Stripping metal.

[GrandMagnus]

Hi guys/gals, I want to strip some old metal minis I have. Any suggestions on how to do it? I've tried acetone, but after 8 hours the results weren't as good as expected. Should I try terpentine instead?

[lokkorex]

Nail-polish, without acetone.

 

Best paint removal i've ever used, smells horrible, melts plastic and resin, but gods-damned if it doesn't remove paint like a charm.

[Major_Gilbear]

I hate to be "that guy, but that question gets asked here a few times a month... have you tried searching this part of the B&C forum? I ask as there are a fair few options, but it partly depends on where in the world you are (product availability etc).

 

For example, I use 99.6% pure acetone and it works really well. Others use Dot-4 clutch & brake fluid, or Simple Green, or oven cleaner, or Purple Power, or paint thinner, or... Well, you get the idea! ;)

 

At least metal models are easiest to strip because they don't dissolve in most things you'd use to strip paint.

 

(Also, longer soakings in acetone are usually better in my experience, and sometimes I re-soak them if they need it).

[GrandMagnus]

I hate to be "that guy, but that question gets asked here a few times a month... have you tried searching this part of the B&C forum? I ask as there are a fair few options, but it partly depends on where in the world you are (product availability etc).

For example, I use 99.6% pure acetone and it works really well. Others use Dot-4 clutch & brake fluid, or Simple Green, or oven cleaner, or Purple Power, or paint thinner, or... Well, you get the idea!

At least metal models are easiest to strip because they don't dissolve in most things you'd use to strip paint.

(Also, longer soakings in acetone are usually better in my experience, and sometimes I re-soak them if they need it).

Well, I'll have to admit that I did not check the forum But thanks for the suggestions, I'll see what I can find.

[Brother-Chaplain Kage]

Acetone is something I only suggest for really stubborn models. For example, some years ago, I got some painted metal figures of another game off of eBay, and I could NOT get the bases or the arms off, as whatever glue the guy had used was stronger than the pewter and plastic. In fact, I bent and nearly broke one of the arms trying to pull it away from the shoulder. For that, I used acetone, and in a matter of a few hours, it had dissolved the paint, the glue, and the remnants of the plastic bases that were still stuck to the slotta tab. Due to its vapors and the potential bad stuff that exposure to skin can do, I don't recommend it for normal stripping of metal figures.

[GrandMagnus]

Acetone is something I only suggest for really stubborn models. For example, some years ago, I got some painted metal figures of another game off of eBay, and I could NOT get the bases or the arms off, as whatever glue the guy had used was stronger than the pewter and plastic. In fact, I bent and nearly broke one of the arms trying to pull it away from the shoulder. For that, I used acetone, and in a matter of a few hours, it had dissolved the paint, the glue, and the remnants of the plastic bases that were still stuck to the slotta tab. Due to its vapors and the potential bad stuff that exposure to skin can do, I don't recommend it for normal stripping of metal figures.

Well the acetone did manage to strip the glue off the model, which was great but the paint is really stubborn. I painted them mini some 5 years ago and it has a lot of thick layers of paint.

[Udo]

Petrol.

[Major_Gilbear]

I sometimes find that to help them along, putting the pre-soaked models in a glass bowl with some acetone and scrubbing them with an old toothbrush really gets them clean.

 

You do need to exercise some care and do this outside where it's ventilated (and out of the sun/high temps), and also be aware that scrubbing more than a small number of models like this can really dry your skin out if you have much contact with the acetone (using clamps to hold the models by their tabs helps here).