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I've been doing quite a bit of paint stripping and have come up with a few tips I tought I'd share. They are UK-based, but I am sure most of this can be adapted for elsewhere.

Dettol is great stuff.
Leave a model in it overnight and the paint will soak it up and most of the paint will literally fall off when you take it out.
It won't harm your fingers if you get a little on them (they'll get wrinkly if you get them too covered in the stuff, but nothing like if you get some of the other cleaning suggestions on them.)
Plastic models are not at all harmed by it. You can leave plastic in for weeks at a time.

Citadel plastic metal trays
Dettol won't harm these, so you can dump a bunch of figures in them and then fill up to the brim with dettol.

Tooth picks
These are fantastic at getting into hard to reach spots. They are strong enough to get paint off, but soft enough to not damage metal.

Blu-tac
The very last few bits that you can't reach can be got off by using a blob of blu-tac to pick up from in the deepest cracks.

Anyone got any alternative suggestions? My methods right now are fairly time consuming. Time-savers would be great, but I can promise this gives good results on both metal and plastic.

Fairy Power Spray - easy to get hold off, clean, safe, doesnt stink like dettol, works perfectly after a 30 minute soak, works on metal and plastic. Best stuff I've ever used for stripping.

Simple green

Castrol Super Clean - seal & soak overnight, and the paint will come off in sheets the next day with minimal scrubbing effort. 5/5 highly recommended.

A toothbrush can be handy for cracks.

I had some success with cotton buds yesterday too. Again, I think they are called something different in the US.

Use dettol myself, with the slight problem the smell makes the wife feel sick, but as it was her CSM Terminators I was cleaning she didn't bitch too much!

I've used "Flash" in a jar neat before, but not as good as dettol.

I've been told Brake Fluid is good, but rots plastic, so never tried it, anyone with comments?

Have not had any problems with brake fluid and plastics.

Hmm, may have to give it a shot with some duff figures I was planning on skipping anyway.

These kind of tips would be good additions to the Article on stripping models.

I wish that more people would realize that specific products (product names) can, in cases, be of no help at all. Simple Green (its even more stupid when people don't take the time to capitalize), Dettol, Flash, Castrol Super Clean might not be available in certain countries.

Brake fluid on the other hand, is available in every civilized country with a smidgen of infra-structure. It is reusable practically forever (so no environmental problems as you won't need to dispose of it) and works like a charm.

My absolute favorite now is Brake fluid (i used valvoline) it was about 8Euro!
It removed paint of metal figurines in less then 2 hours for most of them!
As for plastic it worked like a charm too but it was only older plastic models and it required a longer time, about 24 hours, and it removed a very thick layer of paint.
Not sure if it is safe on the newer one but i was able to clean a thinly painted ork i messed up after soaking it about an hour.
Just finish the job with a toothbrush then clean them with soap and warm but not boiling water.

Also to help clean out you need to dismantle the figurines:
Put the metal figurines in the fridge and you will be able to dismantle them (unless pinned) very easely.
As for the plastic figurines gently prying them of sometimes work (unless the previous owner used cement).

I used a small bottle about a quarter of a liter or so and it was good enough for about 40 figurines.

On the flip side you will need to take care of your skin and work place (work cloth,gloves and paper) and of the way to dispose of the oil (usually by going back to the station with it).

Good luck

PS: I tried all the other method (dettol/detergent and ammonia based ones) but the results where useless with the very thick layer of paint i had to deal with.

Ok then, Instead of Flash, Simple Green or similar named product "pine oil based cleaning product" There is something in the Pine oil which does the stripping I believe.

Dettol is a sterlising solution, no idea of the active ingredient, so can't suggest alternatives. I'm afraid.

Druidic wrote:Ok then, Instead of Flash, Simple Green or similar named product "pine oil based cleaning product" There is something in the Pine oil which does the stripping I believe.

Dettol is a sterlising solution, no idea of the active ingredient, so can't suggest alternatives. I'm afraid.

chloroxylenol

Kilkrazy wrote:These kind of tips would be good additions to the Article on stripping models.

Doing it now.

lfxwag wrote:PS: I tried all the other method (dettol/detergent and ammonia based ones) but the results where useless with the very thick layer of paint i had to deal with.

Dettol recently got three layers of paint from a mark 1 rhino that I painted in 1990, 1992 and 1993. It took a few stages, but it got the job done.