Stripping Suggestions?

[SpaceMouse]

Git your mind out of the gutter. I'm simply not that kind of guy. [:-,]


I've got this:



And while it might be good for a parade like it is, I'm sending it to work in the mines. I need to get the paint and decals off so I can play.

My goal is to have something for Photo Fun.

[Anonymous]

Put some aircraft paint thinner on it, and see how much of it its left behind. hehe.

[SpaceMouse]

QUOTE: Originally posted by GearDrivenSteam

Put some aircraft paint thinner on it, and see how much of it its left behind. hehe.

I've got an old trolling motor battery that doesn't hold much of a charge. Maybe I could just pour some of the juice out of that.

[cjcrescent]

Chip;

I've always had success using denatured alchohol, (shellac thinner) on plastic models from MDC, Athearn etc. Let the model soak for about ten minutes and then scrub with an old toothbrush.
Others have had success with plain 91% rubbing alchohol the local drug store. For commercial strippers,
Poly-S makes a solution called E-L-O (Easy Lift Off) that I use for more stubborn paints. Scalecoat also makes a paint remover that I've had some success with.

I've seen several comments about Chameleon paint remover as being the best on the market for stripping plastic but I haven't used it. Some folks swear by brake fluid but I've had the plastic turn brittle and then crack in it and I don't recommend it at all.

[csmith9474]

ELO is the best that thing that I have come across. Just let it soak for awhile and the paint runs right off. I does seem to bring out any blemishes or defects in the plastic.

Smitty

[SpaceMouse]

E-L-O sounds like a good investment. Is this a hobby shop item (in which case I'm doomed) or will someplace like Lowes have it?

[Cox 47]

I havr used brake fluid for tears with no problems I stripped a LL N scale 38 just the other day. Best part its cheap and easy to get, make sure to test it first on the inside of the shell. Cox 47

[csmith9474]

QUOTE: Originally posted by SpaceMouse

E-L-O sounds like a good investment. Is this a hobby shop item (in which case I'm doomed) or will someplace like Lowes have it?

You should be able to find ELO at the LHS. If not they should be able to order it for you.

[SpaceMouse]

I called my LHS. No got. Last order I placed with them to a month to get and then it was wrong. I have some alcohol, isopropyl though, not denatured.

[SpaceMouse]

QUOTE: Originally posted by Cox 47

I havr used brake fluid for tears with no problems I stripped a LL N scale 38 just the other day. Best part its cheap and easy to get, make sure to test it first on the inside of the shell. Cox 47

I've been warned off of brake fluid. do I have that wrong?

[cjcrescent]

The problem with brake fluid is that it reacts with some plastics but not others and not always immediately. I used BF in the past, and I've had plastic bodies/parts either turn extremely brittle, swell and then crack like a mosaic or eventually get so soft they actually sag from their own weight, and the process may not be evident for months. I don't trust BF because as I said the damage MAY not show for months, and since I do not what went in to a particular batch of plastic to make the body, I won't take the chance.

Try this, go to your local pharmacy or Wal-Mart and look for the isopropyl alchohol that is 90% or greater. I think regular 70% comes with a blue label and 90% comes with a red label. Soak the model in this for a while testing frequently with a toothbrush and see if the paint comes off.

If not, order the ELO over the net from one of the IHS, (Internet Hobby Shops).

Whatever you try Chip, do not use any of the commercial strippers made for furniture/home/wood stripping. That stuff, like lacquer thinner will dissolve the plastic.

[Anonymous]

Brake fluid is good in one respect. It's completely water soluable. It will wash right off with just a fresh stream of water. I still wouldn't recommend it for plastic, though.

QUOTE: Originally posted by SpaceMouse

QUOTE: Originally posted by Cox 47

I havr used brake fluid for tears with no problems I stripped a LL N scale 38 just the other day. Best part its cheap and easy to get, make sure to test it first on the inside of the shell. Cox 47

I've been warned off of brake fluid. do I have that wrong?

