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Ok , so heres a Toutorial on brake fluid ! I just got my second bottle !

I got the brake fluid a month ago . Thats how i represent "just got" . Im not gonna post a toutorial without steps . There will be a simple timeline and then a final result picture , along with notes and tips (what not to do's and what to do's) . Ok so lets get started .

Brake Fluid

This is what I as well as many i know and dont know use to strip models . Whatever the thickness of the paint this works . And if you have a model that gets you thinking "but i want to hold that position on it!" then this works great as it does'nt take the glue away . Some notes and tips :

- Do NOT use plastic products to hold this as it melts them . The models are not this kind of plastic and are therefor fine to put in . I use a Gevialiatm glass bottle , but anything goes i guess .
- Dont fill the liquid holder ! This is just a waste of fluid aswell as it risks overflowing the object . Try to just about cover the model(s) your stripping .
- Use gloves ! If you poor on your skin without gloves being on 'em you gotta run for the first sink in you LOS ! Very irrititing to skin and eyes !
- If you read instructions(I for one , do that.) it says : Avoid Contact with all painted surfaces ! This is becouse it will strip the paint ! Dont go all "oh well , i'll find something else."
- Do not use with other fluids ! Stop being cheap is the bottom line here ! If you do so , all effect will be lost and you'll end up with the same amount of paint on you models ..
- Dont Drink it !! It may smell like Maple Syrup(imho) but it really is'nt . I talk of expirience
- Allergic advise straight from bottle ! Includes Polyalkylene Glycol .

Now for the time line of the Brake and Clutch fluid , when i did it the first time . I bought mine from a company called Valvoline . It's great , meets all my need's !

Ca. 25mins passed = Very little change in colour of fluid . Paint still not gone off at all . Models the same .
Ca. 35mins passed = Very little but yet some paint gone off . No change of fluid colour . Metalic colours still all on . Colour on metal test mini only fading , not flaking off.
Ca. 60mins passed = Very little Change from the 35mins
Ca 2 hours passed = Still very little change , some flakes gone off here and there and white starting to show through . Same status on metal model ..
Ca. 3 1/2 passed = Scrambled the braking fluid with an old , unusable toothbrush . Many flakes came off , including off the metal model . Metalics starting to come off. Got some fluid on me , it's not a pain until like 2 minutes afterwards . I'm not telling you how it feels , i might get banned for brutality in words since some got into my eye .
Ca. 5 hours passed = Same old same old , just keep scrambling them . Metal model seems to be flaking off paint now !
Ca 6 hours passed = Now i just scrambled them a LOT , poured the liquid into the sink , cleaned them off with a toothbrush and voila ! You got a perfectly stripped model !

Picture will follow as soon as the camera gets here ..

Gretar

Brake fluid is kinda dangerous, is it not?

It's probably worth pointing out that not all types of brake fluid actually work as a paint stripper. Some don't work at all. Some eat plastic minis. Some aren't particularly good for lead minis.

It's also possibly worth pointing out that there are much safer alternatives that work just as well or better, as covered in any number of other stripping tutorials here and around the web.


Not trying to be too much of a downer here... it's great that people take the time to create tutorials. But whilst brake fluid was a useful tool back when there wasn't much else readily available for the job, it seems like one of the worst options these days since it's toxic, bad for the environment, has to be disposed of in specific ways, and has variable results.

so gw metal models strip fine? and also does it eat resin?

and another tip, dont mix break fluid with clorene it ignites into flames :X rofl scared me at first

Brakefluid is the best!
I have used all different kinds and none of them have ever damaged any of my models, neither metal, resin nor plastic.

I know a lot of people like to say "Simple Green" but I cant get that anywhere. I have even checked online for alternative productnames and tried to get those.

Brakefluid can be gotten from almost any gasstation almost anywhere in the world.

LordBoJangles wrote:Brake fluid is kinda dangerous, is it not?

Meh , yes and no really . If your careful enough , and use the ritght tools , you should be fine

It's probably worth pointing out that not all types of brake fluid actually work as a paint stripper. Some don't work at all. Some eat plastic minis. Some aren't particularly good for lead minis.

It's also possibly worth pointing out that there are much safer alternatives that work just as well or better, as covered in any number of other stripping tutorials here and around the web.


Not trying to be too much of a downer here... it's great that people take the time to create tutorials. But whilst brake fluid was a useful tool back when there wasn't much else readily available for the job, it seems like one of the worst options these days since it's toxic, bad for the environment, has to be disposed of in specific ways, and has variable results.

