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Hi guys.

I have a big 2-gallon glass jar that I topped up with acetone. I'd plunk my models in, let them sit a while (day or two), fish them out, and give em a scrub with the ol' toothbrush. Every now and then, I'd whip out the dremel and a soft steel brush and try removing paint that way after the acetone bath, but there would invariably still be some gunk in the recesses.

I'm lazy, and I also have a mountain of metal miniatures to strip. What is the most caustic stuff I could possibly drop these miniatures in that wouldn't hurt the metal, but would just eat the paint right off of there? I want something that will just blow the socks off any acrylic paint on these things. Acetone isn't cutting it in terms of effectiveness and economy of time. I just want something I can fill this glass jar with and drop miniatures in there, mad-scientist style, with my huge forceps and maniacal laughter.

What can you guys suggest?

Brake Cleaner. I've even used it on plastics without much trouble. I let soak for 30 minutes and it came right off. It will absolutely rock the socks off of metal models.

I didn't know that stuff was more effective than acetone. You don't have to deal with the same amount of cleanup?

I'm also going to add the little caveat that I would really appreciate suggestions on where to obtain said paint-devouring substances with which to fill my Cauldron of Shame. A side note to this is that I'm in the US.

Bar none, Toluene.

Ace Hardware probably carries it.

Brush restorer.

Zip Napalm wrote:Bar none, Toluene.

First, where can I find this stuff? Wikipedia (which is the first result for searching for this) suggests it's some hardcore stuff, which sounds great, as I'm hoping to find something so ridiculously mean to paint that it will embarass the acrylic right off the miniature and send it home crying to it's parents. That said, I'm not particularly sure how I might come in possession of two gallons of the stuff. (Or one, whatever).

Discount Auto Parts

Toulene's an active ingredient in a lot of brake cleaners. You can go to Walmart and just pick one.

I don't know if the paint will just come off, but running water and 3 or 4 strokes of a toothbrush isn't much work.

Try a Google shopping search for Toluene.

2 gallons is going to clean alot of miniatures! I put them in a coffee can and stir.

If you go with a brake cleaner with toluene in it, make sure it's not a degreaser too. It will leave a film that nothing will stick to.

Dip the pieces in paint thinner for about an hour or two, fish 'em out, and it should just peel off for the most part. Other stuff will need to be scratched out, but it's not that much work. SOS pads also work like a charm, and are safe for plastics.

Superclean is also a lovely product to use.

It comes in a big purple jug and is found in Wal-Mart in the automotives section.

Its also Biodegradable so you don't have to worry about how to dispose of it, like you do with Brake Cleaner.

It has stripped metal models for me like a charm, and also is kind to plastics (I trusted my RTB01 Marines to it, and they turned out fine).

It dissolves glue as well, so that might be good or bad, but reassembly isn't that hard, and can often help older models that weren't assembled that great.

well you could always make a mold of said mini.... melt the mini down and pour the metal ino the mold. itd be a fresh mini! and with no paint to boot!

KingCracker what would we do without you

I was going to suggest a flamethrower...

No guarantee for the mini, but that wasn't part of the question.

Emperor's Purity Seals!

You want to turn into a mutant from handling that stuff?

Buy a gallon of Castrol Super Clean and use that. It strips paint off metal and plastic, and can be flushed without requiring Biohazard permits.

Toluene is good, MEK is better. Dissolves paint, plastic, glue, resin and doesn't leave residue on metal, either. Does require some special gear for handling though, and very good ventilation (and NO spark or ignition sources nearby).

Unfortunately for anyone living in the PRC, the stuff is listed as a carcinogen (MEK's explosive, as well) and may be on a restricted list.

I use brake fluid on metals. Works fine.

MEK (methyl ethyl ketone) is better, but I didn't mention it because it's harder to get ahold of.

Toluene: I'd just like to point out that if you get a tiny drop of this in your eye, YOU WILL lose the sight in that eye. Get it in a cut on your hand and it's bye bye ARM. Ingestion will probably cause death or at the least will extremely severe medical problems.

Use something else. Brake cleaner would get my vote, although brake fluid can be just as effective. Whatever you use, do bear in mind that at this end of the scale you are dealing with some pretty nasty chemicals and it is very important that you protect your skin, eyes, face, respiratory system from these substances. Also, consider what could happen if someone came across your container of nastiness and make sure you aren't endangering others inadvertently.

This was a Dakka Dakka Safety Message, brought to you my Nuclear Mekanik

You can buy MEK at Home Depot / Lowes, IIRC.

I still can't imagine why people are suggesting brake fluid, MEK, and toluene as that's some nasty, nasty gak to have around the house.

