Does any body know the best way to remove the paint from a Heine pot?? I am thinking rubbing compound and some type of buffer/polisher?? Any thoughts, comments, answers??

i'd use some really fine steel wool. but why?

doesn't a hershey chocolate bar work?

steel wool will do it.

I'm sure it easier when it's full. When done, dump it out and have a real beer ;).

Try warshin yer arse sometimes!

Does any body know the best way to remove the paint from a Heine pot?? I am thinking rubbing compound and some type of buffer/polisher?? Any thoughts, comments, answers??

That's the easiest, fastest method I've found.

See this thread (http://www.bplite.com/viewtopic.php?f=17&t=590) for details.


Go to the auto parts store and get a Mother's Powerball. It's a foam ball with a bit attachment for a drill, lathe, etc. Smear it with rubbing compound and go to work. Takes about 10 minutes to finish the job. I did mine after I put the rim on but the next one I'll do it with the can full and unopened so I can use more pressure.

Here's the temporary rig I set up:

http://i222.photobucket.com/albums/dd238/acsskidsteer/New%20Chopped%20Heineken%20Pot/th_NewchoppedHeinekenpot002.jpg (http://i222.photobucket.com/albums/dd238/acsskidsteer/New%20Chopped%20Heineken%20Pot/NewchoppedHeinekenpot002.jpg)
http://i222.photobucket.com/albums/dd238/acsskidsteer/New%20Chopped%20Heineken%20Pot/th_NewchoppedHeinekenpot001.jpg (http://i222.photobucket.com/albums/dd238/acsskidsteer/New%20Chopped%20Heineken%20Pot/NewchoppedHeinekenpot001.jpg)

I've got a few ideas I want to try to make it even easier.

Leave it to Skids. Good idea with the powerball-- i was going to use a little wimpy attachment on the dremel. Thanks.

Any power sander should work with fine 220 grit or higher sand paper. I have a 1/4-sheet DeWalt sander and it will do it is just a few min of work.

Break fluid may work also, it dissolves paint very well. Get it on a car body and in a short time the paint will bubble up and can be wiped off easily. If the paint on the beer can is baked on or silk screened it may not work as well, but it could be worth a try. The just wipe the can down with some solvent to remove the fluid.

Prevention is the name of the game. try not to put your heine in the paint

Is the paint weighing you down?

if you plan on selling the can you have to get the Heineken trademarks off first

My Heiny is NOT for sale, thank you very much.

Break fluid may work also, it dissolves paint very well. Get it on a car body and in a short time the paint will bubble up and can be wiped off easily. If the paint on the beer can is baked on or silk screened it may not work as well, but it could be worth a try. The just wipe the can down with some solvent to remove the fluid.


Nope. Tried it.

The problem is I don't think it's paint; It's some kind of pigment.

Muriatic acid works but takes time and leaves pitting in the surface.

Is the paint weighing you down?

I live in hotels 3-4 nights a week.

I test outside from time to time and grew weary of explaining to passers-by who wanted to know why I was boiling my beer.

I thought I had some hilarious explanations but they usually look like they're going to call the Police after they get the kids inside the hotel room.

Nope. Tried it.

The problem is I don't think it's paint; It's some kind of pigment.

Muriatic acid works but takes time and leaves pitting in the surface.

I think it's varnish. (organic)

Then on second thought I think it's a polymer that is cured with ultrviolet light. Let me see if I can find out locally.

Why not just keep on buying cases of it? Eventually you might get one without paint, plus in the meantime you could get hammered

Why not just keep on buying cases of it? Eventually you might get one without paint, plus in the meantime you could get hammered

Hammered!!!!!

Cool idea, a hammered finish on a Heiny pot:banana

There ya go skids, your next project, make it pretty!!!!!!!

I test outside from time to time and grew weary of explaining to passers-by who wanted to know why I was boiling my beer.Did you ever put on a fake accent and tell them you were British?

Did you ever put on a fake accent and tell them you were British?I can see it now: Skids in an Austin Powers get up saying "yeah, baby, yeah" while boiling his beer. ;)

about the coating on the inside of the can:

Many Moons ago, I worked at a Can manufacturing plant. The insides were painted with lacquer.

Since beer has to pass the food inspectors, I'd imagine risks belong somewhere below treating your water (or not) on the trail.

More to the point:


I used to clean the lacquer machine nightly with MEK

Menthol Ethel Keytone

Now there's a chemical that packed a punch.

Miles of Smiles,Tom

Are you sure there isn't some kind of lining on the inside of the can that can melt under high temps? I know the can must be food grade, but to what temperature.

MEK - I used to work at Uniroyal and one of my jobs was stripping paint (epoxy!) from golfballs with MEK. They told me not to get it on my skin, and that it can cause cancer.
Don't bother taking the paint off. The nice shiny photos you see online are before the can is used for any length of time. It will become a nice, dark shade of brown regardless of what you do to it. It's a throwaway item once it gets dented badly enough. I don't worry about what the coating is on the inside. I don't see it peeling after a year of use, so I'm not concerned.

Did you ever put on a fake accent and tell them you were British?

I can see it now: Skids in an Austin Powers get up saying "yeah, baby, yeah" while boiling his beer. ;)

Yep, I tried to convince them I was converting a lager to an ale.

Another time, I almost persuaded a Frenchman I was making beer brandy. I was doin' good until the hotel owner, Mr. Patel, broke it up.

Pakistanis have no sense of humor.