Removing paint from plastics

Starfury · Post by **Starfury** » Sat Jan 12, 2013 11:42 pm

I figured I'd ask in here because of the high level of knowledge on the topic.

I picked up (cheap) some 40k plastic terminators. They were painted and I soaked them in pine sol overnight and today when I'm cleaning them the top layer of paint came right off...leaving behind a sorta sticky coating on the figures. What would be a different/better chemical to try? I've used Jasco in the past...but it's fairly nasty and goes right through standard latex gloves. It does remove paint though. I also have access to denatured alcohol and acetone.

any suggestions?

Bolo_MK_XL · Post by **Bolo_MK_XL** » Sun Jan 13, 2013 2:15 am

Have to be careful with Pine Sol and plastic minis, soak too long and it will start melting the mini as well, might be the beginning stage with yours.

wedge_hammersteel · Post by **wedge_hammersteel** » Sun Jan 13, 2013 2:26 am

Was break fluid good for metal or plastic minis or both?

I use easy off for the metal minis but I think the lye would hurt plastic.

Bolo_MK_XL · Post by **Bolo_MK_XL** » Sun Jan 13, 2013 2:34 am

Think Brake fluid was good for either.

Couldn't find the mini thread about stripping, but will take another look.

I'm sure the experts will chime in.

Scoutdad · Post by **Scoutdad** » Sun Jan 13, 2013 3:25 am

I try not to stri-p plastic minis as its easy to go too far... as evidenced in the OP.

When I do have to strip plastic minis, I still use Easy-Off... just for short segments of time.
A Zocchi CA in Easy-Off! for n hour or so will generally remove the paint w/o dissolving the mini.
I do know that dropping a pewter ST2400 and base in Easy-Off! overnight results in a clean mini and a base that's become a semi=solid pile of goo.

storeylf · Post by **storeylf** » Sun Jan 13, 2013 11:44 am

I tend to like dakka dakka for modelling stuff.

this threadwas about some supposedly good stripper

OGOPTIMUS · Post by **OGOPTIMUS** » Sun Jan 13, 2013 7:26 pm

I have found undiluted Simple Green works well for plastics.

Do not use Jasco on plastics, that will definitely melt them.

djdood · Post by **djdood** » Mon Jan 14, 2013 12:03 am

Concur with Tony; Easyoff is good for stripping most plastics, but must be monitored. I never leave it on plastic for more than 45min or so. If more stripping is needed, I just respray and go again.

Starfury · Post by **Starfury** » Mon Jan 14, 2013 1:25 am

I probably did let them soak a bit much in the pine sol...they still smell like it. I cleaned them up w/ soap/water and they sat overnight. Today they got a soak in easy off. Most of the paint came off...but they still smell like pine sol. I'll be spending some time with a sharp hobby knife to pick the bits out before I prim them.

I won't use pine sol again...I'll just go straight to easy off next time.

Or try to get metal mini's.

djdood · Post by **djdood** » Thu Jan 17, 2013 9:16 pm

One warning: Regardless of what you use, soak the parts very, very thoroughly in very warm water (and pick into corners and crevices, as you plan to). Any trace of something like EasyOff will ruin your primer and/or paint adhesion. If you can still really smell it, that means it's still off-gassing enough to cause trouble.