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Looking for some tips on possibly using break fluid to strip my mini's. How long should they be left in and how effective is it on thicker layers of paint. Also I have herd that it can damage plastic models is this true?

Is Simple Green not available up North? I hear break fluid takes a good long while to work, and as you said it can be harsh on plastics.

BRAKE FLUID

BRAKE

Seriously... use the right word. You try not to break your models by putting them in brake fluid.

*whew* now that that's over with..

I wouldn't risk plastics in brake fluid. Simple Green is far more environmentally friendly, and less likely to melt your models into a pile of goo.

Aerethan wrote:Is Simple Green not available up North? I hear break fluid takes a good long while to work, and as you said it can be harsh on plastics.

For years we didn't have it, whenever people on dakka recommend it to me, i was like ?_?

then suddenly out of the blue in 2011, they start selling them in Canada, yay and i bought 3

rigeld2 wrote:BRAKE FLUID

BRAKE

Seriously... use the right word. You try not to break your models by putting them in brake fluid.

*whew* now that that's over with..

I wouldn't risk plastics in brake fluid. Simple Green is far more environmentally friendly, and less likely to melt your models into a pile of goo.

Alright alright edited the bloody title. and I have not noticed Simple Green in the stores I have visited lately.

rigeld2 wrote:BRAKE FLUID

BRAKE

Seriously... use the right word. You try not to break your models by putting them in brake fluid.

*whew* now that that's over with..

I wouldn't risk plastics in brake fluid. Simple Green is far more environmentally friendly, and less likely to melt your models into a pile of goo.

honestly it didn't even cross my mind at the time as I was replying to the words I saw in the post. That and I've been on Break.com all day...

Honestly, i treat break fluid as a joke. The only thing i'd consider putting in there are metal models.

Simple green will do the job. It takes more elbow grease to get the base-coat off, and it's not magical (like superclean (a purple fluid if i recall correctly)), but it will get the job done. I usually put my models through three rounds of stripping to get into that 99% back to bare plastic. Sometimes I just get lazy and leave the models to soak for a month, then forget, and discover them two months later. From this experience, the only thing I will tell you is DO NOT FORGET YOUR METAL MODELS IN THE STRIPPING FLUID. The only damage was that the metal came out an unhealthy shade which I am going to suffer for, just not quite yet.

try to look for simple green, I had a bucket filled with it and some minis for weeks now. whole paints literally comes off even by wiping with your fingers.

Brake fluid DOES work on plastic, but be aware that it comes in at least two grades, and ONE of those WILL dissolve plastic and leach the hardener from resins.

Dot3 is safe on plastics (up to 30 minutes - when even enamel paints will shift - longest I have left plastics in it for). Dot4 will badly impact on plastic models.

It's great on metals, though. Put in jar, leave over weekend, scrub and rinse.

SG is environmentally friendly, not as readily available (here) and struggles with certain paints. Brake fluid doesn't care what kind of paint it was but needs specific disposal allowances (see my sig) - not just down the sink (and you need to wear gloves - because it WILL wreak havoc on your joints after a couple of years - it's why mechanics all have stuffed hands after 10-15 years.)

Echoing chromedog: Theres easier and safer (both for you and your models) alternatives to use than brake fluid. If simple green isnt available locally, some of the cleaning power spray (Fairy make one, dont know if thats available in Canada) isnt a bad idea if you cant get your paws on simple green or equivalent.

btw Chromedog, if theres a Woolworths near you, some of them sell SG.

If you can't get Simple Green I highly recommend Super Clean, it comes in a big purple jug and is avalible at almost any auto parts store.

Arnt there all sorts of issues with disposing of brake fluid?

I like to use isopropyl alcohol, does the job and nice and safe (dont drink it!)

If you don't have simply green just find some sort of alternate cleaner. I use Blue Wolf myself. Just look for something that says Cleaner and Degreaser. It will have lots of uses such as cleaning tires, tabletops, bathrooms, etc/

For strictly metal models you can also use Brake CLEANER which is just pure acetone. Eats paint right off and leaves the metal shining like new. Granted you need to wear gloves, which will get eaten away slowly by the acetone, so perhaps double up on them. But it works like a charm. Plastics of course get eaten right up and melt into goo.

If you're looking for Simple Green in Canada try checking at home depot. Its about the only place I've seen it over the last while

Here is a list of all the stores that sell simple green.

I really wouldn't mess with brake fluid unless you already have a deal worked out to dispose of the stuff once you're done. You can get in a lot of trouble for not disposing of it properly.

Simple green works well and I've had a lot of luck with LA's Totally Awesome. I'd be remiss if I didn't pimp this stuff out since it's done so good for me... and it cost me a buck at the dollar store.

Retailer List

I don't know if you have any of those retailers in Canada but it's worth keeping an eye out for if you've got a dollar store in your area.

Edit: I've used this stuff to remove THICK layers of paint off minis I got off ebay. I fill a mason jar half full of minis and pour in the LA's Totally Awesome enough to cover them, then occasionally shake em up and the paint comes right off with minimal effort. Minor toothbrush scrubbing after a couple days and they come out clean.