Stripping paint

[mackb4]

Laundry detergent is one of the safest ways to strip paint off of metal and tin shells.The detergent acts like a lye bath.Another method is to glass bead paint off.The material is very fine crushed glass in a sand blast cabinet.I have been told the glass bead method,when adjusted right, will strip plastic shells also.I know people who have srtipped plastic models with brake fuild,but what does it do to the makeup of the plastic over time ?Always test what method you choose on something of no value,before you put your good stuff to the test.

[Sturgeon-Phish]

I've used Castrol Super Clean with great results on a chrome (what was left of it ) American Flyer 356. Paint came right off plastic was not harmed.

[FJ and G]

Matador,

Welcome to forum and sorry to hear that about your locomotive. I'd be curious to see a picture of it.

There's a device that resembles a popcorn machine that hurls plastic pellets at models to strip the paint. Sorry, but I don't know the name of the device.

[philo426]

I use Westleys Bleech White to strip paint off of postwar shells .strips the paint off clean in about 8 hours and does not harm the plastic.

[otftch]

Try Scalecoat II Wash Away. (S-56)It is produced by Scalecoat,a division of Weaver models.If you follow the directions exactly it works well,right down to the plastic.
Ed

[Anonymous]

I am not sure, Matador, since I only strip pre-war Lionel paint from tin cars. Maybe it works the same.

With metal train parts you could try:
-boiling a pan of detergent rich water (anionic and non-ionic)
-immerse the metal element in the boiling pan
-10-20 minutes later the paint has gone off
-rinse and remove the last paint pieces

If this MTH body is made of plastic, then I would not immerse it in boiling water, but most paint strippers (based on ethyl acetate, acetone, methylene chloride) would be even a worse choice.
You could then pick the smelly option to work with 25 % ammonia in water.

Good luck
ulphard

[Anonymous]

What is the best paint stripper for MTH Bodies I have just used Brake fluid and they crumbled.[B)]