the same old question: which paint stripper to use?

[fiatboy]

I was using (Castrol) Super Clean, but my source stopped carrying it.  So I need a new paint stripper.  Any recommendations?  Thanks

[Snake45]

My go-to for 20+ years now has been Easy Off Heavy Duty oven cleaner. Or 91% rubbing alcohol for AMT, Model Master, and some Tamiya lacquers.

[peteski]

Jeff, did you look at the top pinned thread in this section of the forum?  There are many posts in there recommending all sorts of paint strippers.  More info than you'll ever need - all you have to do is read it.

[Warren D]

I'd find a new supplier.  I got mine at NAPA a few months ago.

[gtx6970]

Well I tried the purple power ( white jug I think ) and Im not impressed . It took 2 days to take chrome off a bumper. And even then didnt take all of it off. And never did loosen loosen the paint on an old annual that was brush painted years ago ( no idea the brand or type of paint ) 

After about a week in it  with no better results . I took it out , washed it off with plain water and sprayed it down with easy off , stuck it in a ziplock freezer bag like always . And the next morning scrubbed it with an old tooth brush  and 90% of the paint was gone.

 

I can spray a chrome bumper with easy off and the chrome is gone in 5 minutes at the max .

 

The downfall obviously is the smell and make sure to wear gloves.

[JTalmage]

I have found that Tamiya lacquer won't come off with purple power... But DOT3 brake fluid does wonders! Just a douse in purple power afterwards then a rinse in soapy water makes it all better.

[AC Norton]

My go-to for 20+ years now has been Easy Off Heavy Duty oven cleaner. Or 91% rubbing alcohol for AMT, Model Master, and some Tamiya lacquers.

I second that emotion, says Smokey, and the Ace.....Easy Off  HD rarely let's you down, and like the Snake, used it for year's......the Ace...

[JerseyRed]

DOT3 brake fluid really works well but it's really messy to work with and the model has to be cleaned really well afterwards any spot left over causes a problem. I've been using 90% Isopropyl alcohol and have some really good results with it.

[Snake45]

 I've been using 90% Isopropyl alcohol and have some really good results with it.

It works great on hobby lacquers (old AMT, new Testor) and many acrylics, and can work EVENTUALLY on some enamels (but not all).

[peteski]

That lengthy sticky thread in this forum about stripping paint has lots of examples of what strippers to use with which paints, and what works for some and what works for others. If you insist on starting yet another thread I'll say this much:  You have to realize that there is no single universal stripper which works works with all types of paints and with all types of plastics and resins.

I have and use about half a dozen of different strippers (which are mentioned at one time or another in that thread I mentioned earlier).

I use Floquil/Testors Easy Lift-Off, Scalecoat Wash Away paint remover, Hangar 15 paint stripper, One of the flavors of the Purple Power, Chameleon stripper, 99% Isopropyl alcohol, and few others I dont' recall now (I'm not at home).  I also made my own solutions using non-acetone fingernail polish removes, denatured alcohol, and few others I don't recall now.  I don't use DOT3 brake fluid, but Easy Lift-Off uses a very similar ingredient.