Removing putty from old built ups?

[impcon]

I am working on a 58 Ford hardtop that had liberal amounts of putty applied to the roof. I have been soaking the car in Puprple Power for the last several weeks and it is taking forever to get it clean. Does anone have any experience with doing this through a different method or does the car just have to soak for a few months? The body is rough but I look upon it as a challenge and want to save it but I may end up buying a resin body if this doesn't work out. Time wise, it makes a lot more sense to do that, but I really do want to learn and I am up for the task at hand if I can getthe putty off the roof. This is a model that will be a gift, so it has to look good. Any suggestions will be appreciated.

[Mike Kucaba]

Not knowing what putty it is makes it tough. I've removed AMT putty with denatured alcohol on a piece of 0000 steel wool.

[impcon]

Did the alcohol have any effect on the styrene? This stuff has been on the car for a long, long time so maybe it is AMT putty...here's a couple of photos of it after most of the putty was scraped off.. I'm down almost to the plastic now but I'm afraid that I am going to screw something up if I just start sanding. There are small ribs in the roof that were unique to 1958 otherwise, I'd section a 57 roof on'

[Ace-Garageguy]

Geez...what a mess. Gives a whole new perspective to the term "body mud".

Maybe soak it in whatever you're using, then toothbrush scrub, then repeat as necessary?

Or, whatever removes lacquer from styrene ought to work, maybe. I've personally never had to take that much filler off of anything. I admire your dedication to saving the thing. GOOD luck.

[Mike Kucaba]

Yeesh! That looks like Plastic Wood. What about a roof transplant from an Edsel, "57 ford. ?

[JunkPile]

Sometimes one must just let go

[Swamp Dog]

try u some Easy Off oven cleaner...brand name not the cheap stuff..

[scummy]

What about caustic soda ? thats pretty strong stuff .

[Guest]

I agree that it looks like wood putty. I use LA's Totally Awesome (a half gallon jug is only $2.85 at a Dollar General Store) cleaner to strip paint and chrome. You only want to use what comes in the jug as it's concentrated. I just stripped a '62 F-100 that had a cab fairing literally puttied to the back of the cab. It only took a couple of days to strip it clean as new. You can also try 91% alcohol. It's safe on old styrene. Also, sand down the putty as much as possible before you try to strip it again.

[mikevillena]

That plastic is looking extremely tired. There are cracks and fractures in the pillars. I doubt if soaking it further in checmicals will do any good; if anything it might degrade the base plastic even more. At this point you might have to give up or resort to mechanically removing the old build up. Start by glueing temporary support structures underneath the roof and pillars to strenghten things and to prevent further cracks. Then use various knife blades to chip and scrape off the build up. Maybe use a grinding bit with a mototool set to very low speeds if you are confindent to grind most of it off and finish off using knives and files. The molded ribs might be unsalvageable so use half round styrene to make new ones. Just my suggestion.

[Mike Kucaba]

Soak just the roof in water for a day and put it in the freezer?

[impcon]

Thank you all for the wise counsel. I pulled the car out of the Purple Power this morning and got the hood pretty well cleaned up of the usual louvers that were moreoften than not glued onto these old models. The hood has some gouges and deep scratches in it but I know how to deal with those and they are of no consequence. AFter a week in the Purple Power, the putty just isn't letting go however. I'll try the alcohol and the other suggestions stated here as well see if what works as. If nothing happens, then I see two options:

1)Carefully try to sand off the putty that still remains and figure a way to clean outthe grooves in the roof

2)Cut the roof off a 58 Edsel that is on it's way and swap roofs.

I'd rather try to keep this car as intact as I can and replacing the roof is going to be an absolute last resort. As is, I have to replace one complete rocker panel and the back of the one front fenders wheel opening - both areas of damage are the reult of more custom goodies - namely lake pipes. This poor old car has been around the block and through the mill a time or two in it's day. Having said that, I am only too happy to have gotten it and it's going to really stretch my limited building abilities. I guess that a lot of guys would just throw it away, but it's a survivor and deserves another chance in my books. It's become a matter of priciple.....

Edited May 22, 2014 by impcon