How to remove sharpie from a Systainer without damaging the plastic?

[jbasen]

Yesterday I scored a Domino assortment, complete with most of the Dominos and all the bits in a classic Systainer, at a yard sale for $50  [thumbs up]. 

Unfortunately the previous owner had written his name multiple times on the Systainer with a black sharpie.  To remove the sharpie I have already tried:

1) Isopropyl Alcohol - lightened the sharpie markings but didn't completely remove them
2) Silicone spray - lightened the sharpie markings but didn't completely remove them
3) De-Solv-it citrus cleaner - did nothing

I know better than to try acetone or Goof Off as I know they will do significant damage to the plastic.

I posted a message to Sharpie on their web site but I thought I would also ask the question here as I don't expect they will be all that quick to respond. 

Any ideas would be greatly appreciated

Thanks

 

[downtheroad]

On this forum link, they said WD-40 worked.
http://www.beatyourtruck.com/forum/showthread.php?41158-Removing-permanent-marker-from-ABS-plastic

 

[AlexThePalex]

White spirit works just fine without damaging the plastic.

In the rare case that isn't enough I whip out some stronger stuff we call Thinner over here. Not sure how you call it in America, but it is stronger paint thinner containing xyleen/tolueen. This will get almost anything off your systainer. However, it can dissolve the plastic, but if you just rub it in with a moist cloth there is no damage done and only the sharpie ink will dissolve. Rub with a clean cloth right after.

 

[jbasen]

On this forum link, they said WD-40 worked.
http://www.beatyourtruck.com/forum/showthread.php?41158-Removing-permanent-marker-from-ABS-plastic

Thanks.  I had read on the web about WD-40.  I don't have any but I did try another brand of silicone spray.  It removed some of the Sharpie but still left a lot behind. 

I'm sure that this is being made more difficult because the areas with the sharpie are the ones on the systainer with a rough finish.  If the sharpie was on a smooth surface it would probably be a lot easier to get off.

Thanks again

 

[jbasen]

White spirit works just fine without damaging the plastic.

In the rare case that isn't enough I whip out some stronger stuff we call Thinner over here. Not sure how you call it in America, but it is stronger paint thinner containing xyleen/tolueen. This will get almost anything off your systainer. However, it can dissolve the plastic, but if you just rub it in with a moist cloth there is no damage done and only the sharpie ink will dissolve. Rub with a clean cloth right after.

Thanks.  In the US I believe that White Spirits is called mineral spirits.  I'll give that a try.

 

[nickao]

Try hand sanitizer with an alcohol content first. This works about 80% of the time. If you use shellac try the mixing  alcohol, this works very well. Otherwise use some rubbing alcohol.

 

[jbasen]

Try hand sanitizer with an alcohol content first. This works about 80% of the time. If you use shellac try the mixing  alcohol, this works very well. Otherwise use some rubbing alcohol.

Unfortunately neither hand sanitizer or rubbing alcohol worked.  They both took off just a tiny bit of the sharpie

Thanks for your idea

 

[jbasen]

SOLVED!!  Denatured alcohol worked like a champ.  It easily removed all the Sharpie and didn't do any damage to the plastic

[thumbs up]

 

[deepcreek]

Denatured alcohol is my go to for removing "permanent" marker.

 

[Sparktrician]

Another "quickie" method is to go over the markings with another Sharpie, and before it dries, wipe it down FAST with a clean rag.  It won't remove everything, but it's a start.  Denatured alcohol seems to be the best, when you have it handy. 

 

[joiner1970]

I wonder if that would remove systainer printing too, might give it a try if I can find some here in the UK

Edit: just googled it and it's meths which we have here

 

[dpetrzelka]

Mt Clean Magic Erasers work great for cleaning ABS plastic like systainers.

http://www.mrclean.com/en_US/magic-eraser

 

[ewils91]

I've had good luck by rubbing the sharpie with a dry erase marker and then wiping with a soft cloth. Takes sharpie off a white board too.

 

[WastedP]

Denatured alcohol seems to be the best, when you have it handy.

I try to always have it handy.  It works for so many things, without damaging what's beneath.  It will take latex paint off of a wall if you soak it, though.

 

[overanalyze]

Aerosol clear sun block works too.

 

[bkharman]

I've had good luck by rubbing the sharpie with a dry erase marker and then wiping with a soft cloth. Takes sharpie off a white board too.

I use this a lot!  One of my new students decided to draw a detailed drawing of 21st digit on my board one day and when I made a bet with them that I could remove it in a few seconds. If I won, they would point out the culprit. If I could not remove it, we would drop it and nobody would get in trouble. In about 15 seconds, I knew who it was because I turned around and said "tada" and everyone looked at one boy who had his jaw hit the desk and then lowered his head.

The good old days...

Glad you got it off.
Cheers. Bryan. 

 

[ewils91]

Took me a second with the 21st digit... lol.  [embarassed]

 

[promark747]

SOLVED!!  Denatured alcohol worked like a champ.  It easily removed all the Sharpie and didn't do any damage to the plastic

[thumbs up]

Thanks for the tip...this worked like a dream!

 

[jbasen]

Just to follow up on this thread.  I got an email from the folks at Sharpie and their suggestion was to use a dry erase marker, as had been suggested by some other folks.