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So I recently got a huge SoB army as part of a trade from a friend and the whole thing needs to be stripped of the old crappy primer coating them. (mostly due to mold lines that were never cleaned)

I usually use LA Awesome as my model stripping agent, but whatever primer was used isn't coming off very well. I was once told use brake cleaner, but I've never done this before and want to be sure it's done right. Any tutorials or tips on this method? Or any other methods that work really well for old metal models?

I would avoid brake cleaner, since it's bad for both you and the environment. I've used it before and the process is the same as Simple Green's or what have you. If you're stripping purely metal models, you can use acetone nail polish remover and the models should be fine. Only other thing I could suggest is just leaving them in the LA Totally Awesome for longer.

I let them soak for 2 weeks; I doubt longer would have helped much. I used to use nail cleaner; but then my sister moved away. (100% true, pissed her off)

This thread title is pure win!

Acetone.

Dot 3 Brake Fluid will work the part. As mentioned you need to take precautions with it - but the polar bears want to eat you, so screw them.

http://www.bonediggers.com/1-3/strip/strip.html

You can find the technique there (first item tested). Other options can be found here as well:

http://www.paintingclinic.com/clinic/guestarticles/removingpaint3.htm

Acetone, either nail polish remover variety or hardware store variety will also work - as will the vast majority of petroleum distillate thinners and strippers and things like MEK. Since they are metal, you don't have to worry about using strong organic solvents since they won't be harmed by them.

For my money though, I would use oven cleaner. I am not the type who will wait days or even weeks for my figures to be stripped when there are a dozen things which will remove the paint in minutes or hours.

Good heavens. Brake fluid? I know it works, but you can use anything to strip metal models.

I'd recommend straight up paint thinner from Home Depot/Lowe's (there are many varieties, scents, and eco-friendliness). At least, more eco friendly than brake fluid... and they'll deal with enamels and oil-based paints.

The second and easiest is Pine Sol. The yellow stuff (not pine scented green, orange scented, whatever, just the basic stuff), straight from the bottle. Dunk the models in it, wait a couple days, and the paint will slough off. Scrub with a paint brush, and they should be good to go.

Simple green or super clean. Avoid brake cleaner.

Kevlar wrote:This thread title is pure win!

Haha ok Im glad Im not the only one who thought of that...

Yeah, ++ to acetone. Other serious solvents will probably also work, like turpentine. You can't go wrong with simple green either.

Kevlar wrote:This thread title is pure win!

I'm not going to lie, I came into this thread only to be... disappointed...

lacquer thinner, acetone, other harsh chemical, but ONLY if the minis are metal. If they are, these 2 liquids are pure gold for stripping.

fenrir1997 wrote:lacquer thinner, acetone, other harsh chemical, but ONLY if the minis are metal. If they are, these 2 liquids are pure gold for stripping.

Shouldn't be an issue. There aren't even Finecast sisters...and I don't recall Forgeworld ever doing any figures for them either.

Sorry to disappoint some dirty minds.

Never had any luck with simple green, maybe I'll try paint thinner. We should be thankful for no finecast sisters.

Prepare to lose your bases if you use harsh chems.




Must burn heretical thoughts.

Desubot wrote:Prepare to lose your bases if you use harsh chems.

Not sure if I am in a minority...but I generally remove the bases before stripping. If I am going to repaint the figures, I will generally rebase as well...if they are some crap lot for eBay or if I am just looking to improve on what I did 10 years ago.

We should be thankful for no finecast sisters.

True enough. I have 200 or so sisters in my harem, they are a heavy bunch of girls compared to other armies. The upside is that unless GW decides to pull their heads from their butts and release plastic girls...they won't ever get another penny from me for that army (built the army to be able to field full sets of anything from the old Witch Hunters Codex...so I have lots of spares for normal games).

You are not in the minority. Always remove all plastic bits (including bases) before using the stripper.

Nail Polish Remover is the hands down winner for remover. I have been able to get models that were primed forever go perfectly clean and sparkling. I actually just clean off a logan and Njal that had been primed a long time ago. Left em soaking for two days and well they look like they fresh out of the package now.

Just do not leave the plastics on they will turn into a nasty goop and get stuck all over the models.

Ive actually found for stripping plastic models a couple days soaking in Super Clean then a quick dip in acetone free nail polish remover has them spotless.

I'm well aware to to remove bases; in fact the previous owner of this army in his infinite wisdom use super glue to hold the models to the bases. I know it's not so bad if the model sits loose in the slot.

All the bases are trash and luckily I have a ton of them from the older blisters that gave 4 bases for 1 model.

Use straight up paint remover. A simple bath and everything will be fine!

I'll see if we have any paint thinner in the garage. If not I guess it's a run to home depot.

superclean...

essentially, any degreaser and cleaner from your automotive section will work. The same brands of cleaner, like simple green and superclean, may be found in the household cleaning or painting aisles, but you want the automotive grade stuff. I'ts got more of the active ingredient than the home and painting sections, so it will work better.

Kevlar wrote:This thread title is pure win!

jifel wrote:Haha ok Im glad Im not the only one who thought of that...

Ailaros wrote:I'm not going to lie, I came into this thread only to be... disappointed...

Have fun:

pretre wrote:Always remove all plastic bits (including bases) before using the stripper.

Are we still talking about chemicals?

Ignore everyone elses advice.

USE DAWN POWER DISSOLVER.

Costs 2-3 bucks a bottle, and 2 bottles will strip like, a billion minis.

It won't hurt plastic or metal, it will kill green stuff and if you leave it in long enough it will kill super glue too without harming the plastic.

Metal minis will usually only need, at most, a day in the goop, plastic maybe two or three, depending on how much paint and primer is on it.

It's gonna get real dirty and gross looking after you strip a few minis, but it's still good.

I use a colander and a baby bottle brush to clean them up under some running water. Seriously, it's crazy good.

Kroothawk wrote:

Kevlar wrote:This thread title is pure win!

jifel wrote:Haha ok Im glad Im not the only one who thought of that...

Ailaros wrote:I'm not going to lie, I came into this thread only to be... disappointed...

+1 for me. Obviously I knew it was about paint stripping... but one can never be too sure.

I'll see if I can find power dissolve.... I figure Wal Mart should have it if anyplace.

Seriously guys? You thought this would be about anything BUT stripping paint?

Ailaros wrote:

Kevlar wrote:This thread title is pure win!

I'm not going to lie, I came into this thread only to be... disappointed...

Same, I was hoping for some hot metal on metal action...

I found that 91% rubbing alcohol takes the paint off of plastic minis. The guy who owns the hobby store nearby told me this, and it worked.

Even a 70% isopropyl alcohol solution removes paint on both plastic and metal.

Easy Off oven clean for 30 minutes, then brush it with warm water, and a good brush like a denture brush or other stiff bristled brush.

Strips metal so well you can't tell it has ever been painted.

Ah this thread is BS
False Advertising


I use LA totally awesome,that primer layer you can spray over and not tell.
But if the primer really irks you,go nuclear use Lacquar thinner.
Primer is usually lacquer based,so that is what you need.
Be careful it eats through plastic and latex,so you will need dishwasing gloves to handle.
It is a little caustic so do not get on your skin,but it will remove that primer.
But like I said reprime a sister you already hit with the awesome,I am betting it will be good

I take it Eisenhorn is joking about the title....

I know how to strip with LA Awesome; I'm not new to the concept. Also PLEASE stop making remarks about the title. Your all sick in the head, this is a modeling forum... not 4chan.