327 replies to this topic

[Tom99]

I use Easy-Off oven cleaner to remove the pain from my models.

[george 53]

Ok, now I got a gallon of the Simple Green and am not sure...should I dilute it or use it full strength??

Charlz, jus drop the model in it full strength. It'll take a day or two depending on the paint, but you can put your hands RIGHT IN IT, which is a DEFINATE Nay-Nay with the purple stuff! You'll like it after you see how well it works!

[charlie8575]

I've recently started trying the Super Clean, and I'm quite impressed with it. I found it takes about a day or so to strip it down completely, and it leaves everything clean. I did notice on one part, though, it turned the plastic from white to slightly ivory, which I thought was a bit odd.

That aside, I'm quite satisfied with it.

I have a couple of things people suggested I'd want to use brake fluid on because of the nature of the problem, so I'll probably pick up a little bit of that.

I've used oven cleaner, brake fluid, Whestley's, ammonia, and purple stuff. I like oven cleaner and purple stuff the best, with Whestley's a very, very close third.

Whestley's is safest for resin from what I've read.

Charlie Larkin

[mackattack]

Hello all I was just wondering if anyone has had any luck removing Tamiya paint and primer from their car bodies? I've tried purple bath and easy off oven cleaner and the paint hasnt seemed to budge much...

[Car Crazy 81]

Mack- If all else fails you can try either 91% Isopropyl Alcohol or DOT 3 Brake Fluid let me know if that works.

[weasel]

+10 on the brake fluid, i've not had any luck with the 91%, brake fluid strips anything without hurting the plastic...

[iBorg]

First question, what is the paint on? If they're plastic or resin my approach changes. For resin I use regular Easy Off in the yellow can. Stinks to high heaven. After spraying it, I cover it with a plastic shoebox container which helps both with the fumes and the effectiveness of the stripper. Plastic requires a different approach. I use a combination of things. The big problem is some paints such as lacquer etch the plastic. There's nothing that will completely remove paint that has etched into the part and return the part to "As new" condition. I like Polly S Easy Lift Off but do not soak the part. ELO will harm the plastic if you let the part soak in it. I find 91% alcohol effective on some paint such as blacks and dark solids that ELO is ineffective on. Less than 91% won't work. Other options include commercial wax stripper, Castrol Super Clean (if you can find it in the gallon size) and Pine-Sol(don't waste your money on imitation pine cleaner). My last resort is oven cleaner for plastic. I've ruined one part too many with brake fluid and don't use it for paint removal.

Good luck and have fun!

Mike

[mackattack]

Alright thanks guys. If I were to use brake fluid which is the best kind to use. And I think i will give Pine sol a try since ive had luck removing enamels with it in the past.

[Marc @ MPC Motorsports]

Alright thanks guys. If I were to use brake fluid which is the best kind to use. And I think i will give Pine sol a try since ive had luck removing enamels with it in the past.

Go to the pharmacy section of Walmart and buy several bottles of 91% isopropol alcohol and a small tub to pour it into. Tamiya sprays are LACQUER, not enamel. Pine Sol will not work either. The alcohol should remove the Tamiya spray paint in a few hours. Be sure to keep the tub covered as the 91% is extremely flammable.

[weasel]

one thing aboot PineSol, IT WILL SOFTEN THE PLASTIC if left in the pond to long!!! trust me!! don't ask how i know!! lol

ANY dot3 brakefluid, the bigger/cheaper the better..and it WON'T harm the plastic... i've, um, forgotten about stuff for over a month and not hand any probs...remember, there's plastics in the brake system...

[trey]

I know a lot of people use simple green but it is not available to me does anyone know any other ways to do it.

[Longbox55]

Lots of different ways, in some cases it depends on what type of finish you are removing as what you would want to use. A short list of popular choices; ELO, Superclean, Purple Power, DOT3 brake fluid, oven cleaner, 91% alcohol (for hobby laquers), and aircraft stripper (for die cast). Other than ELO, any of these should be redily available at any department, hardware, auto parts, or farm stores.

[Rider]

Heavy Duty Easy-Off in the yellow container, don't get the aerosol can the fumes are WAY too much. Fastest way I've found plus it removes chrome in about 10-15min. You can get it in a pump bottle.

[trey]

Heavy Duty Easy-Off in the yellow container, don't get the aerosol can the fumes are WAY too much. Fastest way I've found plus it removes chrome in about 10-15min. You can get it in a pump bottle.

thanks i know i can find easy off and break fluid anywhere

[twistedswift]

i use some stuff called LAs awesome orange from the dollar tree 64oz for a buck and i have had great luck with it like over night and most all paint is gone
i just use a plastic shoe box with a lid and it work's great.

[CustomFerrari]

I'm using simple yellow hehehehe

[Flo]

Heavy Duty Easy-Off in the yellow container, don't get the aerosol can the fumes are WAY too much. Fastest way I've found plus it removes chrome in about 10-15min. You can get it in a pump bottle.

Easy-Off comes in a "Fume Free"
..Lemony scent

[charlie8575]

Strippers in my order of preference:

1. Super Clean or any of the purple products, they're all about the same chemically.
2. Oven cleaner.
3. Whestley's Bleche-Wite whitewall cleaner.

For removing chrome, I like plain old bleach in a small glass jar. Works in less than ten minutes.

Charlie Larkin

[Mark Brown]

Strippers in my order of preference:

1. Super Clean or any of the purple products, they're all about the same chemically.
2. Oven cleaner.
3. Whestley's Bleche-Wite whitewall cleaner.

For removing chrome, I like plain old bleach in a small glass jar. Works in less than ten minutes.

Charlie Larkin

I'm with you, Charlie - Castrol Super Clean has rarely let me down, and in my experience, if CSC doesn't get it, nothing will.

Automotive paint (Duplicolor) is nearly impossible to remove, and black/flat black is very tough. Typical modeling spray paint generally comes off in sheets, which can be pretty neat to see.

CSC is also my favorite for chrome removal.

One thing I've noticed about CSC is that it does lose its ability over time, and getting water in it - even small amounts - can compromise its ability as well. So I replace the CSC in my stripping container (plastic shoebox) periodically, when I notice that it's taking longer than usual or not completely doing the job.

[route66modeler]

HI, Straight household bleach works on enamel and chrome. Around 1.00/gallon, cheapest stripper I've used. Steve