Paint Removal

[skunk]

Hello everyone!

Does anyone have a preferred method to remove paint from diecast metal models? I am going to trawl other sites as well, but figured that all the info I need would be right here.

It is preferrable for me to hear about things that are available over here, German oven cleaners may be amazing but I can't seem to find them stateside. ;D


cheers

[MSteele]

D.O.T 3 Brake fluid. that is my poison of choice. ;D

[skunk]

I got tired of researching and shoved them into a jar of thinner. It's working well so far. No plastic, no problem!

[Eric]

Skunk,

As long as there are no plastic parts this works fine. I always use thinner for die-cast models (I am impatient too.. ;D )

Eric

[Sabuu]

How about Castrol Super Clean?

[Alan]

I would say that brake fluid works for me as well, but I have only done it once!

[RAOlson]

I tried Castrol Super Clean on the Walmart diecast cars (Malibu/Planet Toy vans/Motormax) and it didn't even touch the paint. DOT3 brake fluid was tried next, but it started very slow. Thinner finally was used and cleaned the cars in about 36hrs.

Richard O.

[austinvfd]

Here is the quickest way to remove paint from a diecast model. I have tried every trick in the book, and nothing is as easy and as fst as this:



Mar-Hyde Aircraft Coating Remover

Spray on, or apply with a brush, any size. Within 10 seconds, the paint lifts from the surface, and after 30 seconds, you rinse, yes, rinse under warm water. Done. On occasion I re-apply to get spots that were missed with the first spray.

This is a MUST for anyone that strips diecast models.

And BTW, it eats plastic.

[skunk]

Sounds impressive. What does it do to your skin?

I am going to go get a bottle right now.

[austinvfd]

skunk said:

Sounds impressive. What does it do to your skin?

Impressive is not the word. Miraculous is a better term It is aircraft spec. stripper (forgive the expression ) . I'll let you guess what it does to skin.

I have only experienced one model that was very reluctant to shed it's paint when I put this on.

It was a white metal casting by NJ International. It stripped 90% of the paint off, but some of the paint appeared to have gotten absorbed into the metal itself. I ended up priming and painting with no problems. Perhaps the softer metals soak up some of the paint.

I have personally stripped an entire truck cab, less the grill, because of a nice factory applied emblem I wanted to keep. I simply applied the stripper with a small paint bursh instead of spraying the entire cab, and washed it off. The painted grill was left intact, and the rest of the cab was bare metal. I could not believe it. Just wash the paint off under warm tap water. I use a tooth brush to gently scrub any panel lines or details that have paint in them, but it usually all comes off no problem. Even then, it's nothing a second shot of stripper won't get off.

Try it, you'll see for yourself. You can strip a model in under 1 minute with this stuff. But again, metal only, this stuff kills plastic.

[peterwitt2424]

Try Chameleon Model Paint Stripper The Phone number is [phone] also sold by Walters I have used this for over 4 years every once in a while I filter it through a old panty hose
Don
Chilliwack

[cfesmire]

Diecast is the easiest to remove paint from since the Zamac is virtually indestructable. I use a paint stripper made for furniture most of the time but when in a hurry, I drop them in lacquer thinner. Remove all plastic of course.

[jackfitz1944]

I have used Pine-Sol cleaner with good results. It might take two to three days but it won't hurt plastic in this time period. I have left plastic bodies in it for a week or more and they start to get "rubbery".

[Cor_DutchArt]

skunk said:

Hello everyone!

Does anyone have a preferred method to remove paint from diecast metal models? I am going to trawl other sites as well, but figured that all the info I need would be right here.

It is preferrable for me to hear about things that are available over here, German oven cleaners may be amazing but I can't seem to find them stateside. ;D

Skunk,
Did you aready try to put the model in brake fluid for one night?

Cor-Dutchart.

[skunk]

The other day I was trying to remove some stickers (and glue...) from a Bburago 1:43 car. I applied some rubbing alcohol, because I had a bottle handy. Imagine my surprise when the paint started soming of as well! The alcohol stripped most of the paint, and the stuff in the various crevices became very brittle, really easy to get off.

I don't imagine that this technique works on every car, maybe Bburago had to use some kind of water soluble paint due to EU regulations? Who knows.