GHQ Models Forums

Hi Everyone,

I don't know if this has been covered before in an earlier post, but I was wondering if any of you know of anything that will strip paint from plastic, without destroying the item i'm trying to remove the paint from.

Thanks in advance for any help you can give on this,

SeaHarrier2006

I'm assuming this is for enamel paint. Brake fluid, i use it all the time. Use an old glass jar, soak the plastic item overnight (Although it really only takes a couple of hours)The fumes really are not that bad but I would still let it sit in your garage or outside. If it's acrylic paint, smother the item in cheap white glue, let it dry overnight, peel off the glue and off comes the paint. I use both of these techniques all the time and they work great for me. Good Luck

I like quick and easy methods:

Buy some EZ-Off oven cleaner (or any other oven cleaner) and spray it on the surface. Wait a few minutes (10 - 20, whatever the mfgr recommends) and then run it under water with a brush (if you're mad at the wife, use her toothbrush - she'll have a really clean mouth - just kidding everybody!). Paint comes off completely - nothing will remain and plastic will be completely unharmed (unless you scrub too hard or use a metal wire brush).

Chris

Many thanks on those ideas, i'll gove them a try and see what results i get.

Cheers for now,

SeaHarrier2006

Wear gloves and protecive eyewear!

Always, always wear gloves (e.g. surgical gloves) and those big plastic glasses when using solvents (other than water and ethanol maybe).

In my experience if you painted your model using oil enamels, you may need to soak the model for days until the paint comes off, so be patient.

Simple Green. Soak for a couple days and it comes right off.

No harm to the plastic?

AFAIK Simple Green is safe for most plastics. Still, if I were planning on soaking something for a few days I would want to test it first on a piece of similar material.

If the paint in question is acrylic there is an easier solution at hand. Windex. Or any cleaner with ammonia in it. It removes acrylic paint (and Future floor finish) almost instantly with little or no scrubbing. Just rinse in water and you're good to go. Safe for all kinds of plastics except acrylics. Just don't spray it on lexan. (Don't ask how I found out about the lexan)

regards

Steve

I second simple green, I have used it for Games Workshop figures and have never had any problems, even soaking the figures for days on end.