# How to Remove Paint

**URL:** <https://community.cartalk.com/t/how-to-remove-paint/61305>\
**Category:** Maintenance/Repairs\
**Tags:** ram, dodge, 1500\
**Created:** [February 14, 2011, 1:30am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/how-to-remove-paint/61305 "2011-02-14T01:30:55Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 4\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![instock](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/22d042/32.png) [@instock](https://community.cartalk.com/u/instock)\
**Post date:** [February 14, 2011, 1:30am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/how-to-remove-paint/61305/1 "2011-02-14T01:30:55Z")

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I bought this used Dodge Ram pickup. It looks like there were a few scratches in the paint and somebody hit it with some spray paint. It doesn’t look horrible, but it would sure be nice to have a nice shiny uniform finish to it. I hit it with some rubbing compound and a lot of elbow grease. There is nice looking paint underneath. I just wonder is there a faster way to take that spray paint off? I’ll be at it with a month with the rubbing compound. Maybe a fine sandpaper? I just don’t want to damage the factory paint.

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**Author:** ![mleich](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/71c47a/32.png) [@mleich](https://community.cartalk.com/u/mleich)\
**Post date:** [February 14, 2011, 1:40pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/how-to-remove-paint/61305/2 "2011-02-14T13:40:01Z")

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If you want to preserve the paint underneath, you are on the right track. I don’t know of an easier way that is not intended to remove ALL of the paint, as in media blasting.

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**Author:** ![Joseph\_E\_Meehan](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/joseph_e_meehan/32/21_2.png) [@Joseph\_E\_Meehan](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Joseph_E_Meehan)\
**Post date:** [February 14, 2011, 2:39pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/how-to-remove-paint/61305/3 "2011-02-14T14:39:12Z")

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O would try the rubbing compound second. I would suggest a clay stick first.

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**Author:** ![DfromSD](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/dfromsd/32/1669_2.png) [@DfromSD](https://community.cartalk.com/u/DfromSD)\
**Post date:** [February 14, 2011, 5:07pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/how-to-remove-paint/61305/4 "2011-02-14T17:07:41Z")

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Try 1000 or 1200 grit sandpaper first then follow with the compound.