Anyone know what xylene does to plastics?

[Zephaniah Adriyen]

Exactly as stated. I've got a few models I'd like to strip (see my Secondhand Speeder for an example) and I happen to have easy access to xylene, which is supposedly a paint stripping chemical. The question is, will it melt the plastic? I figure it'd be fine for metals, but the models I'd like to strip (an entire thousand-point of Primaris, plus a Land Speeder, a Dreadnought, some Tau and a few Asuryani Guardians) are ALL plastic. Can anyone advise?

[m0nolith]

Im sorry, I'v never tried the stuff, but after doing a quick google search a lot of people say it works great on stripping metal models.

On plastic...yeah people use it, some say its fine. but others say that use one thing for plastic and xylene for metal making me think that they've had and issue.

I would try it out on a test model first.

 

Personally I use isopropyl alcohol on stripping plastic models which you can find in any pharmacy or general store. I can soak the model for hours without worrying about it getting damaged. Note tho, I'm talking about plastic and metal models here, don't use it on FW or Finecast Resin, it will melt them.

 

Other people live by using "simple green", but I'v heard that they've changed their formula recently. Dont quote me on that.

[Axineton]

Use gloves if your using xylenes mate: Xylene is a skin irritant and strips the skin of its oils, making it more permeable to other chemicals. The use of impervious gloves and masks, along with respirators where appropriate, is recommended to avoid occupational health issues from xylene exposure

 

From wiki.

[Zephaniah Adriyen]

Wouldn't dream of using anything on finecast or resin. Which is why I'm never buying finecast or resin secondhand. I've put my least favorite Fire Warrior (bought secondhand) into some xylene and let it sit; I'll update when the results are in.

[Ciler]

Xylene is a pretty rough solvent. I can't tell you for sure whether it's damage your minis or not, so the second best advice is : test it on a bit of sprue.

[Zephaniah Adriyen]

I... should have done that, in hindsight. I'll be checking the Fire Warrior (I chucked a helmetless Shas'ui into the goop since I don't play Tau anyway) when I get home from work, and I'll update then. No need to take the blueberry out now, yeah?

[Zephaniah Adriyen]

Oh good god this was a mistake. Also, got a headache while taking the picture JUST FROM WHAT SOAKED INTO THE PLASTIC, so nnnnnnope, no more xylene use. I'm looking into that purple degreaser fluid for paint stripping. Oh, yeah, it soaked into the plastic and softened it up, so that's fun.

[ImperialTuba]

Oh good god this was a mistake. Also, got a headache while taking the picture JUST FROM WHAT SOAKED INTO THE PLASTIC, so nnnnnnope, no more xylene use. I'm looking into that purple degreaser fluid for paint stripping. Oh, yeah, it soaked into the plastic and softened it up, so that's fun.

Let his sacrifice be remembered until the end of time.

[Arkhanist]

I do have some airbrush spray reamer that includes xylene which cleans the internals of acrylic very well, bit it definitely is headache inducing if used in any significant quantity without a respirator. Had no idea what it would do to models, but yeah clearly far too hot for that. At least it wasn't a favourite model!

 

Super Clean is the purple degreaser that's supposedly the mutt's nuts for paint stripping in the USA. Do use eye protection, latex gloves and follow appropriate safety precautions, it's fairly aggressive stuff on your skin though safe for plastic and resin.

[Zephaniah Adriyen]

Update: it's been, what, almost a week now, and that Fire Warrior still smells of xylene. Take this as a word of warning: do not use xylene on plastics. I figure it'd be fine for metals, though.

[DistroyA]

You're better off using 99.9% isopropyl alcohol. It's the quickest method (15 minutes minimum), and you can use the alcohol for other purposes, such as sterilisation and cleaning minor wounds.

 

Seriously, don't waste your money on purple degreaser or simple green. IPA is miles cheaper in the long run.

[Gederas]

You're better off using 99.9% isopropyl alcohol. It's the quickest method (15 minutes minimum), and you can use the alcohol for other purposes, such as sterilisation and cleaning minor wounds.

 

Seriously, don't waste your money on purple degreaser or simple green. IPA is miles cheaper in the long run.

Unless you're dealing with resin. Then Simple Green (or equivalent) is better because you aren't taking a chance of MELTING your models :lol:

[Marshal Rohr]

I use simple green because it's good for resin and plastic. Any kind of alcohol will turn your resin oily and gummy. 

[m0nolith]

I use simple green because it's good for resin and plastic. Any kind of alcohol will turn your resin oily and gummy.

 

So you’ve used simple green on resin and it worked out fine?

[Zephaniah Adriyen]

Been another week since the last update.

 

Boi still smells of xylene.

 

I fear he may never recover.

[m0nolith]

Been another week since the last update.

 

Boi still smells of xylene.

 

I fear he may never recover.

I think it may be time that you sacrifice him to the Warp, aka, the trash can.

[DistroyA]

To be fair, I wouldn't even attempt to strip paint off of resin. Too risky from what I've read up. Isopropyl alcohol is perfect for plastic and metal minis though.

[Zephaniah Adriyen]

At this point, I've no longer any hope for recovering the Fire Warrior; I'd just like to see how long until he stops smelling like evil and chemicals.

[Subtle Discord]

 

I use simple green because it's good for resin and plastic. Any kind of alcohol will turn your resin oily and gummy.

So you’ve used simple green on resin and it worked out fine?

 

I have, yes. It was a while ago and the formula has changed somewhat but I still would trust it since I've used on styrene plastic since the change with no problems.

 

I use Simple Green because it's also a good cleaner around the studio and house plus it's not full of horrendous chemicals, so it's win-win-win.

[Marshal Rohr]

Simple Green definitely works on resin for me. Soak for an hour - brush - soak for an hour brush and normally I'm good to go. 

[Brother-Chaplain Kage]

I use the Super Clean degreaser purple stuff and it's worked great on plastic, metal, and resin. Wear gloves and if you don't have a respirator make sure you have some good ventilation as the fumes are a bit strong

[Slaanbull]

I know you figured out that you shouldn't use xylene for stripping the models. But I was alarmed by the thread title and felt the need to comment on this in case anybody finds this post through a search engine or the like.

Xylene is quite hazardous, and as mentioned earlier a strong solvent, it can cause headaches, dizziness, drowsiness and a ton of other unpleasant symptoms throughout the body.

It can be absorbed through skin contact, ingestion and through breathing, you'll be fine with the small amount you've used, but as with most solvents and chemicals, if you can smell it you already need to air out.

This is not meant for giving you a scare or anything, but as we in laboratory work and most other places using xylene do our best to replace xylene with less hazardous alternatives, I would advice you to do the same.

 

Since there are so many healthier alternatives I would use some of the stuff recommended in this very thread.

[Zephaniah Adriyen]

Already started using Super Clean and it's working really well. Thanks for the warning. (For the record, I had immediate headaches when anywhere near xylene and stopped using it after the first model.)

[MegaVolt87]

Simple green works, though I had some really caked on paint to strip on an old tac squad and it still didn't all come off, but enough to prime + repaint ok. 

[Stoic Raptor]

Simple Green concentrate works fine, especially if you put it in an ultrasonic jewelry cleaner.  The small ones are inexpensive and available at a hardware store (I got mine at Harbor Freight for about $25).  I had some old second-hand minis that were awful.  Ran them through a couple of cycles, scrubbed with a toothbrush in between... within half an hour, they were back to bare metal.