Use of white spirit for stripping

[Custodian Athiair]

Just a quick thing, I have searched but all that came up was things which were being suggested not technique.

 

So I've been trying methods today, Detol seems to be working slowly after an hour or so in the "bath" of it, paint is slowly stripping with a tooth brush.

 

However I've also seen white spirit being mentioned. What is the technique here? Dilute it and soak? Or dunk and scrub?

 

Thanks for any help

[NovemberIX]

Someone correct me if I'm wrong, but I think white spirit would melt plastic. If it's a metal model have at it by all means, but I think any other material and it'll just end in tears. Detol/fairy powder spray/purple power/simple green really are your best bets for plastic.

 

I normally use it undiluted, at most maybe 1:8/1:10 dilution with water. I will say in my experience the solvent will lose efficacy the more it is adulterated with dissolved particals from previous use.

[GodEmperorOfMankind]

Stick with the Dettol my friend, the proper brown stuff that stinks and you can't get rid of the smell.

 

Leave it in there for a couple of hours, then get a toothbrush scrub! The paint just comes off. give them a rinse and let them dry. Be sure you've got all the Dettol off afterwards, or painting will go badly for you ;)

 

If you wanted to spend the money, I've heard an ultrasonic cleaner and IPA works well, but you'll need to get a decent one

[KaosRaptor]

Stick with the Dettol my friend, the proper brown stuff that stinks and you can't get rid of the smell.

Leave it in there for a couple of hours, then get a toothbrush scrub! The paint just comes off. give them a rinse and let them dry. Be sure you've got all the Dettol off afterwards, or painting will go badly for you

If you wanted to spend the money, I've heard an ultrasonic cleaner and IPA works well, but you'll need to get a decent one

I can testify to the brown Dettol method. I used it for the first time on some Tau models recently that were thick with paint (I never really decided on a scheme, and they had several undercoats.... ), and after a few hours soaking a lot of the paint had just crumpled up and floated off many of them. Followed up with a toothbrush scrub for the rest.

Admittedly they still stink of the stuff, but it does work really well.

[CoffeeGrunt]

I personally can't stand Dettol, because it comes out in a horrible tar-like sludge even after leaving it for a couple of days.

 

After a recommendation from a friend, I started using Acetone-Free Nail Varnish, (the Acetone-Free part is essential!) Now I've had mixed results depending on what company I buy it from, but it strips off paint within about an hour of leaving the minis in a cup of it, evaporates easily, and leaves the paints as a bunch of small flecks peeled off the mini. It also leaves any Chaos Black or Skull White Primer intact, which may or may not be an advantage. (I find that most old, crappy minis are base coated with Abbadon Black, so it comes off nicely allowing you to put a real primer on it.) You can easily grab this stuff from the girly aisle of any drug store or supermarket.

 

On metal minis it's an absolute cakewalk. Strips them in about half an hour, and some light brushing gets the rest off.

 

Now I don't know about suppliers in other countries, but the stuff stocked at Superdrug here in the UK is simply excellent. Grab the blue bottle, as it's the one I use and know it works. However, do not under any circumstances use the stuff from Tesco. I still have to compare ingredients to find out why, but it tears plastic minis up and made them flexible like rubber until it dried. It ruined 3 Tau Piranhas and a handful of converted Guardsman.

 

It may be best to test brands with old plastic minis you no longer care for, or spare bitz you don't need. However, trust me when I say that Acetone-Free Nail Varnish Remover is amazing for stripping paint from minis.

[lhg033]

I've tried acetone-free nail varnish remover (from superdrug as well) and had it melt the plastic model. lost the finer details off both and ork and guardman model in testing. it has since been used up for its intended purpose by my wife so wasn't wasted at least.

 

I have powerspray somewhere and keep meaning to try it out.

[CoffeeGrunt]

Really? The models I've used it on have come out good as new. Hmmm, might be worth some investigation.

[Teetengee]

Whatever you use, I would suggest you start on some painted sprues first, with some details nicked in them with a hobby knife.

[Disruptor_fe404]

White spirit will definitely melt plastic models. I used it for metal models, and one of them was stuck tight on the base, and the base became a blobby mess.