Seriously, people, be smart and safe.

Buy Castrol Super Clean and don't look back.

It works as well, if not better than any of the nasty gak that has been suggested, and is infinitely safer to handle and dispose of.

There is always sand blasting my flgs has a blast medium that you put in a air brush.

Nitromorse, without fail.

industrial strength paint remover. It can eat through your shirt and will dissolve plastic, greenstuff and paint.

leave your model in a jar of it for a day, scrub it off in the sink (I think it reacts with water and gets hot.. be careful) with a wire brush. and your metal components will literally Shine.

it's a bit of a nasty substance though (mind... so is toluene's effects if I recall), so be very careful and try not to let any touch your skin.

jamsessionein wrote:Hi guys.

I have a big 2-gallon glass jar that I topped up with acetone. I'd plunk my models in, let them sit a while (day or two), fish them out, and give em a scrub with the ol' toothbrush. Every now and then, I'd whip out the dremel and a soft steel brush and try removing paint that way after the acetone bath, but there would invariably still be some gunk in the recesses.

I'm lazy, and I also have a mountain of metal miniatures to strip. What is the most caustic stuff I could possibly drop these miniatures in that wouldn't hurt the metal, but would just eat the paint right off of there? I want something that will just blow the socks off any acrylic paint on these things. Acetone isn't cutting it in terms of effectiveness and economy of time. I just want something I can fill this glass jar with and drop miniatures in there, mad-scientist style, with my huge forceps and maniacal laughter.

What can you guys suggest?

Go to Walmart an pick up the bottle of SuperClean. The stuff is better then Simple Green.
I took the advice after someone posted a similer question and this recommend was on target.

The more excessive you ask, the more extreme you are going to get. All you are doing is stripping paint off of miniatures, not stripping a '57 Chevy.
DO NOT use the industrial strength cleaners on your figures. You are going to set yourself up for failure if you do.

Use the rubber gloves and goggles when you are splashing around in ANY cleaner. The super clean is biodegradeable, but ask yourself how is it going to do when you spash it into your eyes? Take care of yourself and use the protective gear.

Super Clean is Mothers milk to stripping minis. Drop your minis in a jar overnight, and the paint comes right off. ALL off. Minimum of brushing with an old tooth brush, and its done. I didn't even have the paint chips in the folds and details that you get when you use Simple Green.

$8.00 at Walmart in the automotives section.

diesel.... smells awfull, but removes da gak.

/Martin

Industrial Cleaner/Thinner (dont know the right word it)
Brought a model to work and dropped it in when i started and picked it up 8 hours later when my shift was over, no paint left at all

You want nasty? Oven cleaner is the ticket (I've used Easy-Off in the past). Horrible, horrible crap but it WILL even take old enamels off. I haven't tested it extensively, but it may damage softer metals (like lead). You will want the full compliment of goggles, dustmask and rubber gloves when spraying this stuff around.

You don't have to get fancy or even toxic with brake cleaners, oven cleaners, toluene or even acetone. Simply go pick up a nice smelling house hold cleaner called Pinesol or a generic equivalent. Leave the miniatures in it over night and take a tooth brush to them.

Gitkikka wrote:Oven cleaner

Head-to-head tests show oven cleaner is less effective than Castrol Super Clean.
____

ChaosDave wrote:Pinesol

Head-to-head tests also show Pinesol is less effective than Castrol Super Clean.


Does nobody do homework on the Internet anymore?

Seriously, it's not that difficult to find decent comparisons that save time.

ChaosDave wrote:You don't have to get fancy or even toxic with brake cleaners, oven cleaners, toluene or even acetone. Simply go pick up a nice smelling house hold cleaner called Pinesol or a generic equivalent. Leave the miniatures in it over night and take a tooth brush to them.

You seem to have missed the point.

he doesn't want to have to take a toothbrush to them and, if he does, he wants it to ba a minimum. Pine Sol sucks.
It does NOT do will with paint in creavasses, and isn't as powerful a cleaner as most items mentioned in this thread.





Personally, I'm thinking blow torch. It'll cause that paint to blister up in NO TIME flat.


Eric

Get yourself lots and lots of cash and buy a new mini.

I've used Super Clean and it's great. Seriously powerful stuff. I soaked for 20 minutes and the stuff came right off with minimum brushing.

I'll add my vote to the SuperClean crowd. My plastic and metal RT orks are bathing in it - and have been for months now.

When the paint's enamel, or a thick or stubborn acrylic, I use it full strength. For things I know I'm not going to get to this week (or month) or aren't heavily coated, I'll dilute it 1:1 with water. Works wonders!