I'd like to know how you would strip the paint of an Athearn wide vision caboose. Model paint stripper can be bought from static model shops here in the Philippines, and it appears to be my only choice. How could I effectively use this?
How to strip paint from an Athearn wide vision caboose?
- Thread starter mikebalcos
- Start date
Soaking in automotive brake fluid will strip many paints.
May take more than one bath.
A soft-bristled toothbrush lets you gently scrub with little liklihood of damage.
Good luck.
regards,
May take more than one bath.
A soft-bristled toothbrush lets you gently scrub with little liklihood of damage.
Good luck.
regards,
Full strength Pine-Sol cleaner and a toothbrush will work too. Just be careful, if it soaks too long it will damage the plastic.
Denatured alcohol is the chemical agent in automotive brake fluid that works as paint stripper. I don't know what is available in the Philippines, but Home Depot and Lowes here in the U.S. carry denatured alcohol in 1 gallon containers in the paint thinner area of the paint dept.
All seem like good suggestions. I would add maybe washing it with soap and water afterward so that there isn't any chemical left that would interfere with painting (bother your hands and the like)...
Safest product is 91% isopropyl alochol.
It isn't caustic, doesn't have much in the way of fumes, and I have soaked cars in it for literally weeks (when I forgot them) with no ill effects.
Paint generally comes off in sheets with a toothbrush after an hour or so soaking.
Very cheap, in plastic bottles at Wal-mart or drugstores here.
What I use and swear by is called Castrol Super Clean. You can find it any place that sells automobile parts. It comes in a big purple container. It works better than anything else I've tried and is safer than most. It has a nice pleasant smell but most importantly it takes any paint off in no time without damaging or even softening the plastic. The only drawback is that you MUST wear gloves because this stuff will quickly remove a layer of skin. Other than that it's great.
Yes--CSC is my second choice if, by some chance, the alcohol doesn't do the job. I highly recommend it as well.
Thanks for all the replies. 
I liked the isopropyl alcohol approach most. In fact, I thought of this:
Tamiya acrylic thinner + 70% isopropyl alcohol
Acrylic paint/thinner is water based, thus I think the 70% isopropyl alcohol will mix well. I tried to look for 90% isopropyl alcohol here in the Philippines, but I had no success in the drug stores. I might, however, find it in scientific laboratory supply stores.
I liked the isopropyl alcohol approach most. In fact, I thought of this:Tamiya acrylic thinner + 70% isopropyl alcohol
Acrylic paint/thinner is water based, thus I think the 70% isopropyl alcohol will mix well. I tried to look for 90% isopropyl alcohol here in the Philippines, but I had no success in the drug stores. I might, however, find it in scientific laboratory supply stores.
I've not found any 90% isopropyl alcohol here in Metro Manila. But I've successfully found denatured alcohol at hardware shops. Will denatured alcohol do as well as 90% isopropyl alcohol?