How to clean years of build up paint off bunkers ??

[Bolter]

Why are you trying to clean them? Surely you are going to be using them afterwards? Sometimes when things are that caked on, removing it makes it fall apart. Sounds like they have been bleached in the sun aswell.

 

[TGR]

How about... Before you wreck your bunkers ring the manufacturer and ask?

 

[chong sparks]

In all seriousness, try Flash Powder if you can find it or watered down cream (Jif/Cif would be worth a try if you can't find Flash) , in a strong solution, it is slightly alkaline and we used to use it to clean engine casings from built up dirt prior to repainting.

Also, Fenwicks http://www.fenwicks.info/products page.htm make a good range of mostly caravan cleaners that are quite effective and have a much wider range of uses - the caravan cleaner was used to clean filthy mountain bikes by many before they introduced a specific cleaner.

Another option is TFR, Traffic Film Remover, or truck wash, this is a fairly harsh alkaline (caustic) cleaner for heavy road dirt.

I would recommend using gloves and eye protection with any alkaline/caustic cleaners, for your own good. If the bunkers are the ones I think they are, good luck, last time I saw them they were pretty caked.

Still though, I suspect that a large dolop of elbow grease and a scrubbing brush will be required.

Cheers for the info mate, im guessing they are the ones you think.

Why are you trying to clean them? Surely you are going to be using them afterwards? Sometimes when things are that caked on, removing it makes it fall apart. Sounds like they have been bleached in the sun aswell.

Im trying to clean them so they look better, there not sun bleached its just the titanium white dye pigment that is in the paintballs thats made the bunkers look sun bleached, It does come off leaving the original blue colour intact. Under the paint and grime they are in reasonably good condition.

Thanks for the help and info everyone

 

[Cook$]

turn them inside out.

 

[Syd (NSPL)]

Okay, here's an educated answer...

1) Don't use a pressure wessure or jet wash or whatever you want to call them. You can damage the bunkers, particularly older bunkers which these obviously are.

2) Buy an industrial strength de-greaser and experiment with different dillutions of the product to find a mixture that will help remove the really caked on stuff but will still go a long way. Wear rubber gloves.

3) Have plenty of running water available.

4) Have plenty of time available.

5) Buy some scrubbing brushes and eat your wheatabix! Elbow grease is most definately required and a full X-Ball or Millennium field will take at least a couple of days of hard graft.

6) Enjoy! Seriously, have some fun whilst your doing this or you will probably slit your wrists come the end.

 

[chong sparks]

Okay, here's an educated answer...

1) Don't use a pressure wessure or jet wash or whatever you want to call them. You can damage the bunkers, particularly older bunkers which these obviously are.

2) Buy an industrial strength de-greaser and experiment with different dillutions of the product to find a mixture that will help remove the really caked on stuff but will still go a long way. Wear rubber gloves.

3) Have plenty of running water available.

4) Have plenty of time available.

5) Buy some scrubbing brushes and eat your wheatabix! Elbow grease is most definately required and a full X-Ball or Millennium field will take at least a couple of days of hard graft.

6) Enjoy! Seriously, have some fun whilst your doing this or you will probably slit your wrists come the end.

Cheers syd

Been at em again today using drain unblocking solution. seems to be working. couple of hours and done a tombstone and a brick.

rubbed it all over then hosed off. that took most of it off then just another rub over on the more stubborn parts, hosed off again to finish.

Wore an acid suit, acid gloves, vapour mask and goggles. Looked a right **** but safety first i guess.