trev
Road Foreman
Posts: 84 
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Post by trev on Jun 28, 2015 12:56:00 GMT -5
The last time I stripped a loco was back in the dim and distant past and I used good old brake fluid, a messy job but it worked. I'm looking for a less messy way of stripping back to bare plastic, but living in the UK I have not a clue what is currently available other than the aforementioned brake fluid. Anyone help? |
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Post by emd16645 on Jun 28, 2015 14:46:50 GMT -5
I use isopropyl alcohol to strip paint, usually as strong as I can get (usually comes in 70%, ~91%, or ~98-99%). In the states it's available in the first aid section of most pharmacies. I don't know about availability in the UK.
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sgoti
Chairman
Posts: 459
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Post by sgoti on Jun 28, 2015 21:30:11 GMT -5
+1 on the isopropyl!
Brake fluid can make some plastic brittle, so it's best to stay away from that.
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Post by big train james on Jun 28, 2015 23:56:06 GMT -5
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Post by T on Jun 29, 2015 6:20:32 GMT -5
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Post by big train james on Jun 29, 2015 15:33:54 GMT -5
Can the isopropyl alcohol be reused like many of the other strippers? Or does it need to be replaced after each use?
Jim
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Post by emd16645 on Jun 29, 2015 17:22:40 GMT -5
If you are careful it can be used more than one. When exposed to air, the alcohol will evaporate off, leaving just water, once the alcohol is gone, obviously it's useless.
An example of how far it can go, I stripped about 45 hoppers in bulk with 5 quarts of isopropyl.
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Post by cnj1524 on Jun 29, 2015 18:48:08 GMT -5
I HIGHLY RECOMEND Chameleon,a model paint stripper,see website chameleonproductsonline.com
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Post by PVRR 2647 on Jun 29, 2015 19:33:52 GMT -5
I have only used 91% alcohol for stripping paint on Athearn and Atlas locos, and it works great! The paint on Irv's stuff usually comes off after soaking for only an hour or so, the Atlas paint is a little more stubborn and takes a couple of soaks over the course of a few days. I keep the tray covered while the shell is soaking so that the alcohol evaporates less. As a testament to my legendary cheapness, after I finish stripping a shell I strain the leftover alcohol threw a coffee filter to remove the residual paint, and pour it back into the bottle for reuse.
PVRR2647
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Post by jwhite07 on Jun 29, 2015 20:30:13 GMT -5
I use 91% isopropyl for most everything... I keep it in a shallow Tupperware tub with a tight sealing cover, which gives it a decent "shelf life".
If the paint really just does NOT want to come off (some Kato models, for example, use some kind of paint that seems impervious to even months, literally, in 91%), I'll use E.L.O. I won't use it unless absolutely necessary, though, since E.L.O. is even more noxious stuff than isopropyl. The Chameleon product intrigues me... unfortunately the domain is expired on the link provided and it appears Walthers doesn't carry the product anymore. Is that product still a "going concern"?
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Post by emd16645 on Jun 30, 2015 4:18:38 GMT -5
I have only used 91% alcohol for stripping paint on Athearn and Atlas locos, and it works great! The paint on Irv's stuff usually comes off after soaking for only an hour or so, the Atlas paint is a little more stubborn and takes a couple of soaks over the course of a few days. I keep the tray covered while the shell is soaking so that the alcohol evaporates less. As a testament to my legendary cheapness, after I finish stripping a shell I strain the leftover alcohol threw a coffee filter to remove the residual paint, and pour it back into the bottle for reuse. PVRR2647 I've done just that as well. Last time I stripped a bunch of stuff I just sealed up a tray and left the residual paint floating on the bottom. Also, add proto shells to the list of easy to strip, all it takes is an hour or two and off it comes. |
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Post by PVRR 2647 on Jun 30, 2015 18:33:54 GMT -5
Chris~
I haven't had any projects come up where I needed to use a Proto (Walthers, or LifeLike) yet. Thanks for the tip, I'll keep it in mind when I start looking for future project locomotives.
Sincerely,
PVRR2647
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Post by emd16645 on Jun 30, 2015 20:29:48 GMT -5
Chris~ I haven't had any projects come up where I needed to use a Proto (Walthers, or LifeLike) yet. Thanks for the tip, I'll keep it in mind when I start looking for future project locomotives. Sincerely, PVRR2647 You're welcome, always happy to help when I can. |
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trev
Road Foreman
Posts: 84
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Post by trev on Jul 1, 2015 6:49:19 GMT -5
Great, gonna give it a go when the body arrives
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trev
Road Foreman
Posts: 84
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Post by trev on Jul 18, 2015 5:23:45 GMT -5
Gave it a go on a Bachmann gp30 body and after leaving it soak for several house, most of the stripes.numbers, and road name came off (its a black body) leaving the odd bit here and there, but of more concern is that in places the shell has displayed a kind of whiteish residue in places. Is it okay?
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Post by CP_8530 on Jul 18, 2015 12:05:41 GMT -5
Gave it a go on a Bachmann gp30 body and after leaving it soak for several house, most of the stripes.numbers, and road name came off (its a black body) leaving the odd bit here and there, but of more concern is that in places the shell has displayed a kind of whiteish residue in places. Is it okay? Sometimes the alcohol does that if it's older or has been sitting for a while. You can usually clean it off by scrubbing or rubbing it off with a cloth or tissue soaked in alcohol. |
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Post by PVRR 2647 on Jul 18, 2015 14:26:49 GMT -5
Trev~
I have had that happen to me on a couple of my projects. I used an old toothbrush and some regular Dawn dish soap, to clean the shell up after stripping, it's great stuff and cuts through grease and oil, as well as almost any other residual stuff. I then do a final rinse with distilled water and dry with a lint free cloth, and let if air dry for about 24 hours after that in the dish rack.
Sincerely,
PVRR2647
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Post by Mark R. on Jul 18, 2015 21:19:27 GMT -5
Scalecoat stripper. Soak in a container for about an hour and strips the paint off perfectly clean - even all the grillwork.
Mark.
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trev
Road Foreman
Posts: 84
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Post by trev on Jul 19, 2015 5:11:15 GMT -5
My brainy wife came up with a solution -- use good old vinegar - and it worked
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