[Cox 47]

I have stripped a lot with bf and never have had any problems The stuff is in rubber lines in your car for years with no problems but hey it could mess up the next thing I strip. Like I said ittscheap and that works for me every time Cox 47

[Anonymous]

That rubber ain't rubber. it's noeprene. Brake fluid even breaks that down over time. That's the sirts thing you always have to repair on an old car that's sat up awhile. The brakes.

QUOTE: Originally posted by Cox 47

I have stripped a lot with bf and never have had any problems The stuff is in rubber lines in your car for years with no problems but hey it could mess up the next thing I strip. Like I said ittscheap and that works for me every time Cox 47

[jsoderq]

Brake fluid is hazardous material and harmful to your health. Also it is illegal to dump or flush it down the drain Time to use appropriate products for doing this.

[Anonymous]

I couldn't have said it better.

QUOTE: Originally posted by jsoderq

Brake fluid is hazardous material and harmful to your health. Also it is illegal to dump or flush it down the drain Time to use appropriate products for doing this.

[Anonymous]

Mouse: No open flames while you are using the alcohol, the blue flame is almost invisble, and not good for you!! Work cautiously and with care!
Will

[SpaceMouse]

QUOTE: Originally posted by Overdurff

Mouse: No open flames while you are using the alcohol, the blue flame is almost invisble, and not good for you!! Work cautiously and with care!
Will

Any disavantage to soaking it over night in the denatured alcohol?

[cjcrescent]

Chip;
I've found there has been no need to soak overnight.
If its not stripped inside of 30 minutes, alchohol generally won't strip it.

[Cox 47]

OK I'm Not trying to sell BF But JSODERQ Is anything you use to strip paint legal to put down the drain? Maybe it would depend on what type of paint you are stripping? Do any of the Shells have lead based paint ? Again I'm not trying to fuss about this but your post set me to thinking, Cox 47

[nfmisso]

None of the current model railroad products have lead in thier paint, and have not had lead for more than 40 years.

Isopropyl alcohol is not illegal to dump down the drian in small quantities - it is used extensively in medical applications. It is not to be ingested.

Denatured alcohol is generally more expensive, more flammable, and intentionally poisoned so that it will not be used as a beverage. It is the same as Ever Clear or similar 190 proff stuff you get at the liquor store, but with poison added.

Safest and cheapest product to use is Isopropyl Alcohol. As mentioned above get more than 90%, and keep the cap on. If you leave it open, it will become 60% alcohol in not a very long time, because the alcohol evaporates faster than the water.

[GMTRacing]

What is used to strip the plastic shells on corvettes and bumpers? Would that work?
Not to beat a dead horse, but none of the stuff should be dumped down the drain. The alcohol with stripped paint in it is hazardous material same as paint waste or brake fluid or antifreeze. That said we probably all flush it down the sink, but if you want, it can be put in a container with a screen over it and allowed to evaporate and the dried waste put in the trash. Thought i'd put that out there especially for you Mouse since you're living in the midst of the effects of all that digging, smelting, etc. regards, J.R.

[pike-62]

The "Plastic" used on corvettes is fiberglass and the bumpers on cars is a urethane based rubber. Both are not affected be the harsher paint strippers. used in the auto industry. Believe me when I say not to use them on plastic models. Somewhere around here I have a vivid reminder of what they can do to a styrene model kit. Can anyone say "abstract art"? As a custom painter I use two methods to strip models. The first being91%+ rubbing alcohol. The second being a fine sand blaster. These both work well with no damage to the shells. A long time ago, back during the paint stripper incedent I also used brake fluid. I stopped when I found out that the formulas for brake fluid have changed. Years ago brake fluid used to be primarily Isopropyl alcohol. This is why the cans always said to keep them sealed. There were some minor additives, primarily rust inhibitors and dyes added to help out. Todays brake fluids are more chemicaly enhanced than before so as not to atract water, cause boiling issues etc. Some even are completly synthetic. I doubt that the synthetic ones would even clean paint off. In fact the silicone based ones may prevent paint from being applied.

Dan