Cleaning gunk from using Dettol

[DiscipleOfTheWord]

Hi all, 

 

I used dettol to strip a load of my old models, and the result on about 80% of them was that the paint came off, but then sort of melted back on again, mixing with the dettol to create a thick gunk which obscures all detail on the models. Here are some examples so you can see what I'm talking about:

 

As you can see, it's pretty bad. Anyway, so my question was does anyone know how to get rid of this stuff? The very bristly toothbrush I uses to scrub off the paint from the 20% of models on which the stripping did work has almost no impact, and I'm starting to despair that I may never be able to use the models again...

 

Your help will be much appreciated. Thanks!

 

[Chaplain Raeven]

I think I had the same issue with mine. Do you use water to clean of the models after soaking them in dettol? The mixture of dettol, paint and water results in some nasty gunk. It's best to scrub off the paint while the mini is submerged in dettol or by dipping your brush in it instead of water. I only use water to rinse the model AFTER all paint has been removed.

 

I don't know if another soak would help, I didn"t try again with my flyer, since the amount of dettol needed to try again would cost me more money than a new flyer. Good luck!

Edited October 24, 2017 by GreyRavenC

[Marshal van Trapp]

Never personally used dettol but have you tried acetone? That usually removes everything from my metal models

[Major_Gilbear]

Your issue with the Dettol gunking is likely to be a reaction with water and soap just as the others here have explained - always scrub the model clean whilst immersed in the pure Dettol, and only rinse the models at the end when they're all clean.

 

For metal models, I use pure acetone - the models come out very clean, but again need to be scrubbed when immersed in the acetone.

 

One more thing; as you scrub the models, the paint and glues partially dissolve into the stripper. Therefore, if you are doing a big batch of figures (which I would say is anything over a dozen trooper figs) in a glass jar, you will find as you get past model #10 that the stripper starts to feel more saturated and will struggle to get the figures as clean as did earlier. I would therefore always recommend stripping in multiple smaller batches.

 

For plastic figures, you can try 100% Isoproyl Alcohol. On old paint it can take a prolonged soak, and thick paint (or paint lodged in deep details) may take a few soaks with scrubbing in between, but you should otherwise have good results within a few hours on most models.

[DiscipleOfTheWord]

Thanks for the suggestions of other things I could use apart from dettol, I don't think I'll be using dettol again! Do you think it would work if I gave the models another bath in a paint stripper in order to strip away the gunk, or should I try something else?

[White Wolf]

I used to make use of Dettol for cleaning paint from Miniatures. When they were gunky I used to use a cocktail stick for removing the worst of the gunk, then hit them with a squirt of fairy power spray and a quick whizz with an old electric toothbrush.

 

Worked a treat, however the wife banned me from using Dettol due to the smell, so now I use iso propyl alcohol and an ultrasonic cleaner. Less gunk, but a cocktail stick is really handy when there is some.

 

ATB WW

[Razblood]

I started using methylated spirits and got some good results, old paintwork may need multiple runs though and it seems to have issues with some primers, in that it struggles to shift them. Another option is acetone free nail polish remover, but be wary here as it will melt plastic if left for more than 20-30mins. Neither leave the nasty gunk that dettol does, however the polish remover does have a strong odour, but not to the same level as dettol.

[Fhanados]

Worked a treat, however the wife banned me from using Dettol due to the smell, so now I use iso propyl alcohol and an ultrasonic cleaner. Less gunk, but a cocktail stick is really handy when there is some.

 

 

I got wife-banned from using Dettol as well, now I use methylated spirits in the back shed. The smell washes off quicker!

 

For me the gunk problem was solved by 3 things: scrubbing it off while still in the dettol, repeating the process until clean, and avoid mixing with water!