Removing bottle silk-screen
Posted: Thu Apr 03, 2008 5:12 pm
by acr4
What's the best way to remove the silk-screen paint from a bottle?
I tried Barkeeper's Friend but that wasn't abrasive enough. I'm soaking in Star-San right now, hoping a few hours of acid exposure will help. Next on the list is trisodium phosphate.
Anyone have any tips? This is one answer I couldn't find by searching.

Posted: Thu Apr 03, 2008 5:46 pm
by BDawg
I've never been able to get the paint from either Rogue or Stone off of a bomber. It's just not worth trying since so many others use labels.
Posted: Thu Apr 03, 2008 5:58 pm
by Henning1966
ok heres the answer Use one part Muriatic acid to three parts water. Soak bottles in this solution for 15 minutes and then rinse with water. Place to get muriatic acid easily is the pool chemical supplier.
Posted: Thu Apr 03, 2008 6:40 pm
by OldTree
I've had success on Red Stripe, Corona, and Stone bottles with about a week or two long soak in Star San.
Cheers,
Augie
Posted: Thu Apr 03, 2008 6:47 pm
by Mylo
OldTree wrote:I've had success on Red Stripe, Corona, and Stone bottles with about a week or two long soak in Star San.
Cheers,
Augie
I love Red Stripe bottles... and Anchor bottles... and Orval bottles...
I am just really confused... I just have to ask. Why the would you knowingly use Corona bottles? I suppose if you kept them in boxes, they might be OK... but still - Corona? That means you actually have to drink it first!
Mylo
Posted: Thu Apr 03, 2008 7:37 pm
by Bugeater
I use a hammer. I just apply it sharply to the painted on label and the label drops into nice little pieces. You then sweep up the label and the attached glass shards and toss them in the trash. I then go out and buy a beer without a painted label.
For me it's not worth the time and effort (not to mention messing with dangerous chemicals) to try to get that paint off.
Wayne
Bugeater Brewing Company
Posted: Thu Apr 03, 2008 7:56 pm
by triple-oh-six
BugeaterBrewing wrote:I use a hammer. I just apply it sharply to the painted on label and the label drops into nice little pieces. You then sweep up the label and the attached glass shards and toss them in the trash. I then go out and buy a beer without a painted label.
For me it's not worth the time and effort (not to mention messing with dangerous chemicals) to try to get that paint off.
Wayne
Bugeater Brewing Company
I almost spit chocolate onto my screen.
That's great!
Posted: Fri Apr 04, 2008 8:12 am
by Otterbrew
There are so many good beers available in bottles where the labels come off easy, that there is no need to work this hard. I even stay away from Bear Republic bottles (Racer 5) since they use an adhesive which requires some added effort to remove (white gas or goo gone).
When Sierra Nevada went to pry off tops, I was stoked knowing that a good source of bottles just became available. I was equally "pissed" when Anchor went to twist offs.
Current favorites for bottles are:
Sierra Nevada, Firestone Walker, and Gordon Biersch.
I do have a Stone 3 liter bottle (Double Arrogant Bastard was a Christmas gift), which I would like to clean if possible, so I may try some of the suggestions on this thread.
Take care,
-Greg