<HTML>Jeff Stickney writes: <BLOCKQUOTE TYPE=CITE style="BORDER-LEFT: #0000ff 2px solid; MARGIN-LEFT= : 5px; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0px; PADDING-LEFT: 5px">My problem is this:  What = can I use to clean this [pinblock dope] off the plate for refinishing?</BLOCKQUO= TE> I'd say don't use any hotter solvent than necessary. It depends upon the pla= te finish, and which pin dope. Start with soapy water. We wash plates with T= SP and water (tri-sodium phosphate). If you're lucky, it's the glycerin-base= d dope, and TSP will get it. Alcohol would too, but some plates are shellac = and alcohol is also the solvent for shellac. Lacquer thinner is the next hot= ter solvent, and will get the dope but soften even more plate finishes. You can get TSP at most professional paint stores and most hardware stores. = If you use it, be sure that it is truly tri-sodium phosphate and not "TSP br= and" cleaner, which is not TSP. Rinse very thoroughly. You've indicated that it is slow to come off tools with "Goof-off," so it's = possible that either it's some mystery compound, or it might have combined w= ith the plate finish. In that case you're on your own!  Even lacquer th= inner probably won't cut the japanning. Shellac makes a good barrier coat. P= lease let us know what you find. Bob Davis</HTML>