True , that is why i pointed out the type of fluid i am using . I know there are a lot of other possibilities , but i just thought to throw this out to those who want to try . You'r not being that much of an downer . And if you where , who cares ? That would just be you'r opinion on the matter and everyone should be able to tell their's

so gw metal models strip fine? and also does it eat resin?

and another tip, dont mix break fluid with clorene it ignites into flames :X rofl scared me at first

Yeah , or atleast they do in my chase. Just make sure to be on constant watch out for melting , if you dont get the fluid i pointed out in the OP . Clorene is indeed a dangerous mix with the fluid . But then again , who is gonna be doing that ?

Thanks for the comments guys !

Gretar

EDIT :

Brakefluid is the best!
I have used all different kinds and none of them have ever damaged any of my models, neither metal, resin nor plastic.

I know a lot of people like to say "Simple Green" but I cant get that anywhere. I have even checked online for alternative productnames and tried to get those.

Brakefluid can be gotten from almost any gasstation almost anywhere in the world.

True . I can't find Simple Green anywhere in this country . And i cant stand the smell of nail polishers !

physcosamatic wrote:so gw metal models strip fine? and also does it eat resin?

and another tip, dont mix break fluid with clorene it ignites into flames :X rofl scared me at first

Yep. Pretty green ones. With an incredibly toxic gas as well. Been there, done that.

Mind you, chlorine doesn't take much (the pool stuff anyway) to set it off. Water and sunlight will do it.

The stuff spontaneously oxidises so quickly.

I use brake fluid for stripping metals. Works fine. Yes, I wear gloves, and a respirator and a faceshield and use tongs. I'm not stupid.

I've yet to find "simple green" anywhere. Including Bunnings. (This probably has more to do with unclued-in primate labour though), but the car place around the corner has brake fluid.

I used normal brake fluid in a plastic tub and let my models soak for 24 hours, plastic and metal ones.

I scrubbed the paint off and it just came off easily. Even easier on metal models.

It did no damage to the plastic at all, and tbh I've never heard of it damaging plastic as brake fluid is stored in plastic bottles in and out the car.

Ive heard of huge meltdowns . The one that said this then answered that its becouse its different plastic . The same plastic for the bottle and in the car , but another on in the models . I have never had a meltdown though...

I've never had a melt down either.

Don't pour brake fluid down the sink, please.

Does brake fluid lose its paint-stripping effectiveness over time? I know its hygroscopic and you shouldn't use it in a car after the bottle has been opened for a length of time. Reason I ask is I tried using it a bit ago and it didn't do very well (paint might have been testors though - ended up using oven cleaner).

@MasterSlowPoke : Why not ? And how do i get rid of it otherwise ?
@1-UP : No it does'nt . Just make sure its in for 6 hours plus and scramble it alot while model's are in . Then use a toothbrush to clean the rest of the paint away . I've had problems with primers form time to time though .

Take it to an auto parts store so it can be properly disposed.

gretar wrote:@MasterSlowPoke : Why not ?

Because it's toxic. And in some places flushing it down the sink is illegal as a result.

And how do i get rid of it otherwise ?

You would need to check your own country's regulations. Some service stations or mechanics will accept it for disposal, as do some waste collection services.

The hassle of getting rid of it is just one of the reasons brake fluid isn't really ideal for hobby work.

Oh well .. my friends dad works as a car mechanic and he said to me that i should just give it to him . He would do the rest ! And that way i did'nt have to answer the question : How have you desposed of it so far ?

:$

I haven't. I still have the bottle I tried out 6 years ago sitting in the shed. These days I use Simple Green instead, but I just never got around to getting rid of it.

Neither do I. I use LA's Totally Awesome, a degreaser found in dollar stores, which is safe to flush.

Simple greens done wonders for me on metal models... plastics always tricky to strip. But honestly, brake fluids a wee bit dangerous lol...

Really?

http://www.dakkadakka.com/wiki/en/Dakka_Modeling_FAQ:_How_to_Strip...

Brake Fluid- I’ve tried this method and the rumor of melted plastic is true. Also, it’s not very ecologically friendly.

She must have been using another product ...

But what's your point anyways ?

That method in the article is cheaper, no chance of a certain brand melting plastics, and safer to dispose of?

Details , details

Yeah , ok , it is .. all that . But doe's that mean i simply CANT post a toutorial on this , becouse someone else already did something cheaper and better ?

Sorry if i sound like im getting cocky , im not trying to sound like that ..

You can still post it, but just be prepared for alternate solutions, especially on something as thoroughly covered as paint stripping.