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Removal of acid etching graffitti

Currently in the City of Cleveland we are developing a problem with acid etching grafitti. Is there a means to remove the grafitti?

Steve Hurko
City of Cleveland - Cleveland, Ohio

Hi Steve!

You have a problem because of the etching effect ... but it would have been nice/useful to know on what materials this happened ... brick, perhaps?

If the perpetrators were caught in the act, then an alkali spray would prevent the attack.

Failing that, you can only 'paint' over those marks or use MORE acid to confuse/diffuse the markings.

You could scare the hell out of these guys if they could be caught on camera! This happened in this town where a guy installed a motion detector which caught movement, alarmed him and out he stepped with a camera... they were NEVER, ever again bothered that particular place. Mind you, If caught, I'd have police type photo mug shots taken and post them in the local newspapers... and damn the civil rights libertarians!

Sorry I could not be of more help.

Freeman Newton [deceased]
(It is our sad duty to advise that Freeman passed away
April 21, 2012. R.I.P. old friend).

Our soft-spoken friend Freeman is probably right that once the damage is done, it's done. But, depending on the substrate, just about any organic coating will offer brick and concrete some protection from acid.

Ted Mooney, P.E.
Striving to live Aloha
finishing.com - Pine Beach, New Jersey

We have been working on this problem for some time here in California. We are testing a new product and having some success. I'll post again when it is ready to roll out.

Jack Ferry
- Diamond Bar, California

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