r/Tools • u/LogDangerous7410 • 10h ago
Serious Question Here!
I bought a bandsaw at a yard sale and the seller has his name wrote across it in sharpie. It’s basically baked in and I’ve tried everything acetone, alcohol, dry erase marker, WD 40, Goo gone, Industrial Mold Cleaner, Brake Cleaner. Anyway what other options do I have? I don’t want to look like I stole something but I don’t know what to do. It was a heck of a deal I couldn’t pass.
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u/bonemonkey12 10h ago
Paint it like so, except in sweet flames while listening to Night Ranger
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u/FamiliarAd8524 9h ago
It needs to have hydraulic lifts, homes. But the flames will make it go faster, that's good cholo engineering.
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u/LogDangerous7410 9h ago
That’s cool but it’s a hand held band saw
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u/bonemonkey12 9h ago
So get the leather gloves with the fingers cut out with spikes on the knuckles.
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u/left4smokes20yrsago 10h ago
Paint
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u/Copacetic75 10h ago
Paint does not stick to sharpie very well, and quite often bleeds through. A large sticker would be a better option.
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u/Yankeesrule0864 10h ago
He could rough it up with Emory or like 60 grit sandpaper and then paint over it.
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u/CCWaterBug 9h ago
Rattle can it with hammer finish
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u/Endomlik 8h ago
Those hammered paint rattle cans make you feel like a pro. Stuff looks so good after.
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u/reallifesidequests 8h ago
Be sure to make a few cuts immediately after spraying, for extra coverage
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u/evenK648 10h ago
Angle grinder
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u/R1chard_Nix0n 8h ago
My boss loves to raid garage sales and flea markets so most of our shop tools had random people's names on them, last winter when it was freezing he had us go through all of the tools to flap disk and relabel them with a soldering iron.
Best part was we didn't even have to come in, we loaded our vehicles up and clocked in at home.
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u/Grey-Squirrel-World 9h ago
Put start and end dates by their name.
Then put your own name and the year you bought it.
Honor the tools life.
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u/LogDangerous7410 8h ago
I would if his name wasn’t written so largely on it but there’s no more space to write anything
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u/Magic_wire_smoke 10h ago
If it is on paint, scribble over the writing with another sharpie, then immediately follow up with a towel soaked in 91% or stronger isopropyl alcohol. It might take a few passes and may not completely erase the old marker, but it should take off enough to make the old ink barely visible.
That method just helped me clean up an old breaker panel to relabel. It has worked with some plastics, too.
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u/outkastblast 9h ago
This stuff works great for removing sharpie from Nintendo cartridges from the 80s.
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u/PyroErogenizer 10h ago
Sticker or blackout. Isn’t it weird how we can get hung up on cosmetic details that have nothing to do with performance?
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u/Random-Man562 10h ago
However if you get a sticker with flames.. it adds HP so be careful which sticker you choose.
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u/LogDangerous7410 9h ago
I could give two shits less of the cosmetics I just don’t want to be labeled a thief at the job site because someone else’s name is on it.
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u/PyroErogenizer 8h ago
I’m tying help here… What name is written on it?
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u/LogDangerous7410 8h ago
Rafael Rodrigez
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u/PyroErogenizer 8h ago
After thorough cleaning and drying of the area marked “Rodrigez”, take a fresh broad tipped sharpie and carefully draw the shape of a turtle covering “Rodrigez” completely. Include the shape of a pair of sai near the turtle, perhaps on its shell, near its claws or over extra letters that aren’t obscured by the turtle.
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u/Waltnutz 6h ago
Just write “not” in front of the name then add an apostrophe s to the name with sharpie. Problem solved.
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u/LogDangerous7410 6h ago
Only if there was room to
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u/Waltnutz 3h ago
I have tools from a garage sale that have Pete Doyle engraved into them. If anyone ever asks me why I have Pete Doyle on my tools I tell them that was my name before witness protection. I bet that story could work for you. Haha.
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u/realparkingbrake 9h ago
Anyway what other options do I have?
Spray paint that matches the color of the saw comes to mind.
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u/redditsuxdonkeys 9h ago
I recently used bug and tar remover and it took sharpie right off a plastic tray. This was some old off brand stuff I had in the garage it came from Ollie’s
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u/BobBarrSr 9h ago
I've had some success by putting fresh sharpie over old and then immediately wipe off with 99% isopropyl alcohol. If that doesn't work just change your name.
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u/FamiliarAd8524 9h ago
You sand it out.
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u/LogDangerous7410 8h ago
I’ve seen this a lot and I think I’m gonna have to.
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u/Barefoot_Mtn_Boy 4h ago
I was thinking the same thing! Can you use an oscillating sender where you can change the grit of sandpaper? I mean, use the finest grit that won't sand deep scratches into the plastic, but go deep enough to remove the old sharpie ink, or at least lighten it to where using a dedicated plastic paint will cover it totally.
You can scrape it with two or three grits of paper, and use sanding oil to help cut the ink while smoothing the scratches out maybe!
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u/ClownfishSoup 2h ago
Sand it a bit then prime and paint over it in black. Then use a white paint marker and put your own name on it.
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u/Round_Leading_8393 7h ago
Write over one letter with a sharpie and immediately wipe it off. Works great on newer marks, not sure about really old stuff.
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u/PythonVyktor 5h ago
Steel wool. Essentially sand it off. Or paint over it? Maybe a sticker or a wrap?
