S5 modeller Posted July 31, 2016 Share Posted July 31, 2016 Hi chaps. I've been using the body of an old car kit for a paint test mule. It's got quite a few years of different paints and primer on it. What would be the best, and easiest way to strip it back to bare plastic? I'm only asking, as I now seem to have a hankering to actually build the thing. I'm open to any and all crazy suggestions Matt Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Black Knight Posted July 31, 2016 Share Posted July 31, 2016 You may need a variety of paint strippers. BnQ do one, of their own brand, in a white plastic bottle - that one is quite good but may not take everything off. Revell do a paint stripper Then there's caustic soda solution Mr. Muscle Fairey Power Spray [original, not the scented one] Dettol Fresh brake fluid DOT 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
S5 modeller Posted July 31, 2016 Author Share Posted July 31, 2016 Well, I've got this stuff..... Which from all my tests proves it's not magic, it won't strip owt. I've also got:- Poundland oven cleaner spray mouse. Cellulose thinners Ipa Dettol Methylated spirits Might have some brake fluid, does it have to be DOT 3? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Black Knight Posted July 31, 2016 Share Posted July 31, 2016 I'd not use cellulose thinners, except maybe on a rag for the toppish coats only. It'll soften the plastic too much. Dettol has to be the original - pine scented. DOT 4 brake fluid works but I found the DOT 3 is stronger. Brake fluid is hygroscopic, as it absorbs water it weakens and thus old stuff will shift very little. IPA and meths should soften and remove any acrylic paints, might take time for them to soften them. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
S5 modeller Posted July 31, 2016 Author Share Posted July 31, 2016 Aye, I've encountered cellulose thinners and melting plastic. The original Dettol is indeed best, the cheap poundland stuff doesn't work at all. Will purchase some new brake fluid asap. Thanks for taking the time to reply. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
XitanAhmar Posted July 31, 2016 Share Posted July 31, 2016 Just mix 1 part Dettol to 10 parts lukewarm water and leave for a few days, you can change the Dettol mix after a couple of days and hey presto bare plastic. 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
S5 modeller Posted July 31, 2016 Author Share Posted July 31, 2016 Just mix 1 part Dettol to 10 parts lukewarm water and leave for a few days, you can change the Dettol mix after a couple of days and hey presto bare plastic. Thanks for that, but will it shift automotive primer and hycote spray paint? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Black Knight Posted August 1, 2016 Share Posted August 1, 2016 No, You'll need something more aggressive such as a proprietary paint stripper for those 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rob G Posted August 1, 2016 Share Posted August 1, 2016 My favourite is a caustic based oven cleaner, the cheaper the better. Spray, then leave in a sealed container for a while and scrub under warm running water. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
S5 modeller Posted August 1, 2016 Author Share Posted August 1, 2016 I've got nitromors and cheap poundland oven cleaner I can try. Will nitromors attack the styrene? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Black Knight Posted August 1, 2016 Share Posted August 1, 2016 Yup, Nitromors will reduce it to a mess of dissolved plastic. Oven cleaner may work a bit. Depends on what concentration of caustic soda it has in it. They all do, just in very small amounts. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
S5 modeller Posted August 3, 2016 Author Share Posted August 3, 2016 Hi again. A quick progress report on this. This is what I like to think of as my "strip tank". One large lunch box containing a full bottle of Dettol. I use it to strip enamel paint off small parts. On the advice above, I filled it up with warm water. My mule has been soaking in it for about 36 hours. Just had a check, not expecting much, and it's worked wonders! 99% of the red automotive top coat has peeled away, and the matt black below is dissolving. Had a quick scrub with a scouring sponge, and a fair amount of base plastic is visible. Quite surprised at this. I think there is grey primer, matt black, alclad chrome, more grey primer and cherry red on there, that I can remember. The Dettol is making steady progress through all of it. The roof and the headliner are a bit more stubborn, as it has been floating. Going to give it another day, the either weight it down, or flip it over. Makes you wonder, if this stuff can strip tough paint, why do we clean cuts out with it? Thanks for the advice. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Black Knight Posted August 3, 2016 Share Posted August 3, 2016 Its because it can do this is why its good for cleaning cuts and work surfaces. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
XitanAhmar Posted August 18, 2016 Share Posted August 18, 2016 Thanks for that, but will it shift automotive primer and hycote spray paint? It will clean and remove everything Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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