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Hey mates just a quick question for you. I have a bunch of Steel Legion infantry models and I need to remove some paint off a bunch of them and I just wanted to know what is the best paint remover for pewter models? I currently have simple green and paint remover Goof Off I got from Home Depot but if there's anything else that works really well on Pewter models let me know and thanks again.

I used unleaded petrol once.

Probably not the smartest move, but it was amazing and surprisingly, didn't kill me.

Dettol works a treat and isn't harmful to most things, might dry your hands out a bit but that easily solved with some gloves.

Acetone.

Won't hurt the metal (will destroy plastic or resin, though) but gets paint off, good as new.

It's kinda nasty and upsets the touchy-feely brigade because it's kinda toxic, though and needs protective gear (because you don't want it in your eyes).

I have tried Dettol and it works pretty well, as does oven Degreaser, I picked up some from the pound shop. Also Acetone free nail polish remover.

I do mainly use this

http://www.biostrip.co.uk/biostrip-20-paint-stripper-500ml-tub.html

and it works a treat. The good thing is you can kind of paint parts that you might be unhappy with the stuff and it will just take that section off.

You can buy Acetone nail varnish remover on the cheap. I'm in the UK so went to Poundland but any dollar store that sells makeup products should sell a fairly decent bottle. Just get a glass jar (pasta sauce jars work well), rinse it thoroughly with boiling water, leave to dry. Take the base off your model, maybe break it up into parts and drop in, cover with the acetone and seal tight for as long as you please.

 chromedog wrote:
Acetone.

Won't hurt the metal (will destroy plastic or resin, though) but gets paint off, good as new.

It's kinda nasty and upsets the touchy-feely brigade because it's kinda toxic, though and needs protective gear (because you don't want it in your eyes).

Correct. It's metal, don't buggerize around with anything but acetone. I bought some cheap nail polish remover, but it has aloe or something in it, so i got a bottle from the hardware store.

Use dettol or iso or whatever when you're dealing with sensitive materials.

Methylated spirits also works.

For metal I use Isopropanol. It is the least toxic of the strong ones and works really well. Can be used on plastic as well.

use Super Clean or Purple Power from your local Walmart. They are so much better than Simple Green.

If you remove them from their plastic bases, acetone is by far the most powerful paint remover without going crazy.

If you leave them on their plastic bases, don't use acetote; the bases will melt into a mess. Dettol is a good bet.

No matter what you use, short of a strong acid that wouldn't be very safe in most environments, you will need to take a toothbrush and scrub

 Deathklaat wrote:
use Super Clean or Purple Power from your local Walmart. They are so much better than Simple Green.

This!
I use 99% concentrated Isopropanol and it remove paint within 1 hour. Dettol works the same way (but slower, i think you have to soak in dettol for 24 hours), just because it consist Isopropanol.

 Talys wrote:
If you remove them from their plastic bases, acetone is by far the most powerful paint remover without going crazy.

If you leave them on their plastic bases, don't use acetote; the bases will melt into a mess. Dettol is a good bet.

No matter what you use, short of a strong acid that wouldn't be very safe in most environments, you will need to take a toothbrush and scrub

The best paint remover for metal miniatures is actually cellulose thinners. Anything that isnt metal will disolve in it And it can be re used pretty much infinitely. However it is also extremely toxic by inhalation, contact, ingestion or simply by being near it. Oh and as a bonus its also highly flammable. Nitrile (solvent resistant) gloves and charcoal filter face mask are essential. Oh and if you spill it on your shoes or clothes they will dissolve too.

Pour some into a glass jar (outdoors), drop the minis in, seal the jar, wait ten minutes, drain carefully into another jar, rinse well,and your minis will be cleaner than they were when you bought them.

DO NOT DISPOSE OF THE THINNERS INTO A DRAIN THOUGH. it will destroy your pipes and kill anything it comes into contact with. Just keep the jar sealed and reuse it.

Not the safest of methods but it is by far the most effective. Works on enamel too.

How about flux remover, that stuff will take the paint off of anything.

As a helpful reminder, the search button at the top of this subforum is a lifesaver. I just typed in 'removing paint' and got tonnes of threads about it.

Its one of the most common questions 'round here.