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Quick question: how does nail varnish/poolish remover work for stripping without damaging? Thanks in advance!

Check this out:
http://www.dakkadakka.com/wiki/en/Dakka_Modeling_FAQ:_How_to_Strip...

From what I've read, it depends on the materials the model is made from. If the model is plastic, don't try it. The article explains how badly it reacts with it.

I'm doing some testing with a degreaser called 'Gunk' at the minute becuase I can't get hold of the recommended 'Castrol Super Clean' and things aren't looking too bad. I'll keep you poster if you want.

For plsatic you would need an 'acetone' free version.

for a very cheeap way to strip plastic and metal mini's, use Tesco's Own Brand all purpose cleaner.

I popped a Marine in there last night, took him out this morning, and with a scrub of the old toothbrush, all the paint came off no problemo!

29p for 500ml.

dave_salmon: please do keep me posted, the more ways I learn the better

Matrim [/b]: twenty nine pence?? :O I'm going straight to tesco lol

Thanks to both of you for your swift responses

Metal:
Acetone
Gasoline
(see Plastic list)

Plastic:
Fairy Power Spray (http://www.fairy-dish.co.uk/products/powerspray.aspx)
LA's Totally Awesome (http://www.lastotallyawesome.com/html/Products_Degreaser.html)

Methylated Spirits work great on metal and plastics, albeit they're stinky and highly flammable.

Update on the Gunk

I tested it on a selection of plastic, lead and pewter models as well as a combination of models which were based before painting and models which weren't.

The results are pretty dissapointing. After four days of soaking, the Gunk simply couldn't get in to all of the nooks and crannies to get the paint off completely and it seems to struggle with white base paint...

I'll go for dettol next I think.

So the gunk was a failure by the sounds of it. Hmm.

I put 2 devastators in this cheap nail polish remover I bought at my local shop for a pound, and within 20 mins the paint was practically falling off. However I tried stripping something that was thinly painted, and it had very little effect in places. Moral of the story: cheap ebay minis with half a dozen thick coats of paint, it works wonders. For stripping models without half a ton of paint on em, it doesn't go so well.

Thanks for all the input on this thread, and please keep me updated on the dettol results

MSC, i've found that thick paint strips off better no matter what I use to strip it. I use acetone free nail polich remover for my metal mini's and Fairy power spray for plastics.

I've used nail polich remover on plastics (over night), which had no detrimental effect on them, except the base, which came out all squishy.

Give the fairy power spray a go, works quickly and an old toothbrush really helps.

OK, so I've completely submerged 5 1992 warriors and a lord along with Kyrinov (Imperial preacher dude?) in Dettol which I'm going to leave for 24 hours and then have a look see.

I'll keep you posted.

Pewter - Alcohol/Acetone. W/ in an hour the paints sloughing off. Wash w/ mild soap & warm water & it's ready to paint again.

Plastic - Simple Green. Leave it in there for a few days & grab a toothbrush & scrub it off under warm water. Just be careful of any glued joints, it will dissolve most cyanocrylate glues.

~Vryce

Quick update on the Dettol: Awesome results so far.

I would say to leave metal models for a at least 6 hours before going at them with a tooth brush: I only waited two hours and it didn't get in to the fiddly little spaces but did remove 80%+ of the paint.

I'll show some pics when I have another go tomorrow.

I use brake fluid for cars, its relatively cheap too. sometimes take time to get through multiple coats on detailed sections though, i tend to leave whatever in there for a day or two, better still although it gets dirty it doesnt seem to lose effectiveness over time.

So, results:

Before:


After:



Next:





Please, please, please read the tutorial in the articles page: I made the horrible mistake of trying to use a tooth brush to remove the paint. You REALLY don't need to, you just need a tooth pick....as per the instructions.

Tooth brush = MESS and MUCH MUCH more work.

ALSO: Please wear some gloves. The paint comes off and clings to skin like a Black Templar to his bolter...