Paint removal

[Ernie]

Hi guys,
  I want to remove the oil paint from the struts of my Camel
and repaint them.  Could you tell me what I would use to
strip them down?
  Thanks for the help!

Cheers,
Ernie

[kornbeef]

A lot depends on how old the paint is and if the struts are attached.  Reasonably new paint can be carefully removed with white spirit type thinners and cotton buds.  If your plane is assembled then you may be kid of forced to delicately scrape the paint away trying not to damage the surrounding paintwork.

I'm sure someone has a much better idea than mine though 

Keith

[Ernie]

Thanks Keith!  Luckily, the struts are still loose so I will
give your advice a go.  Worth a try.

Cheers,
Ernie

[Whiteknuckles]

Let us know how it goes Ernie and any tips (if any)

Andrew

[mc65]

hi ernie,
I found recently a product that resolves (actually dissolves) this kind of problems. it's a general purpose home cleaning product called "chante clair sgrassatore universale". obviously it's available in italy, and I don't know about around the globe... but I think that there are equivalent products in the home cleaning stash.


before I have used brakes fluid or white spirit, but now it's so easy: just spray the product on, wait few seconds, then rub all (and I mean ALL) away.

I use it also to give the airbrush a deep cleaning.

be careful about: it has dissolved also the chrome plating on the cup of my iwata, I don't know what it can do to lungs! I use always the mask, when use it with air pressure.

 

[Ernie]

Hi fellows
I tried Keith's idea and the way I went about it was I gave the struts a
bath in the spirits, which softened the paint somewhat.  After that I found
I wasn't able to rub it off with kitchen roll, so I ended up scraping it off
with an exacto blade.  This was very easy, I think due to the previous
soaking. I was pleased that in this way it didn't affect the plastic at all,
so thanks again Keith!
Paolo, the  "chante clair sgrassatore universale" sounds pretty strong,
like it would remove my cement floor from my garage.
Do you dilute it at all?

Cheers,
Ernie

[kornbeef]

Glad it worked Ernie. If it had been older paint you could have used Oven cleaner, the aerosol type works well, Put your parts in a poly bag and spray the Oven Cleaner in and seal it up for a while,  then wash off and gently scour your parts clean, if it still sticks you can repeat.

That cleaner sounds incredible though, must look into that, maybe Cillit Bang here.  *Bang and your plastics gone!* is a worry though
 
Keith

[ALBATROS1234]

you can ususally get paint off with 91% isopropyl but there is also a product called scalecoat wash away which will strip even old enamel and acrylic off a model without damage to plastic. i also use it as a brush cleaner.i buy it from my local hobby shop but here is a link i just got from a search.great stuff really.

http://www.modeltrainstuff.com/Scalecoat-Model-RR-Paint-10568-Wash-Away-Paint-Str-p/smz-10568-wea-10568.htm