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hi, i know there are a lot of forums about paint stripping, i know about brake fluid and other harmful chemicals, my parents didnt approve of them, i have a metal unit that i want strip of paint, does anyone know any good chemicals that arent as nasty as tirecleaner or break fluid and are sold in the US?

Simple Green is the classic choice. It's basically just a household cleaner (used on windows, etc.) that's sold in concentrate form. It's non-toxic and biodegradeable and strips metal like a charm. I've had some problems using it on plastic, though; there wasn't any of the melting or softening some people claim to have had, but the paint just didn't seem to come off.

I've also had great luck with a product called "Kleen Strip", which looks similar to simple green, and is also biodegradeable. It's actually more potent than Simple Green, but you alo get 1/4 the amount for the same price. Also takes a lot more rinsing to get the residue off.

-Hans

Posted By tegeus-Cromis on 07/29/2007 10:17 AM
Simple Green is the classic choice. It's basically just a household cleaner (used on windows, etc.) that's sold in concentrate form. It's non-toxic and biodegradeable and strips metal like a charm. I've had some problems using it on plastic, though; there wasn't any of the melting or softening some people claim to have had, but the paint just didn't seem to come off.

how much do i water it down??????

Posted By tegeus-Cromis on 07/29/2007 10:17 AM
Simple Green is the classic choice. It's basically just a household cleaner (used on windows, etc.) that's sold in concentrate form. It's non-toxic and biodegradeable and strips metal like a charm. I've had some problems using it on plastic, though; there wasn't any of the melting or softening some people claim to have had, but the paint just didn't seem to come off.

how much do i water it down??????

I would suggest you try Pine Sol instead of Simple Green (concentrated). In my experience, and I've been stripping a lot of plastic models lately, Pine Sol is much better and faster at removing paint than Simple Green. Period. End of story. I had models soaking in Simple Green (Concentrated) for 3+ weeks and they helped remove about 50% of the paint. Another week in brake fluid removed another 10%. Finally, I took the same models and put them in Pine Sol, in 1-3 hours, the paint was literally falling off the model.

I took some untreated models and did the same thing, voila! 1-3 hours (closer to 3) and a toothbrush later, they were free of the original paint. Follow the steps below for easy paint removal.

1) Get a bottle of Pine Sol.

2) Get a container with a lid. Choose a container of appropriate size, I was stripping tanks, so I purchased (for $3) a plastic 2 quart juice container with lid.

3) Place the model in the container.

4) Pour Pine Sol over the models.

5) Let sit for 1-3 hours.

6) Wear a pair of rubber gloves, to protect your hands. Find a place with good air flow (Pine Sol has a strong smell) and preferably with a water source (although not required).

7) Remove the models and scrub with a toothbrush. Having a small water source is good, because you can occasionally rinse the model and see where you have missed (crevices), a bucket will work in a pinch.

8) Pour the used Pine Sol back in the container. It is perfectly good to use again.

I used the sink we had in the garage, good air flow and water. Just make sure you clean up after you are done, so your parents don't get upset with you. If you scrub them outside, you won't get flecks of paint/primer all over the sink walls or walls. Just a thought.

If the paint doesn't all come off, you can soak a bit more, Pine Sol won't hurt metal models. You can use it for plastic models too, but if you leave it for 24 hours, you can soften up the plastics. Fortunately it does almost all of its work in 1-3 hours.

Hope this helps.

would ammonia do the trick?

I don't know about it's stripping potential, but ammonia will smell worse and be more harmful than pinesol. Steer clear of it.