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Chameleon paint stripper

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  • Member since
    March 2008
  • From: West Chester, PA
  • 7 posts
Chameleon paint stripper
Posted by somebike on Tuesday, September 1, 2009 10:35 PM

 Has anyone else had problems with the supplier of this product (DPSG) - i placed an order and paid for it on 2nd July 2009. Haven't received the order, and can't get a reply from their phone or email?

If anyone has another lead for contacting them, I'd appreciate it.

Tags: Painting
  • Member since
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  • From: New Joizey
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Posted by SteamFreak on Tuesday, September 1, 2009 11:12 PM

 My LHS owner told me a few months ago that they had some problems getting orders of Chameleon. I guess it's a cottage industry, but that's no excuse for leaving customers in the lurch. I assume you ordered from the website?

http://www.chameleonproductsonline.com/homepagewelcome.html

It's a shame, because they make an excellent product.

  • Member since
    March 2008
  • From: West Chester, PA
  • 7 posts
Posted by somebike on Wednesday, September 2, 2009 8:02 PM

 Yes, I did, and used PayPal, thank goodness. I'll give it another week or so, then I think I'll have to pursue a remedy. Thanks for your comment.

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Posted by JimValle on Friday, September 4, 2009 4:22 PM

Chameleon is very similar to ordinary automotive brake fluid and brake fluid seems to strip just about as well, especially with older paints.  If the makers don't come through try the substitution.  Neither one works that well on newer lacquer based paints in my experience.

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  • From: Ogden UT
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Posted by PA&ERR on Saturday, September 5, 2009 9:46 AM

 I've only placed (and recieved) one order from Chameleon and it got here within a week after I placed my order. Before that, I would buy it from my LHS.

I believe that Chameleon is superior to ordinary brake fluid for stripping paint, even off newer models, although it does seem to lose its effectiveness rather quickly. 

-Kosmo

(BTW I grew up in West Chester, BSHS Class of 73 Wink )

"And the sons of Pullman porters and the sons of engineers ride their father's magic carpet made of steel..."

  • Member since
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  • From: Toronto Ont. Canada
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Posted by rambo1 on Saturday, September 5, 2009 10:50 AM

I just want to know what you wash the model with after you use brake fluid to strip the paint?rambo1..........

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  • From: Ogden UT
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Posted by PA&ERR on Saturday, September 5, 2009 2:43 PM

rambo1

I just want to know what you wash the model with after you use brake fluid to strip the paint?rambo1..........

 

I've had good luck using "grease cutting" dish soap - much to the annoyance of my wife!

-Kosmo

"And the sons of Pullman porters and the sons of engineers ride their father's magic carpet made of steel..."

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  • From: New Joizey
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Posted by SteamFreak on Saturday, September 5, 2009 2:49 PM

PA&ERR

I believe that Chameleon is superior to ordinary brake fluid for stripping paint, even off newer models, although it does seem to lose its effectiveness rather quickly. 

-Kosmo

I agree; Chameleon is superior to brake fluid, and I haven't found anything it won't strip yet. I kept the same bottle for years and kept straining and reusing it without any loss in effectiveness. It won't harm some plastics like brake fluid, either.

  • Member since
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Posted by Alabama Railroader on Wednesday, December 30, 2009 2:18 PM

I placed an order Nov. 30, and have neither received it nor had a response from e-mails or telephone calls.  I initiated a dispute process through PayPal several days ago, but still haven't gotten a response.

  • Member since
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  • From: Dover, DE
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Posted by hminky on Wednesday, December 30, 2009 3:35 PM

 Model Train Stuff (MB Klein) has it in stock.

 http://www.modeltrainstuff.com/SearchResults.asp?Search=chameleon&Search.x=14&Search.y=15

Harold

 

  • Member since
    January 2009
  • 2 posts
Posted by Alabama Railroader on Wednesday, December 30, 2009 5:19 PM

Thanks.  I'm a fan of Model Train Stuff, but I'm hoping to get the product--or my $49.00 back-- from the manufacturer.

  • Member since
    March 2008
  • From: West Chester, PA
  • 7 posts
Posted by somebike on Wednesday, December 30, 2009 6:35 PM

 I had the same experience, then they told me I was too late in initiating my claim. very poor service.

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Posted by dopey on Tuesday, May 29, 2012 9:43 AM

Each of you got off easy, as the individual supposedly set me up to be a dealer but after I sent in the $675.00 for the first supply he disconnected his phone, changed his email account and after turning it over to the BBB in Greater MD they were unable to contact him but still have the case open and this was in July of 2011. Thank the man above you did not do what I did as a previous dealer of this product.

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Posted by R. T. POTEET on Tuesday, May 29, 2012 12:45 PM
PA&ERR

 rambo1:

I just want to know what you wash the model with after you use brake fluid to strip the paint?rambo1..........

 

I've had good luck using "grease cutting" dish soap - much to the annoyance of my wife!

-Kosmo

After you get done with the good old fashioned "soap and water" technique scrub it down good using good old faxhioned cider vinegar; that'll get the good old fashioned "soap" off the model and then good old fashioned "water" will remove the good old fashioned vnegar residue off your model. Make sure you only handle the model with good old fashioned "rubber" gloves.

If your significant knows a good old fashioned "divorce attorney" I would avoid using vinegar in the house....................unless, of course, you are harboring secret desires for the good old fashioned "singles" lifestyle.

From the far, far reaches of the wild, wild west I am: rtpoteet

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Posted by SteamFreak on Tuesday, May 29, 2012 7:06 PM

Boy, this is an old thread.

About 1 1/2 years ago I bought a bottle of Chameleon gel at the LHS, because they didn't have the liquid. I'm not impressed with it, it seems weaker than the what I had before, and you can't reclaim it. I guess the company and its owner have gone the way of the dodo.

I bought a bottle of Scalecoat Wash Away, but have yet to try it.

  • Member since
    January 2007
  • 599 posts
Posted by azrail on Thursday, May 31, 2012 11:57 AM
Chameleon is based on some type of detergent..it is similar to the concentrated soap used in car washes. Brake fluid is hit or miss in paint removal, it can sometimes cause plastic body shells to crack.
  • Member since
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  • 599 posts
Posted by azrail on Thursday, May 31, 2012 11:59 AM
Brake fluid is hit-or-miss, it can cause a plastic body shell to crack
  • Member since
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  • From: S.E. Adirondacks, NY
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Posted by modelmaker51 on Thursday, May 31, 2012 3:30 PM

Brake fluid works on the thicker styrene bodies like AThearn BB and RTR, Railpower and Atlas (China). It is NOT compatible with ABS plastic as in Kato and Atlas/Kato and can cause cracking and even some disintegration. The cracks can usually be fixed with some ABS cements like ProWeld or Tenax. Styrene sements like Testors do not work as well with ABS.

My favorite strippers are the Scalecoat Washaway and Polyscale's Easy Lift Off (ELO). Both work well and are easy on the plastics.

Jay 

C-415 Build: https://imageshack.com/a/tShC/1 

Other builds: https://imageshack.com/my/albums 

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