A Happy Accident With Castrol Purple

[oldcarfan]

I bought some Castrol Purple to strip the paint off several models I have bought from thrift shops. I  also have a Monogram Land Rover that I had started a long time ago. Anyway, I put the Landie in first as I had just messed it up trying to repaint it a week before. When I got it out a couple days later the  paint job was gone but so was the red spot putty that I had used to fill sink marks. I may have said a discouraging word about that time. Anyway, it  gave me an idea. I have an original DOH Charger that someone used green putty to fill the side and hood vents. I dunked it in the magic purple juice and it is now looks almost like a new body.Now I wish I had one of those old AMT kits that had the custom front ends that had to be puttied into place. Wonder if it'll work on that too?

[59 Impala]

I used Castrol Super Clean on a 53 Studebaker custom that I built back in the day and used Testors putty on it.  It took that putty off along with the paint, so, I think you should be ok.  Dan

[oldcarfan]

It may make me want to go back and revisit some of my past poor body work decisions. I've used it before, but never noticed it doing that before. One more way to salvage those puttied up eBay rejects!

[ChrisBcritter]

The '58 Ford I just cut up had some kind of putty (maybe Plastic Wood? What else could you use in '58?) filling in the taillight openings and fake hood scoop; the purple stuff ate into it enough to loosen it up and let me clean it out. Whatever the filler was, it didn't seem to have attacked the plastic.

[martinfan5]

Yes, its been known that any body work done with putty the Purple stuff will remove it

Edited November 18, 2015 by martinfan5

[Art Anderson]

One-part body putties tend to be nothing more than very thick lacquer primer, hence "paint".  Anything that will soften or dissolve a paint job will do the same to such putties as we like to use.

Art

[louie]

Again, I have learned something new. Had absolutely no idea that the purple would do that. I have learned soooo much different stuff on the forum. Never to old to learn. At least that's what I keep telling myself, seems to be working!  Thanks again everyone, please keep all the different ideas coming because I am paying attention.      Jeff 

[oldcarfan]

Me too! I love this site! Between the tips and the project ideas, you guys keep me in trouble with my wife.

[Howard Cohen]

I dipped a 60 Desoto this week and not only did the paint come off, many of the glued parts came off as well. 

[AzTom]

It removing the putty has been mentioned a few times down in the How to's section. 

You can learn two things here, The product is not Castol Purple or Castrol Super Clean, unless you have a vintage bottle, It's called "Super clean".    I mention this so that newbies can go out find the stuff.

[Spex84]

Since we're on the topic of "things Purple dissolves"...I dropped a supercharger with some bad paint into the Purple bath a few weeks ago. I had attached a short piece of aluminum tubing to serve as the blower drive shaft. After 5+ days in Purple (I forgot about it), the aluminum was heavily corroded, like it had been in salt water for months.

[72 Charger]

Can anyone tell me if there is an outlet in the UK of the Purple stuff ?

[Longbox55]

Since we're on the topic of "things Purple dissolves"...I dropped a supercharger with some bad paint into the Purple bath a few weeks ago. I had attached a short piece of aluminum tubing to serve as the blower drive shaft. After 5+ days in Purple (I forgot about it), the aluminum was heavily corroded, like it had been in salt water for months.

Any of the lye based purple degreasers will dissolve aluminum. That's why you never want to use it to strip die cast, as it will dissolve the metal. The tube you used must have been some pretty thick wall tubing, or your degreaser was getting weak,  if anything was left after 5+ days, as I have seen fresh Superclean completely dissolve an aluminum soda can (it was a Tahitian Treat can) in under 30 minutes.

[espo]

Thanks for the heads up on the Castrol Purple. I've been using something called Purple Power with less than satisfactory results. It will turn slowly to a jelly like substance even when stored in a sealed Tupper Ware container. It works slowly, 3-4 days, to remove kit chrome or paint. Looks like I need to go shopping.    

[1930fordpickup]

Thanks for the heads up on the Castrol Purple. I've been using something called Purple Power with less than satisfactory results. It will turn slowly to a jelly like substance even when stored in a sealed Tupper Ware container. It works slowly, 3-4 days, to remove kit chrome or paint. Looks like I need to go shopping.    

I have used the purple power brand and it works better when it is warmer out. Not sure why yours turned to jelly. 

[espo]

I have an area in the basement that remains no lower than the 50's in the winter and always stays cool in the summer because its mostly under ground with a vent to the HVAC system. So I don't understand why this stuff just seems to turn in 30 to 60 days. Anyway I'm going to get some Castrol Purple this weekend and give it a try.

[oldcarfan]

I've never sen it turn to jelly, might have been an old/bad batch? I always use it for a few days or car bodies whichever comes first and then discard it so maybe it only works well fresh?

[slusher]

Never had Purple Power that was in a sealed container tun to jelly. If not sealed it will. I have some a year old that still works fine...