Tutorial: Stripping Basics-How to remove the paint from your models

[Templar Mikeel]

To strip the paint from your models, you'll need a few things.

Pinesol or Simplegreen. I bought this bottle of Pinsole and Safeway for $3, but I know that you can't buy it in the UK. You can use Simplegreen if you can't get your hands on Pinesol. Note, Pinesol is used to strip the paint off plastic models and metal models.


A bucket, or something to put the models and Pinesol in.


You'll also need some models. Plastic painted models.


Place your models in the bucket.


Poor in the Pinesol


Set a timer for at least two hours. It works better the more time you have them sit, but not more than 48 hours, unless you like melted models. I let my models sit for just around 24 hours and the paint started to come off at the touch.


After letting them soak in the Pinesol, remove the models from the bucket by using a rubber glove. Now all you have to do is hold them under hot water while you scrub the paint off with a soapy tooth brush.

[hairyyahoo]

and...then what? do you need to scrub them or will the paint just kinda rinse off under the tap?

[lord marcus]

i think he'll continue when the two jours are up..

[Warmaster Romulas]

Originally Posted by hairyyahoo

and...then what? do you need to scrub them or will the paint just kinda rinse off under the tap?

most will rinse off
but then....
you go to work with an old tooth brush and tap water

[munkey joe paints]

AHHH......I use the simple green myself! Nice tut and some good piccys there.

[Templar Mikeel]

Originally Posted by lord marcus

i think he'll continue when the two jours are up..

Yup, I was a little too eager to get this up, so there are a few steps left after letting them soak for a bit. Sorry all!

[Stubber]

I'm using brake fluid. It has varying success. After 20 hours some of the models were virtually stripped clean while others looked like they were never near the stuff.

Does anyone know how to get that last stubborn bit of paint out of a gaunts ribcage?

[Templar Mikeel]

Ok, updated the last part of the process, I'll get some pics of a tooth brush scrubbing off the paint to make it easier to follow.

[TerminatorinHell]

wow im annoyed , the simple green cant strip my tanks T.T not even pine sol and I leave them in for days what am i doing wrong?

[Templar Mikeel]

Originally Posted by TerminatorinHell

wow im annoyed , the simple green cant strip my tanks T.T not even pine sol and I leave them in for days what am i doing wrong?

Are they metal or plastic?

[Rellik]

I like to use simple green for this. But it will come off pretty good, you may want to use a old ( or enemies ) toothbrush to scrub them cleam.

*note* dont use your enimies toothbrush its not nice.

[Shonuff]

Originally Posted by TerminatorinHell

wow im annoyed , the simple green cant strip my tanks T.T not even pine sol and I leave them in for days what am i doing wrong?

I had this issue with some ebay won Leman Russ tanks I got (4).

THey soaked in simple green for almost a week...and barely anything came off them.

Someone suggested something which really made a difference.

The paint....SEALS the plastic into a paint shell. IN order to get the chemicals, to remove the seal...it needs entrances between the two (paint and plastic)
take a wire brush....SLOWLY and HARD to the tanks. Make score marks into the paint..(not hard enough to mess up the plastic though.

Do this alllllllll over the tanks, then let them resoak. give it another week..mine slid right out.

(also you'll need a dental tool or scraper pick to get in the armor crevices..etc.


Sho: Out.

[Rhaalidor]

Just a hint, Simple green and Pine-Sol will only strip water-based paints, such as GW, Reaper, Vallejo, Andrea, etc. These cleaners won't touch enamel paints like Testor's, Model-Master, Tamiya Spray, and most other spray paints, including GW spray paint, when applied to plastic. These are Toluene or Xylene based, and the paint adheres to the plastic in a chemical reaction similar to plastic cement. It basically melts into the surface of the plastic. So, if you use enamel brush paints or most any spray paint on plastic, then it's usually on for good. If you use enamel or spray paint on metal, then brake fluid, acetone, or other solvents (MEK, Lacquer Thinner, Oven Cleaners, Caustic Paint Removers, etc.) may remove the paint. No solvent will harm the metals, but plastics will usually melt with any solvent strong enough to remove enamel or spray paint, simply because of the chemical reaction involved in stripping the paint. The solvent doesn't know the difference between paint (enamel or spray) and plastic, and both are soluable with the same solvents.
Basically, if Pine solvents, Simple Green, or Super Clean won't remove the paint from plastic models, then the paint can't be removed without damaging the plastic. Hope this helps.

[Prince of the Night]

Rhaalidor is spot on here. When stripping, it will be a guessing game unless you know what the model was painted with originally.

As far as getting paint out of crevices, I have always used compressed air to force the paint out without harming the model without gouging it with blunt objects. I use an air compressor at between 100 and 125 psi.

[Templar Mikeel]

There are obviously a lot of you that know a lot more about stripping. Feel free to contribute information so this can be a more comprehensive guide.

[Brother Warchild]

Originally Posted by Prince of the Night

Rhaalidor is spot on here. When stripping, it will be a guessing game unless you know what the model was painted with originally.

As far as getting paint out of crevices, I have always used compressed air to force the paint out without harming the model without gouging it with blunt objects. I use an air compressor at between 100 and 125 psi.

I do the same, just one bit of advice. MAKE SURE you hold on tight or have something behind it lol!! I lost a few things this way.
I have used alot of different stripping agents but Simply Green is the Best!!
I normally put my minis in a mason jar fill it up and leave it for a week or so, if its gonna come of it will. Sometimes it takes awhile so be patient.
But for a guick strip the Pinesol method described by Templar works well also.

[phil]

Originally Posted by Shonuff

I had this issue with some ebay won Leman Russ tanks I got (4).

THey soaked in simple green for almost a week...and barely anything came off them.

Someone suggested something which really made a difference.

The paint....SEALS the plastic into a paint shell. IN order to get the chemicals, to remove the seal...it needs entrances between the two (paint and plastic)
take a wire brush....SLOWLY and HARD to the tanks. Make score marks into the paint..(not hard enough to mess up the plastic though.

Do this alllllllll over the tanks, then let them resoak. give it another week..mine slid right out.

(also you'll need a dental tool or scraper pick to get in the armor crevices..etc.


Sho: Out.

same way you strip a car,

wonder if using a knife without cutting the plastic would work?

or a files edge?

[Chaos Lord Horus]

becuase its lemon fragrance will my models smells zesty and lemonish??