Hey all -- I found a nifty Mantua metal baggage car, painted for NYC, and want to make it part of my Amtrak rainbow train. Of course, it'll have to be relettered for Penn Central. The car has a black painted stripe above what would be the window line, with lettering on that. I don't think the black stripe was prototypical (not my biggest worry), but I am thinking about stripping it -- has anyone had any experience removing paint from these old Mantua metal cars?
Also, the car has a bit of tarnish to it (which I'm not sure is the worst thing) -- any recommendations on polishing, as in whether to do it or how?
Thanks!Aaron
These days most people who need to strip a car use 90% rubbing alcohol. It safe for plastic, so certainly should be safe for a metal car as well. Soak it for an hour of so, then scrub with an old toothbrush. If paint remains, soak some more. If some stobborn paint remains in the crevices, gentle scraping with a hobby knife may remove it.
Wear Nitrile gloves, work in an ventilated area, and remember that 90% rubbing alcohol is flammable like gasoline
George In Midcoast Maine, 'bout halfway up the Rockland branch
Yeah, stripping paint from a metal car should be a piece of cake. Practically any organic solvent would work.
If this is one of the aluminum cars with the corrugations, and you want it shiny as all get out, I recommend using Simichrome. It will give you a mirror finish. IF that is what you're after.
Ed
Agreed, stripping paint from a metal car should be easy. Not railroad related, but I use lacquer thinner to instantly clean layers of paint off of door hinges, cabinet hardware, etc., so it should also work on a metal rr car.
Mike.
My You Tube
If this is an actual Mantua metal car I think it might be aluminum. Depending on what it is you are trying to remove, it might be possible to use a wire brush (for example a brass wire brush) held in a Dremel tool and remove only that stripe, or polish up the entire car.
Dave Nelson
dknelson If this is an actual Mantua metal car I think it might be aluminum. Depending on what it is you are trying to remove, it might be possible to use a wire brush (for example a brass wire brush) held in a Dremel tool and remove only that stripe, or polish up the entire car. Dave Nelson
I recommend against using a wire brush on aluminum.
If you DO want to try it, maybe use it first on the inside to see what it does to the metal.