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Out of models to paint: best stripping method

Discussion in 'Miniatures' started by Cannon Fodder, Jun 17, 2018.

  1. Cannon Fodder

    Cannon Fodder Well-Known Member

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    I know its unheard of , but I'm out of models to paint. All the models I plan on playing with are painted and based. Some of them are fairly old and my style has changed a bit. Currently when I strip paint I soak them in Easy Off for a night then use a cheap toothbrush to brush it off. I also use my old real tooth brushed because its got a rubber back which I find grabs the paint and pull is it off a bit better than the brisels do

    What does everyone else use to strip models?
     
  2. Errhile

    Errhile A traveller on the Silk Road

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    Acetone. The technical, paint-remover one from a hardware store (not the finger polish remover one form a cosmetics store), if I can get away with it (all-metal models).
    Technical (denaturated) alcohol, if not, .e. if there's plastic included and I don't want it destroyed.

    Then old toothbrush, and various scraping tools to pick the remaints of paint form different nooks and cranies.
     
    #2 Errhile, Jun 17, 2018
    Last edited: Jun 17, 2018
  3. colbrook

    colbrook Grenade Delivery Specialist

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    Yup, acetone is the way forwards for metal models, be warned that it will also destroy the plastic base and remove the superglue.

    Even nail varnish remover can work, I used Boots own brand which is about £1 a bottle and the paint can be scrubbed off within an hour, it's a little nicer on the skin than industrial acetone (though gloves are still probably a good idea).

    Make sure not to get acetone-free remover though, that stuff tends to be useless.

    I've also heard excellent things about Bio-Strip, it's not as fast but it is safe to use on resin and plastic.
     
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  4. Koin-Koin

    Koin-Koin Well-Known Member

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    There is a pretty efficient AND cheap product that works. In France we find it under the Glanzer brand (just be sure to get the green bottle).
    I think it is known as Emsal in some countries.
    This is initially used to clean the floor and specifically to remove layers of other products so the floor material woes raw.
    It works with everything (plastic, metal, resin...) but obviously a test is always better before treating a full army.
    I does not sting (it smeel a bit but just like any floor cleaner), it could be disposed as any other everyday use products.
    It is recommended to put it in a glass container as it will sip through some plastic ones.
    Jam pots are great as you could close them so no odor and reduced risks if it fell.
    You can reuse it as long as you want until there is too much removed paint in it (you can even filter it but it's already so cheap...)
    Most of time, 5 minutes is enough to get most of paint removed. In worst cases, just use an old toothbrush to clean the recesses or have your minis stay for 24h.
     
  5. Errhile

    Errhile A traveller on the Silk Road

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    Denaturated alcohol will break superglue too, though not as efficently as acetone does. Plastic (and, I guess, resin - or at least most of these) parts are going to be safe.
    It will, however, completely destroy rare earths magnets, solving them into piles of magnetic, corroded dust.

    As you've mentioned, there's a risk of running into acetone-free nail polish remover.
    The other downside tends to be the price. I can get half a liter of industrial acetone at a hardware store for roughly the same money that would get me 3x 10ml bottles of cheal, acetone-based nail polish removerfrom the cosmetics store.

    Personally I handle my models with tweezers until I have the acetone all washed down off them.
     
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  6. MoScotch

    MoScotch Well-Known Member

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    I simply use nailpolish remover. Works perfectly fine and is cheap. Toss the minis in a bowl, throw some nailpolish romover on it. I usually add some water so it doesnt smell that much, but works better when pure. Leave it there for a couple of hours, use an old tooth brush to remove the left overs. Realize you have used your actual tooth brush. Go buy a new tooth brush.
     
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  7. colbrook

    colbrook Grenade Delivery Specialist

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    Protip: Don't use your significant other's toothbrush
     
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  8. Cannon Fodder

    Cannon Fodder Well-Known Member

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    Just make sure the life insurance is to be paid out to you.
     
