc. I also tried these magic orange wipes that my dad keeps around (I've never seen something they haven't been able to clean) and those didn't work. But I will try the acetone.

[Broderick]

Or you could buy it from Lowe's, their stores are very clean. The PVC is dusty sometimes but never discolored. I usually try to avoid Home Depot, but haven't been to Ace very often.

Edited by Broderick, 05 February 2012 - 03:59 PM.

[TxNerfer]

It's 1.5" thinwall, which I can't get anywhere else. I prefer Home Depot's pvc to lowes', but Home Depot is pretty far. Lowes has dirty pvc occasionally, but it does the job.

[Nerfomania]

Seriously, just sand it with a rough grit to take the entire top layer off and then finish with a higher grain sandpaper.

It doesn't take that long if you use a good piece of sandpaper.

I do it regularly to clean up my 1.5 thinwall.

[andtheherois]

Abrasive sandpaper to make it nice and clean and remove the top layer with the markings, higher grit to remove some of the scratches, acetone to make it smooth.