Paint Strippers.. Suggestion

[Tinuviel]

I\'m stripping rather alot of minis lately, and I\'ve found my usual technique, which is fine for the odd mini, is kinda hard work when it comes to lots! The paint goes soft and gooey, but sticks in the lowpoints and recesses of any given miniature.. And since this seems to be where the pros hang out, I wondered of the CMON regulars had any suggestions?

This kind of question has always resulted in a shopping list of obscure/foreign chemicals/detergents/cleaning products before now! Hopefully a few of you guys are UK based!

Thanks for any suggestions ??????

~Tinuviel~

 

[finn17]

Cellulose thinners

I am sure that these things are called different things in different countries, but I always use \'cellulose thinners\'. I live in England and this name is a description of the product and not a proprietary name (as far as I am aware). This stuff dissolves paint, superglue, epoxy resin AND plastic. Do not use on your plastic models and remove any plastic parts/bases first. It will also remove the finish from virtually anything including paintbrushes. So whilst it might remove dried-in paint from a tired brush, it will also take the finish off the brush and dissolve any glue that might be holding the handle/ferrule/bristles together. Having said all that, I always keep a jam-jar of the stuff permanently on my kitchenwindow sill as it will strip the average metal mini in a matter of minutes. After a short soak I generally run the mini under a cold tap and give a good scrub with a nail brush. (Do not use your wifes/mums/sisters nailbrush for this purpose!)

 

[SaxonAngel]

I repaint alot of old minis...

I\'ve gotten the best results with polyglycol brake fluid. Let it soak for a day and most everything comes off with an old toothbrush or scrub brush. If your minis are painted/ primed with an enamel (older ones usually are) you may have to let it soak for days. In these cases, furniture finish remover will get rid of it much quicker. But in any case you will still be stuck picking out tiny bits of goo out of the crevices with a pin or needle.

Some minis will never come clean, I have a jam jar of stripper half full with minis that may never see the light of day again.

Peace!
-Saxonangel:innocent:

 

[airhead]

Easy-Off Oven Cleaner (non fuming)

I have limited experience with this stuff, but it works. Don\'t know about plastics. Works great on lead & lead-free lead.

 

[Tinuviel]

Thanks all!

Some good suggestions, Cheers everyone ^_^

The minis I\'m stripping are some of the old Citadel Dark elves.. beautiful sculpts, which are sadly dunked in lurid acrylics, with a wierd powdery undercoat!

Thanks again,

~Tinuviel~

 

[mouse]

Tamiya Thinner and toothpicks

The way that I do it to remove paint from certain parts of the miniatures is to use an old unwanted brush to wipe it on areas that I wish to strip the paint.

Then I use the toothpick (with the ends blunted and pre-soaked in thinner) to carefully strip the areas of paint.

For me, it doesn\'t make a mess of the rest of the miniature.

 

[Painfully]

Brake fluid, or pine-sol are my strippers of choice, depending on how much of a hurry I\'m in. I use an old electric toothbrush to get into the cracks better--it works great!

Be sure to keep chemicals like these off your hands if you can help it though. Gloves are recommended, or just rinse liberally with water before you start handling the mini for brushing it clean.

 

[Stonebreaker]

Easy Off Oven Cleaner, Simple Green

I have used Easy Off oven cleaner on plastic models and have had very good luck. Also, Simple Green cleaning solution (available in a concentrated form from SAMs Club) works well without harming the plastics.

 

[sronan]

The electric toothbrush idea is great. I have always used PinSol (a pine oil cleaner) Don\'t leave plastic in overnight and wear gloves. Full strength PinSol can give you chemical burns.

 

[kannan_fodder]

I tried carburetor dip with pretty good results. However, it is very caustic to skin and will make a mess out of plastic.

Anyone know a good way to remove paint from Green Stuff?

 

[Decado]

remove paint from Green Stuff?

Well i have found that \"Easy Off\" works on everything with out damaging it, including green stuff so i would suggest giving that a go.


Decado

 

[Elftech]

Paint strippers

I have found that car brake cleaner works very well. It strips off paint fairly quickly of plastics and pewter. It also works on green stuff.

 

[kannan_fodder]

Thanks!