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u/_Quasifrodo_ 8h ago
What about the dye people have been using for tool shells?
Like the black Milwaukee stuff getting posted nonstop a few months ago
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u/LogDangerous7410 8h ago
This is a great idea I’m gonna see if I can take the shell off.
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u/Sensitive_Point_6583 5h ago
also made me think of liquid bluing for guns, if its a metal case that stuff penetrates metals fairly well, but I've never actually used it for an application like this. It comes with an applicator in the lid so you just paint it on the surface you want to turn blue.
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u/-raymonte- 9h ago
In the 80’s I worked in a supermarket and on Sunday mornings, before we opened, the early shift did all the price changes for the new week. There was this ink stamper for the frozen foods that were wrapped in clear plastic and we had a bottle of Garvey Price Remover to erase it and stamp a new price. That stuff smelled CAUSTIC but it worked. I still have one and it works on permanent marker, I’m not sure if they still make it.
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u/EntrancedOrange 9h ago
Rubbing alcohol or dry erase marker usually works for me. Melamine sponge aka magic eraser is worth a shot.
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u/I-built-stuff 9h ago
Use pure xylene if you aren't afraid of a little cancer. That's a future you problem anyway.
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u/Fast-Ideal9417 7h ago
I have one that has the guy's name that gave it to me. It doesn't bother me but if it did I would probably get a large sharpie and just color over the whole area. Congratluations on your good deal.
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u/Top_Satisfaction_636 4h ago
I have carefully and methodically removed similar markings with an exacto knife held at a 90° angle and scratched just the area that has sharpie. If you’re patient you cannot even see this has been done. It’s about the same as sandpaper but the precision is much better.
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u/Turbulent_Concert_51 3h ago
Ok hear me out on this one… black box around his name then fill in and use white out to write your name. Or black box (or fill in) where his name is and use stencil and paint to put your name on there
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u/LogDangerous7410 3h ago
Yeah I’m gonna try light sanding and if that don’t work this will be my option
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u/idioticbabbling5298 2h ago
The classic previous owner sharpie problem. Had a similar thing with a toolbox I picked up and nothing would touch it til I tried one of those magic eraser sponges with a little paste wax mixed in. The abrasive in those things is stupid fine so it didnt mess up the paint underneath just took the marker right off.
If that doesnt work you could always lean into it and scratch a line through the name then stamp yours below. Makes it look like a hand me down instead of hot merchandise.
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u/Ok-Breakfast-990 9h ago
Did you let the solvent sit or just wipe it. What material? I’d take an ipa or acetone soaked rag and let it sit on the spot for several minutes before wiping. May take a couple passes. Don’t use acetone on ABS.
If that didn’t work I’d try a melamine sponge
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u/shakebakelizard 9h ago
Sandblast it and refinish it. Everything will come off.
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u/LogDangerous7410 8h ago
Really sandblasting? It that not gonna tear up the plastic?
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u/shakebakelizard 8h ago
I assumed it was metal. Plastic, not sure...it's a lot more iffy and depends on what kind of plastic it is. Probably just leave it in that case, or put something on top of it.
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u/scloherty 8h ago
Try actual brake fluid. On a paper towel. Then clean off brake fluid with alcohol.
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u/SureCost8912 7h ago
So this is really stupid but works often on a lot of materials, write over it with dry erase marker, erase and both come off.
Ever accidentally write on a white board with a sharpie? Oof.
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u/LogDangerous7410 6h ago
Yes I tried this it didn’t work unfortunately I have done that before and it’s worked just not this time
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u/Livid_Average_8098 5h ago
Acrylic thinners. If it has been painted in hammertone, grab a spray can of the same colour and just paint over it.
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u/Steelbill77 4h ago
If you have an old can of black spray paint, spray a dab on it and see if it rubs off. Gloss
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u/Few-Floor-9135 4h ago
They do make a plastic paint/dye for faded car interior parts I would sand as much as is practical first. Who knows you might be able to remove it completely if you sand it enough
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u/Four_in_binary 4h ago
Spray paint the housing of the band-saw whatever color you like, sanding first if so motivated.
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u/somedaysoonn 4h ago
Spray spray paint on it and wipe it off. It will usually take marker off with it. Or I had a can of graffiti remover that did miracles on that stuff, only I can't remember where I got it. It was an industrial size can to.
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u/FormworkFan 3h ago
You usually have to hit baked-in Sharpie on plastic housing with a high-grit sanding pad to take it down to a clean surface. Once you scuff it out, just lay down a quick coat of plastic primer or wrap it with heavy-duty electrical tape
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u/ClownfishSoup 2h ago
Paint over it with white paint then write or stencil your own name over the painted spot.
Also, if it’s in your garage, who cares?
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u/ClownfishSoup 2h ago
Just go to work and say to your buddies “check it out? Got it at a yard sale for $200! Only problem is the guys stupid name is on there. Then use it and they all k ow you bought it.
Unless the guy who sold it for you so cheap stole it from the guy whose name is on the tool.
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u/Anti-Emotional 2h ago
Is it an anodized aluminum cover? Sharpie on that will not come out. If not did you try marking back over it with the sharpie and wiping it off. It works sometimes
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u/Mental-Chapter6523 51m ago
Impressive. Sharpie never stays on anything I own.
My grandfather had match books printed out that said "bummed off [grandpa's name]."
Probably no room for that.
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u/FlipsManyPens 10h ago
Big sticker over it