How to Remove Everbrite Coatings
To remove Everbrite coatings, the methods largely depend on the type of surface and the desired outcome. The primary methods involve chemical removal using solvents or mechanical removal through sanding or blasting.
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Chemical Removal (Solvents)
Recommended Solvents:
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Xylene is the most commonly recommended solvent for removing Everbrite coatings because it is clean, contains no oils and takes longer to dry so it allows more working time.
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Acetone can be used, but it flashes off quickly, making it less effective and more difficult to use than xylene. Not to be used on painted surfaces.
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Lacquer thinner can also remove the coating, but it contains oil. It must be followed by a wipe with a clean solvent (like xylene, denatured alcohol, or pure acetone) to remove any oily residue before recoating. Not to be used on painted surfaces.
Wet Coating
When the coating is still fresh and wet, it can be wiped up quickly with a solvent.
Solvent can also be used on a lint-free cloth to clean the threads of the can before replacing the cap. This ensures that the cap does not stick on hard and make it difficult to open in the future. With the coating having an indefinite shelf life, this is important.
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Solvents can also be used to wipe off fresh wet coating from glass/windows.
Partially Dried, Dried and Cured Coating
To remove an Everbrite Coating that has partially dried, is dry or has fully cured, xylene can be used on most surfaces. Xylene can be used to remove coating on all bare metals or anodized metals. Use care when using solvent on powder-coated metals or metals with baked-on paint so that the solvent does not affect the paint. Isopropyl alcohol or denatured alcohol are not strong enough solvents to remove a partially dried, dried or fully cured coating.
For larger scale projects, coating can be manually or mechanically sanded off metals like copper, steel and other non-painted metals. Copper roofs, gutters or larger bare metal projects are good examples.
** Do NOT use xylene, lacquer thinner or acetone to remove coating from:
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Clear hard plastics as it will cause the plastic to craze and turn milky white or cloudy.
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Painted surfaces that are not baked on. Xylene, lacquer thinner or acetone will also remove the paint and act like a paint stripper.
​How to Use Solvent to Remove Everbrite Coating​s
Wear Personal Protection: Solvents are strong chemicals so it is important to protect your eyes and skin.
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Protective eyewear wear or goggles.
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Only use solvent-resistant nitrile, neoprene or chemical-resistant gloves. Do NOT use rubber/latex gloves as rubber/latex reacts to the coating and solvents which cause them to become sticky.
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If required, place cardboard or canvas drop on surrounding surfaces or floor for protection.
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Adequate ventilation is recommended.
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Use a lint-free cloth (an old white or faded T shirt is ideal)
Depending upon the size of the area to be worked on, either soak the cloth or immerse small items in the solvent.
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Apply the soaked cloth lightly to the area where the coating needs to be removed. Keep the cloth moving over the surface with light pressure (like “petting a cat”) until the coating starts to soften. Do NOT scrub or rub, just keep the solvent soaked cloth over the coating until it “melts”.
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Once the coating “melts”, wipe up the melted coating and solvent together with paper towels or cloth.
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Repeat the process until the coating is gone.
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For small bare metal pieces, soaking them in xylene or other solvents can make removal much easier.
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To remove coating from glass:
You can remove coating from glass with a razor blade, or you can use a solvent. If using solvent, the solvent and coating will smear, so you will need to do it more than once.
If using a razorblade, it is recommended that the glass is damp or wet. Wipe with a wet cloth, then remove with a brand new razor blade. This acts as a lubricant on the glass and makes the process easier.
Do not discard cloths wet with solvent. Lay cloths used with solvent out to dry. Once they are dry, you can safely discard in the trash.
Important Considerations for Painted Surfaces
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Exercise extreme caution when using solvents on repainted surfaces or paint that is not baked on, as solvents can damage the paint.
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Always test a small, inconspicuous area first.
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Xylene generally does not easily remove baked-on paint, so it can be used on such surfaces, but care must be taken not to let it sit too long or rub too hard, as it could eventually break down the paint.
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If paint shows on the cloth during a xylene wipe test, it likely indicates repainted rather than baked-on paint.
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Acetone and lacquer thinners will harm paint and are generally not recommended for use on painted surfaces.
Mechanical Removal (Sanding/Blasting)
This method is generally recommended for larger areas of copper or other unpainted metal.
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Sanding:
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Start with a coarse enough grit (e.g., 400, 600, 800 grit sandpaper) on a sanding block or sander to cut through the coating. Anything coarser could scratch the metal.
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If a finer finish is desired, move to using 1800-2000 grit automotive sandpaper. The higher the grit, the finer the finish.
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Sand with the grain and be careful not to mar the metal.
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Do not sand plated metals, as it can remove the plating.
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Blasting:
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For very large bare metal projects, soda blasting, bead blasting or even ice blasting can be used to remove tarnish and any coating previously used.
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Sandblasting is generally not recommended on copper, brass or bronze as it is too harsh for soft metals.
What Does NOT Remove the Coating
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Denatured alcohol alone will generally not remove the cured coating, although it is recommended for the final "solvent wipe" step during surface preparation.
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Water-based cleaners will not remove the cured coating.
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Abrasives like Comet or scratch pads are not designed to remove the coating but can scratch it.
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Nail polish remover is not recommended as it can leave behind residue (lotions, dye).
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Isopropyl alcohol is not strong enough to remove coating. And it is not clean enough for solvent wipe unless it is 91% to 99% (surgical grade) Diluted alcohols can leave a film or residue.
Why would you need to remove an Everbrite Coating?
Situations where coating removal may be necessary:
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If the surface was not properly cleaned or prepared before the initial application, leading to issues like poor adhesion, streaks, cloudiness, or rust forming under the coating.
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If tarnish or oxidation appears underneath the coating due to insufficient coverage or damage. The coating needs to be removed to properly clean the tarnished area before recoating.
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When a different finish is desired (e.g., changing from a satin finish to clear, as a clear coat will not make a satin finish shinier).
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For repairs where the substrate tarnished under a damaged coating, the area needs to be removed and re-cleaned to ensure uniform color.
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The coating was accidentally applied to glass or other surfaces.
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​The surface is stained or worn. Example: sinks that get a lot of use or abuse may need to be restored every year or two depending on wear.
Reapplication of Everbrite Coatings
Once the old coating is removed, reapply as soon as possible to avoid tarnish or oxidation.
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If the surface looks as desired, it can be recoated after removal of coating with solvents.
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If the surface was sanded and looks as desired, solvent wipe and reapply the coating.
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Unless acid was used, there is no need to neutralize the surface.
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For brass, copper, bronze or other metal with tarnish, polish the surface, remove the residue, solvent wipe and apply coating.
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Recommended Solvents for Equipment Cleanup
1. Xylene - Most recommended.​ Flashes off more slowly so it is easier to use because it stays "wet" longer.
2. Acetone - Can also be used for equipment cleanup.
3. Lacquer Thinner* - After removing coating, use a clean solvent from the solvent wipe list before recoating to remove oils that are in lacquer thinner.
Other Helpful Solvents and Chemicals
Mineral Spirits removes silicone and silicone based waxes from metal but can leave a residue. If you use mineral spirits, make sure to wipe the metal with a clean solvent from the list of Recommended Solvents for Solvent Wipe before coating. Mineral spirits are not recommended for coating removal.
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Ammonia can remove non-silicone based waxes that may be on the surface prior to coating. Check with the wax manufacturer on the best way to remove the wax.