Removing paint from plastic kit

[jburchfield1@wowway.com]

Couldn't find anything on this but maybe somebody can help........

 

I'm considering pulling my old 1:96 Constitution (plastic) from it's dusty storage and finishing it.

 

Need to remove all (ALL) the old paint (probably enamel) from it and not sure how.  I believe that regular paint remover would damage the plastic.

 

Anybody got any really good tips?

[druxey]

I seem to recall brake fluid will do the trick without damaging the plastic but, before you do that, check with an on-line plastic model making site.

[ronv]

Purple Power... An industrial strength cleaner and degreaser. Believe me it works. I got mine from Wal Mart. I thing it is also available at auto supply stores like Auto Zone.

[jdbradford]

You may also be able to use the water-based Goof-Off.

http://www.wikihow.com/Remove-Paint-from-Metal-and-Plastic-Models-with-Dettol

 

Jeff

[jburchfield1@wowway.com]

Well, the water based Goof-off appears to require soaking/submersing and that's not an option for this size object.

 

Walmart is just down the street so I'll see about some of that Purple Power.

 

I think I read somewhere that this could be done with ammonia.  Anybody ever try that?

[moflea]

My two cents would go to the break licquid as well (trusting that the paint is enamel)...

Edited September 5, 2014 by moflea

[trail guy]

Check www.model-railroad-hobbyist.com You can do a search on paint removal there. A lot of previous recommendations were for 91% isopropyl alcohol. Whatever you choose - test in an inconspicuous place to see if it's going to be "plastic safe".

[jburchfield1@wowway.com]

Thanks for all the input guys.

 

I found the one that I'm gonna try first - Easy Off Oven Cleaner.  That's the one that I was remembering.  It's supposed to work because of the ammonia.  All references point to:  spray, brush, and clean with warm soapy water.

 

If that's doesn't work, I'm gonna try the Purple Power.

 

My concern about the Paint Remover Gel is damage to the plastic.  Would be no question if it was wood, I've done that with furniture.

[hexnut]

Easy-Off does tend to work pretty well. My reccomendation would be to put your parts in a garbage bag, spray them thoroughly, tie up the bag and leave it for a day, then rinse and scrape the paint off, using the garbage bag to catch all the gunk.  I would also say this is an outside project, the stuff is pretty nasty for enclosed spaces. 

 

Brake fluid (dot 10)  works great for paint removal, but it also can make styrene really brittle.  Oven cleaner is much safer for the plastic. (although not very nice for humans)

[kurtvd19]

I use Westley's Bleche-Wite (yes that's the correct spelling) meant for cleaning car tires.  It's safe for the styrene - and it's not as hazardous as oven cleaner - and can go down the drain OK.

Kurt

[jburchfield1@wowway.com]

I've seen this stuff at the auto parts store?

 

Will it work on both acrylic AND enamel paints, do you know?

[leroy]

they got paint remover that's safe for plastic, home depot sells it, they got about 10 different types of remover there

[kurtvd19]

The Westley's stuff works on both enamel and acrylics and it comes from auto parts stores.

Kurt

[jburchfield1@wowway.com]

TKS Kurt.  I'll try that first.  Don't really like the thought of oven cleaner.

[hexnut]

The Westley's product Kurt is referring to above is great for removing chrome plating from plastic kit parts. I use it often to remove chrome from kit wheels and engine parts prior to cleanup and painting.

I'd forgotten about that.  It is also really good for removing mold-release and grease from cast resin parts, so they take paint nicely.

[jburchfield1@wowway.com]

I probably should have mentioned at the start - I'm stripping the hull (attaching the two halves is a far as I got before I decided to try wood) so it's not really feasible to submerse this thing.

 

I could buy a container large enough I suppose, but doubt I could afford enough of these products to totally cover the hull.

 

That's the main reason I was thinking about oven spray - works fast, stays wet longer.  But I believe that I'm gonna try that Westley product first.

[leroy]

hahaha where did you keep 1100 models/kits? that's a lot of models

[kurtvd19]

I too have used the Westleys on resin parts with great success.  I usually give new resin parts a bath in the Westleys stuff to remove all traces of mold release.  The same as with styrene plastic - wash the parts thoroughly in dish washing detergent after being in the Westleys.  I find it best to air dry parts to be painted to avoid lint from a towel.

Kurt