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Best way to strip primer from plastic?


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So yeah... Like the topic says. I bought a bunch of used models recently, and for one they're white, and I need chaos black for the paint scheme I have in mind, and while in some cases I could go over it a second time in Chaos Black, the primer went on badly on most, w/ nasty bubbled textured and little solid flecks of primer. I've stripped chaos black from metal models before with simple green, but that took forever w/ stupid amounts of elbow grease, and again they were metal. I'm wondering if there's anything faster/better for removing white primer(I think it's the GW white) w/out damaging the plastic. I'd prefer it not remove/weaken the glue. But I don't mind if it does, just allows me the chance to personalize the models. Any help would be appreciated. Thank you

Simple green is the safest, simplest (pun intended) approach. It's non-toxic, requires no special handling, and no special disposal procedures. Just soak, scrub, wash, and repeat until clean.

 

Another approach to stripping stubborn plastic is DOT3 brake fluid. The stuff will remove anything from plastic, so long as the paint hasn't chemically adhered to it (which usually causes the plastic to melt anyway). However, you don't want it coming in contact with your skin (as it absorbs moisture and will give you a nasty case of dry skin) so wear nitrile gloves. Also, it can take quite some time to strip really stubborn paints, so be prepared to use two or three baths (and the second bath may take as much as a month of soaking). Finally, you can't just dump brake fluid down the drain - but most places were you can buy it will also take it back as waste. Once you've gotten the paint stripped, you will still want to scrub the minis with simple green anyway to get all the brake fluid residue off and then wash them with hot water.

I would echo that Simple Green is your best bet on plastic and resin. It really is virtually foolproof.

 

One thing I would add that I've noticed about stripping with Simple Green. It works better stripping primer that has been painted with acrylic paint. Every time I've tried to strip something that is just primed, it becomes very stubborn, not wanting to let go. The exact same primer covered with just one coat of paint slides right off. I have no idea why, it just does.

I've had Simple Green fail all the time. When it works, it works well. When it doesn't, it's useless. Pine Sol eats details, furniture stripper eats everything (and still sometimes fails).

 

Scraping off some of the paint can sometimes help the Simple Green get underneath and improve results.

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