How do you get the green, red and black paint off the keg? Do you soak or scrub? What solution do you use?

Ive heard steel wool should do the job.

Steel Wool does indeed work, but you'll likely need to pass the time by consuming the contents of more than one can. ;)

I've buffed a few cans for aesthetics. But, in truth, they only stay pretty for a few uses with alcohol, and a single use with Esbit. Now, I just leave the paint on...

Cheers,

-Mike

Skidsteer on whiteblaze uses a metal polisher attachment for mag wheels. Look there if you don't want to spend the elbow grease on the steel wool. Or you can wrap it with some fiberglass wick as Tinny at Minibulldesigns does and leave the paint on.

Use fine sandpaper before you open it, while it is rigid.
400-600 grit works quickly enough.
I have a cotton buffing wheel on my bench grinder that will buff it up like chrome, but it won't last long, as noted in an earlier post.

From my limited experience it's easier to buff with the can still full.

Permatex gasket remover. Extra harsh but effective on stripping the finish off of all sorts of things. Use care.

Thanks for the info. I will have to buy a FEW cans and start to test all your methods!!! A tough job hey.

Jay,
A really fast, clean and non-toxic can stripper is simple wet/dry sandpaper, 180 or 220 grit, used wet under a dribbling faucet. And on full cans to avoid denting.

Why take the paint off? Just curious if there's a functional reason, or it's an aversion to advertising Heineken, or simple aesthetics.

No reason really-just looks cleaner and plus I just enjoy projects that involve backpacking GEAR-FUN!! Current project is on my windscrean.