For years, I've had success using the laundry detergent in a water bath for stripping paint from prewar and postwar trains. But recently, that doesn't work when stripping a Weaver boxcar or recently some K Line cars. The current paint formulation must be different enough that even days in the bath doesn't soften the paint so I can scrub it off with a tooth brush. So, if you have had success with a stripping medium on current plastic shells, could you share.
Thanks
Replies sorted oldest to newest
For years, I've had success using the laundry detergent in a water bath for stripping paint from prewar and postwar trains. But recently, that doesn't work when stripping a Weaver boxcar or recently some K Line cars. The current paint formulation must be different enough that even days in the bath doesn't soften the paint so I can scrub it off with a tooth brush. So, if you have had success with a stripping medium on current plastic shells, could you share.
Thanks
some use baken soda to strip plastic cars..I use plastic striper ..you can get that in a rattle can forum..been painting cars for a living for 33+years now..with car body parts that are plastic and theres a strippers out there that are plastic safe...Ive use automotive paints to paint my train stuff.....PS maybe there using newer automotive paint...older post war die cast body where painted with old alkaloid and lacqures paints..
Pre and post war oven cleaner has worked for me.
Joseywayles, do you have a brand name and where you buy it for your spray can stripper? I've checked with my Home Depot and all they have are strippers that are not for plastic.
I've also heard for years of using auto brake fluid, but never heard of anybody actually using it. Any reports from those of you with how well it works?
Dawn Power Dissolver worked fine on a postwar 027 diesel body for me. Much stronger than regular Dawn dish washer liquid.
I have had good results with isopropyl alcohol. The higher the percentage of alcohol the better. I use 91% found at Walmart. I just put the item in a ziplock bag and let it soak for a couple of days. I follow that up with a good scrubbing with an old toothbrush and a mix of dish soap, scouring power and water to get the paint out of the nooks and crannies. Isopropyl alcohol won't hurt the plastic. I don't know if Denatured works the same because I haven't tried it.
Peter, go on to http://dieseldetailer.proboards.com. There a a lot of hardcore model railroad painters and detailers there and they can give you a lot of good information.
SkyHookDepot, I went to that site and here's what I found:
Over time though, I think the parts of the shells you didn't replace are just going to fall apart.......plastic and denatured alcohol don't play well. The denatured alcohol basically leached all the oils out of the styrene. Same thing happens to most body shells with brake fluid or Pine-Sol as a stripper. All those microscopic cracks will just continue to spread and you are going to pick up the model one day and it's going to turn to dust in your hands. I am not trying to put you off of your project.......just keep this in mind as you continue working on it.
There go a lot of traditional solutions! Wish he'd offered his solution. I'm glad Mike D's suggestion of isopropyl alcohol was not on the list. Since I've already tried unsuccessfully dissolving with soap, looks like I need to try some to see how it works.
Joseywayles, do you have a brand name and where you buy it for your spray can stripper? I've checked with my Home Depot and all they have are strippers that are not for plastic.
I've also heard for years of using auto brake fluid, but never heard of anybody actually using it. Any reports from those of you with how well it works?
Go to your loco autobody paint store or autoparts place that mixes and sells automotive paints..think SEM and 3M makes those rattle can strippers..
I have had good results with isopropyl alcohol. The higher the percentage of alcohol the better. I use 91% found at Walmart. I just put the item in a ziplock bag and let it soak for a couple of days. I follow that up with a good scrubbing with an old toothbrush and a mix of dish soap, scouring power and water to get the paint out of the nooks and crannies. Isopropyl alcohol won't hurt the plastic. I don't know if Denatured works the same because I haven't tried it.
Same here!
Isopropyl alcohol, YES?, Denatured alcohol, NO! What method, material would you
use for a steam loco boiler on a loco you do NOT want to disassemble. Not going to
soak that in a bucket...will have to scrub it....
Access to this requires an OGR Forum Supporting Membership
