How to strip Tamiya TS paint?

[10543Modeler]

I'm not happy with the hood I just painted with a Tamiya TS paint, what will strip it?  Thanks

[Miatatom]

91% isopropyl alcohol

[Fat Brian]

Yep, put it in an alcohol bath, the stronger the better. I use Duplicolor white primer under everything now because it strips easily with Superclean no matter what is painted over it. That way I don't have to keep multiple stripper buckets.

[peteski]

1 hour ago, Miatatom said:

91% isopropyl alcohol

If 91% works, then 99% should work even better.  99% IPA (or Isopropanol) should be available in gallon size tin cans at local hardware stores (in the pain thinners section). If not, they should be able to special order it for you.  Not sure about the big box stores, but I know that Ace Hardware will do that.

Of course the price for 99% IPA has surged few years ago (during the COVID pandemic) and didn't go down.  Thankfully I bough some before that.

And as with any paint stripping solution, warmer works better than cold.  If your workshop is cold during the Winter, do the stripping in your main house where it is warmer.

[bh1701]

I have also used Tamiya Lacquer Thinner. I'll put some on a paper towel or Kleenex and then rub/wipe the surface with it. That first application starts to remove and soften the paint. A couple subsequent wipes will usually get it all off. If there are recessed areas, a toothbrush or a paint brush with some thinner on it will usually take care of those areas.

Bart

Edited December 26, 2023 by bh1701
Correct typing

[bobss396]

I did one recently and went to the purple pond, only minimal success. Then to oven cleaner, really not great either. I washed some off carefully with lacquer thinner. I'll try the alcohol next if I have to in the future.

[NOBLNG]

Be careful with the lacquer thinner because it will also dissolve the styrene itself.

[vintagerpm]

Testors Easy Lift-Off (ELO).

[bh1701]

5 hours ago, NOBLNG said:

Be careful with the lacquer thinner because it will also dissolve the styrene itself.

I have never had that issue when I am using Tamiya Lacquer Thinner and paper towels or Kleenex to wipe the paint off. However, I am guessing that soaking it in the thinner might be enough to do some damage.

Bart

[R. Thorne]

As others have said, strong isopropyl alcohol is the only way to fly.  Tamiya ts series are great, but errors do happen.

[ColonelKrypton]

21 hours ago, NOBLNG said:

Be careful with the lacquer thinner because it will also dissolve the styrene itself.

Lacquer thinner is a generic term; they are all not the same nor created equal. Some contain acetone, various alcohols, MEK, etc... Check their safety data sheet for details.

Tamiya lacquer thinner with yellow cap part number 87077 is composed of:

Propan-2-ol CAS no. 67-63-0 also known as isopropyl alcohol content > 50%

4-methylpentan-2-one CAS no. 108-10-1 also known as isobutyl methyl ketone content < 30%

2-butoxyethanol CAS no. 111-76-2 content 5 - <10%

I have soaked polystyrene parts in Tamiya yellow cap lacquer for several days with no ill effects. I also soak "chrome" plated plastic parts to remove the "chrome". It does not remove the "chrome" in the same way that oven cleaner dissolves the "chrome". Rather, it softens and removes the underlying lacquer on the part which causes the "chrome" to flake off and so be removed.

Also, Tamiya has a paint remover product part number 87183 which works very well for removing paint and "chrome" as I described above. In fact, I have found a 50:50 mix of the Tamiya lacquer thinner and Tamiya paint remover works a bit better than either alone. 

As always, manufacturers can and do change the formulation of their products from time to time due to changing regulations and in order to improve or reduce costs. Always test whenever you are using something that you have not used before. 

cheers, Graham

 

Edited December 27, 2023 by ColonelKrypton
tinger frouble

[bobthehobbyguy]

 

 

@10543Modeler

There are lots of good tips on stripping Tamiya paint. 

However the best solution is not to have to. Why were you unhappy withe the paint? Did you do something different from your normal routine? I think it is very important to understand what the issue was.

[Chuckyg1]

11 hours ago, vintagerpm said:

Testors Easy Lift-Off (ELO).

Ditto. This is the only thing I've found that will remove Tamiya paint.

[Zippi]

I used Easy Off oven cleaner.

[slusher]

On 12/26/2023 at 8:39 PM, Chuckyg1 said:

Ditto. This is the only thing I've found that will remove Tamiya paint.

Easy lift off.  I agree x3..