Removing laquer from Resin question

[drodg]

I have a Shawn Carpenter 1962 Grand Prix I painted a few years ago with laquer and never finished it. I am going to start on it again and I want to remove the paint and try another color. What should I use to remove the laquer? I have read easy off oven cleaner will remove the paint and not hurt the resin. I have also read Pine-Sol works. Thanks

[Green Duster]

I don't know. But I'm sure going to keep an eye on this. Got a couple I'd like to strip. But I'm to afraid to use anything on them.

[Dan Helferich]

I haven't tried it but Terry Jesse recommended wiping (not soaking) with lacquer thinner on a rag. He said it's messy but it works. I have an AAM '40 Ford woody to strip and this is what I'll try first. Good luck!

[dimaxion]

In olden times I had this discussion with some casters (the originals attending the Toledo Shows) . Brake fluid - No ! Easy off - High Risk . Formula 409 - this is what was recommended and I use since then . If it works , don't fix it . Recently , Arleen's (found at Dollar Stores) , was praised . I tried it and I liked it . I now use both of these . On all type of plastics . Including the Pioneer Model Car Kits . The kits from Pryo , Ringo , Strombecker , Hawk , ect. . I still do a soak in Whestley's and wash with Ivory Dish Soap . This is 99.9 % pure . No moisturizers to soften hands . Thanx ..

[drodg]

So 409 will remove laquer? How long did you soak the parts? Thanks everyone. I assume since wsw cleaner doesn't damage resin bodies 409 will not damage a resin body.

[RAT-T]

I THINK I READ A TOPIC ON THIS A WEK OR SO AGO, THEY MENTIONED "TSP", I KNOW PAINTERS USE IT TO CLEAN THE SURFACE, & IT WILL SOFTEN THE OLD PAINT SO THE NEW PAINT WILL STICK BETTER. IT COMES IN A POWDER, THE MORE POWDER YOU USE, THE STRONGER IT GETS. I HAVEN'T TRIED IT YET

[spkgibson]

Nail polish remover or lacquer thinner works.....I stripped my 69' Chevelle 300 with it with no issues at all.....Don't soak it. Carefully wipe it down..It will take time but you have a clean body to start over with.

[HNTR]

Go to the auto parts store and buy a gallon of the Purple Cleaner-Degreaser. I will guarantee it will not ruin your model and will take the paint off. I have tried the other formulas mentioned and sometimes success and sometimes the resin melted or was mis-shaped. When you pull it out of "The Purple Pond" after soaking at least 48 hours,use a stiff bristle brush and it should come off fairly easy, if some paint still remains soak it again.

[drodg]

Thanks everyone

[Ramfins59]

I have had success using a product called Scalecoat, which I got in a well-stocked hobby shop. If your LHS has a train section, they may carry it. I've left resin parts in Scalecoat for over a day with no ill effects at all.

[jas1957]

Scalecoat is a great product, not inexpencive but I've used the same stuff for YEARS. Just keep it in a sealed Rubbermaid container.

[dimaxion]

I forgot about the Rubbermaid sealed containers . I cannot tell you how long as I tend to place the parts/bodies in the "Tanks" and forget about them . I've left some in there for up to 6 months . The only problem I have is Black . Especially that black from the early days of Model Paints . I've had some Ringo and Strombeckers as a problem . Thank you for more sources I was not aware of . Thanx ..

[Ramfins59]

Scalecoat is a great product, not inexpencive but I've used the same stuff for YEARS. Just keep it in a sealed Rubbermaid container.

Yes John, I also keep the Scalecoat in a sealed Rubbermaid container. I use a toothbrush dedicated for this use for scrubbing panel lines & such. I also keep another sealed container with Westley's Bleche White for cleaning resin parts.

[jas1957]

That is exactly what I do, the two containers are next to each other on a shelf in the basement. I've used the same batch of Scalecoat & Bleche White for a long time. The stuff never goes bad.

[charlie8575]

I would be VERY careful with Scalecoat on resin. I do remember Don Holthuas cautioning against its use, at least on his resin.

I have used with reasonable success, oven cleaner and Whestley's, on resin for stripping paint, enamel and lacquer alike. The trick is to work quickly with it, especially the oven cleaner.

I haven't tried SuperClean, but I imagine it would be okay, try a piece of scrap first to be sure.

Side-note, is Shawn Carpenter still casting? I remember he had some pretty neat stuff.

Charlie Larkin

[jas1957]

I'm aware of soaking to long. Never let anything in Scalecoat & Bleche White for more than a very few hours.

[drodg]

I cannot seem to find if Shawn Carpenter is still casting either. His castings were very good. Btw Thanks for the input everyone. This 62 Grand Prix is very nicely done and is a clean conversion for the AMT Catalina.

[Elliot949]

shawn is not casting anymore...

[Ben]

Go to the auto parts store and buy a gallon of the Purple Cleaner-Degreaser. I will guarantee it will not ruin your model and will take the paint off. I have tried the other formulas mentioned and sometimes success and sometimes the resin melted or was mis-shaped. When you pull it out of "The Purple Pond" after soaking at least 48 hours,use a stiff bristle brush and it should come off fairly easy, if some paint still remains soak it again.

I wouldn't do that if I were you!!!!!!!! I've been a resin caster since 1993 and I've seen that Purple stuff (Castrol Super Clean and the others) soak into the resin and ruin it! Not all resins are the same and I'm sure there are some that it won't affect but I sure wouldn't take that chance!!!! The only thing I ever use to clean or strip paint from any resin part is Westly's Bleach White folllowed by a good wash in dish washing soap and warm water. Never had any problems and I have a LOT of resin from MANY different companies!

[Marty "Hatchet"]

About a month ago, I used the Castrol Super Clean to strip a resin hood that I had sprayed with Testors One Shot Lacquer. It took about a week to lift the paint but it swelled the resin and made it rubbery. It hardened back up after a couple of weeks but it was still swollen. I had to sand it back down to fit. It also flattened out and I had to stretch masking tape to reshape the bow that it was supposed to have and let the hood cure for over two weeks. Luckily I saved it.....so I would very much agree with Ben....Don't use the purple stuff on resin!

I also stripped a plastic body with PineSol because a friend recommended it. It ruined the plastic! PineSol is for toilets....that's where it should stay!