  9. Mob of Blondes

    Mob of Blondes Well-Known Member

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    Mostly alcohol when painted with acrylics and similar. Acetone if the paint was stronger.

    It seems to be famous. The manufacturer uses multiple brands, I remember seeing Frosch/Froggy around here. Time to check if they sell the decapants too.

    (Déjà vu...) Alcohol destroys nickel plating? Uh? Or are some magnets "plated" with paint? Maybe the plating had cracks and the "wetness" made the alcohol get in? They are compressed dust, but they need "help" to start failing like that.
     
  10. Koin-Koin

    Koin-Koin Well-Known Member

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    Yep, we call it the hobbyist's best friends here :grinning:
     
  11. psychoticstorm

    psychoticstorm Aleph's rogue child
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    Acetone works wonders.
     
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  12. H1ghlander

    H1ghlander Well-Known Member

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    I've had pretty good results with rubbing alcohol and a good scrub, although it will also eat away at any superglue that was used, so you may have to do some re-gluing...
     
  13. chromedog

    chromedog Less than significant minion

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    isopropyl alcohol will strip acrylic paints.
    So will methylated spirits (ethanol/methanol blend.)

    Acetone will strip enamels back to bare metal, dissolve superglue and if you leave the plastic in there long enough, turn it into goo.
     
  14. Errhile

    Errhile A traveller on the Silk Road

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    Yup, we had that conversation before.
    I don't know why that happened, I am completely dumb when it comes to nickel plating and rare-earth magnets.

    I have, however, left a magnet inside the lid of a jar I used to clean models with, and a few days later I found it turned into aforementioned pile of magnetic dust.
     
  15. Dankont

    Dankont New Member

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    Brake fluid - you should be able to get it no matter where on globe you are. Put minis in a jar, pour fluid over them, close and leave for a night. Scrub paint on next day. It's harmless for plastic minis and even leaves greenstuff intact. Remember to check you country's hazardous waste regulations before disposal.
    Previously I was using Nitro. It's acetone/toulene mix that works miracles on metal minis but melts plastic ones. Its also so toxic and harmfull its too dangerous.
     
    #15 Dankont, Oct 23, 2018
    Last edited: Oct 23, 2018
  16. Jashyr

    Jashyr Well-Known Member

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    On a slightly less hazardous level, Fairy Power Spray kitchen cleaner is brilliant at paint stripping. just dunk the model in for half an hour and a light paintbrush rub. I used to use Dettol but thats an overnight dunk.
     
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  17. leigen_zero

    leigen_zero Morat Pacifist

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    https://www.amazon.co.uk/Biostrip-S...93799&sr=8-2-spons&keywords=biostrip+20&psc=1

    If you can get it in your locale, you just slather it on the model and it's down to bare metal/plastic in a matter of hours after a scrub with a toothbrush, it's also not particularly hard to dispose of as it can be dumped down the sink. I've done dettol, fairy power spray, nail polish remover etc and I can honestly say this has become my go-to for paint removal.

    For reference (sorry it's not on infinity models, but these are the only pics I had):
    Before:
    [​IMG]
    Some minis I painted when I was 10, so 20-year-old paintjob done with cheap craft brushes, ultra-heavy with the primer and thick globs of undiluted boltgun metal everywhere
    After:
    [​IMG]
    That's after a 2-hour soak in Biostrip20 and a scrub with a toothbrush in hot soapy water, no damage to plastic either

    EDIT: Updated the image links, can someone let me know if it's working?
     
    #17 leigen_zero, Oct 23, 2018
    Last edited: Oct 23, 2018
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  18. jherazob

    jherazob Well-Known Member

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    You might want to either rehost or fix your pic links :)
     
  19. andre61

    andre61 Well-Known Member

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    I love Acetone for removing paint form figures, just remove all bases before using it.
     
  20. Abydog

    Abydog Well-Known Member

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    acetone, and actually the one for cleaning finger nails.
     
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