I tried purple power for the first time

[junkyardjeff]

I have heard about it and finally got some to strip paint and I like the results and what I need to know will it also dissolve glue,I glued togather a chassis with some paint on and if it will let the glue loose I wont dip the chassis and will remember to strip it first.

[henry57]

It won't affect the glue at all, it will dissolve putty though.

[martinfan5]

In my experience , no, it will not dissolve glue, it will one part putty , not sure about two part putty ,  now, it can make the glue joints a little bit brittle depending on the glue used.

[oldcarfan]

I have noticed that it can weaken the joints on old tube glue. Haven't noticed any effect on epoxy and not much on super glue types, though it does seem to weaken it a little.

[Art Anderson]

Basically, anything that would dissolve tube glue would also  dissolve the plastic as well--after all, all plastic cements are solvent-based, meaning they slightly dissolve the mating surfaces of two plastic parts in order to "weld" them together.

Art

[junkyardjeff]

I found out it also removes chrome.

[Jhedir6]

I've been using it for along time. Generally it will not break glue joints, especially CA glue, tho it will weaken them depending on how much was used. It removes chrome almost all the time. The only chrome I've had issues with it not removing it quickly and completely is the chrome on Aoshima wheels. I've tried on an after market set and a set from a GTR kit and both times it either didn't do much of anything or only dulled the shine. Any other chrome it removes it in seconds to minutes. Remember too that it will last a long time. I have a old round 4L ice cream container I use and that will last me pretty much a whole year using about 1/2 the full SC jug at a time. The more you strip the less potent it becomes, but it will last a long while.

I've used it to strip resin kits too, with absolutely no ill-effects. The only kit I ever had something happen too was an old glue bomb I was trying to restore and I left the kit in the SC bath for about a month. It removed the paint, chrome and actually started to remove some of the red dye from the plastic and it's now abit pinkish instead of bright red, but the plastic wasn't weakened at all.

David

[martinfan5]

I for the most part have no issues stripping Japanese chrome,   my question, are you use the off brand ? as its not as strong , I was for long time using the off the brand and had the same issues with it not stripping Japanese chrome

But here is a pro tip ,  if need to strip some chrome, and dont want to wait,  use bleach, it will and I am not kidding, remove the chrome right in front of your eyes,  we are talking matter of minutes.

[1930fordpickup]

Jeff if it is warmer outside it seems to work better also. When I leave it in the basement in the cool months it does not work as well. I just bring it upstairs in the winter to strip paint. 

If the part was glued to paint or chrome and not scraped it will weaken the joint also. I striped a chrome engine my brother built as a kid, it fell apart took off the chrome and I found out it was clear plastic under the chrome. 

Edited December 30, 2015 by 1930fordpickup

[Sledsel]

After sitting a long time after use, it will gel also. A little hot water and shake or stir it up brings it back to life

 

[ChrisBcritter]

I stripped a chrome engine my brother built as a kid, it fell apart took off the chrome and I found out it was clear plastic under the chrome. 

Must have been Revell - I had a couple '60s era Revell kits that were clear underneath.

[dartman]

I use Easy Off for chrome and purple power for paint.Easy off takes chrome off in seconds to minutes.

[DumpyDan]

Sounds interesting, which Revell kits do you think it was?  This could be interesting (a clear engine)

[junkyardjeff]

Its taking the chrome off in minutes.

[disabled modeler]

Jeff... I have used it for years now...you do need to wear gloves its hard on the skin.  You also do not want it to dry on the plastic I have had ill effects when this happens.  I use mine straight out of the jug in a plastic bread container...its about perfect for most bodies,etc.  I have had it help loosen glue joints before but not often.  After time it will get weak and need changed I found too.

[junkyardjeff]

I noticed its a little hard on the hands and will get rubber gloves,I had it loosen up old glue that was probably ready to let go.

[disabled modeler]

I noticed its a little hard on the hands and will get rubber gloves,I had it loosen up old glue that was probably ready to let go.

Jeff....  I use the disposeable medical type gloves....for the amount you get in a box at the cost its pretty handy.

[horsepower]

I for the most part have no issues stripping Japanese chrome,   my question, are you use the off brand ? as its not as strong , I was for long time using the off the brand and had the same issues with it not stripping Japanese chrome

But here is a pro tip ,  if need to strip some chrome, and dont want to wait,  use bleach, it will and I am not kidding, remove the chrome right in front of your eyes,  we are talking matter of minutes.

The only thing to remember about using bleach is it will remove ONLY the chrome, and not the lacquer base coat. 

I've had my containers of the original Castrol Super Clean for almost twenty years and they still strip just as well now as they ever did. The only thing I might recommend is occasionally pouring through a metal strainer to remove some of the excess paint chunks that build up in the bottom of the container.

I do have problems with stripping real lacquer like Tamiya or automotive paints, that may be why the Aoshima chrome doesn't strip well, it is topped with a clear lacquer finish for protection,  or to achieve the semi polished appearance of some of their wheels.

Edited January 1, 2016 by horsepower

[martinfan5]

The only thing to remember about using bleach is it will remove ONLY the chrome, and not the lacquer base coat. 

 

You are correct, it does leave that behind, but to be honest, does not bother me, I just paint right over it and have zero issues with doing so

I have no issues with stripping chrome from the Japanese companys like Aoshima, sometimes it make take a few days, but it does strip it,   I think you are having issues because it 20 years old,  fresh stuff takes it right off.

One thing that needs repeating is there are two different bottles, one is purple, one is white, the white bottle is the knock off brand and in my past experience not as strong,   you want to to use the purple bottle.

[horsepower]

The one I have is the original Castrol Super Clean, it's no longer available in the original formula because it had some really rough to people and the environment chemicals in it. And the age hasn't lessened it's strength enough to be noticed, I've put an old '65 Ford in it that was brush painted probably about the time it was an annual and in two hours I had a pristine white plastic body to work with, and I did think it might be getting weak when I tried to strip my first Tamiya paint job so I bought a half gallon of the new Purple Power, and it doesn't strip as good as my old stuff, but I do have one gallon of the original in hiding for when the two containers I have gets to polluted, or depleted to be useful.

I have mine in large Tupperware containers that will hold two or three bodies in each one, I never put anything back into it if it has any water on it, always keep it in a cool indoors room where the light can't get to it, and occasionally strain out the bigger paint junk by pouring it through a big kitchen strainer, the reason I was saying that the bleach doesn't remove the clear base coat is I've had a few AMT parts I stripped in bleach because it was just a quick thing to do, and when I primed the parts noticed that the big sags and build up in the chrome I wanted to remove was actually in the base clear, not the chrome plating, and it's not all Japanese chrome that is hard to get off, usually it's wheels that have been coated with a semi or flat coat after plating, and it's usually wheels that came in the kit, and not the parts pack ones.

[1930fordpickup]

Sounds interesting, which Revell kits do you think it was?  This could be interesting (a clear engine)

I have no idea what kit it was from. The engine was just in the old parts box. 

[junkyardjeff]

I have noticed its not working as fast as it has so I will have to replenish it.

[1930fordpickup]

I have noticed its not working as fast as it has so I will have to replenish it.

Just strain it out before you decide to replace it. Just remember it is colder out and unless it is inside your house it will work slower even if it is in the basement. I have some I have used for several years, I just ad to it every now and then. 

[martinfan5]

I have noticed its not working as fast as it has so I will have to replenish it.

How old is it ?

And as already noted, it does not work as fast or sometimes as good when its cold, 

[Mr mopar]

I have found the purple stuff works good on Gold paint ,and Flat Black. Where easy off would not even touch it .....love this stuff!