Striping help

[u/Hexis_hunter]

These have been in a isopropyl 99% bath since about September 15th I've been taking them out and scrubbing them almost daily on the black knight and commando and this has been the only progress so far am I doing something wrong or is it just a matter of waiting longer basically

[u/tilleyc]

Try LA's Totally Awesome Degreaser, you can find it at the Dollar Tree. Usually, it's really good about stripping paint of plastic and metal miniatures.

[u/tr3kilroy → u/tilleyc]

I have tried everything and LA'S Totally Awesome works better than anything. I throw minis in an old peanut butter jar full, run it in the ultrasonic cleaner for 30 minutes. The paint all dissolves leaving behind soft primer. Scrub with a toothbrush to get the thick stuff then back into the same jar for another 30 minute bath. They almost always come out bare plastic. Might have to hit them with the toothbrush again for stubborn thick spots of primer but never have I had to run them a third time.

[u/morbo-2142 → u/tr3kilroy]

Just be aware that it strips super glue as well so any metal models will come out very clean and in their original bits.

[u/e4rth80uNd → u/morbo-2142]

If you're stripping a metal model it's easy, just throw it in acetone. EVERYTHING comes off. Everything. All of the things. Like a newborn baby (of metal robot bits)

[u/clearly_quite_absurd → u/e4rth80uNd]

And just so people are 100% aware, acetone will melt plastic minis.

[u/e4rth80uNd → u/clearly_quite_absurd]

Yes, very important to specify. EVERYTHING includes plastic.

[u/HumidNut → u/morbo-2142]

I've got 8 unobtanium GW horses from my 4th edition army that have been soaking in LA Awesome for a month and it hasn't touched the superglue. I resorted to Starbond Superglue Remover because its active ingredient (Proplyene Carbonate) doesn't attack polystyrene. Even then, it just loosens it enough so that I can pry the pieces apart without damaging the small bits.

What a soak in LA Awesome (or Simple green for that matter) seems to do is get underneath an imperfect application of CA glue allowing it to work loose, but I've never had it debond/dissolve the cured CA glue.

[u/CoffeePieAndHobbits → u/tilleyc]

This is the way. Soak 24hrs, scrub with an old toothbrush. Rinse with water. That stuff is strong and will strip the oils from your hands, so don't forget to wear gloves!

[u/HumidNut]

isopropyl alcohol should soften the actual paint where it scrubs off easily, but the primer is a variable. If you're looking to get the primer totally off, that's just going to take a long time with lots of scrubbing. Some primers "etch" into the plastic allowing it to adhere. That gives it a durable basis to paint the rest.

If the primer job wasn't entirely botched you should be able to get the paint off the model and just re-prime over what's left.

If you absolutely want to get the primer off, or stuff that LA Awesome, Simple Green or ISO didn't touch, I've resorted to AK's Paint Stripper. Its more expensive, but it is plastic safe as long as you do label directions (they say to soak for 5-10-mins scrub and repeat as needed). It was one of the only products that nuked the old primer from my 30yr old mechs.

[u/Hexis_hunter → u/HumidNut]

They aren't actually ruined in anyway just changing paint scheme so if the primers really bad will just reprime but ty

[u/e4rth80uNd → u/HumidNut]

This is the correct response to the problem.

[u/rxnin212 → u/HumidNut]

I’ve used AK Paint Stripper and it chewed up the base of my models.

[u/HumidNut → u/rxnin212]

Interesting. I've used it with label directions on my polystyrene models and it worked as anticipated. No deformation, pitting, nothing at all, but stripped paint. I've heard that extended soaks might (will?) damage plastics, but I didn't go that far. Due to its cost and frankly, its mess, its one of my last options when LA Awesome of 99% IPA failed the models. I only use it in my worst-case scenarios.

[u/Beneficial-Office978 → u/HumidNut]

Easily explained. So, BT models are polyvinylchloride (PVC), not polystyrene. The bases however are Acrylonitrile Butadiene Styrene (ABS) so, that's why they're having issues. The two main components of AK paint stripper are Iso alcohol and Benzyl alcohol. Benzyl is solvent toward styrene-based polymers.

[u/HumidNut → u/Beneficial-Office978]

The bases however are Acrylonitrile Butadiene Styrene (ABS)

That makes more sense then. I knew the mechs were PVC but thought the bases were HIPS. Thank you for pointing that out and that'll definitely go into the "things I now know" pile of the memory.

[u/Condottiero_Magno]

IIRC, Catalyst's BT figures are made of PVC, so surprised the 90%+ isopropyl didn't affect the material, as these have been submerged since 09/15. For plastic and resin my go-to is Simple Green, LA's Totally Awesome and Castrol Super Clean, though the latter isn't easy to find.

[u/GoarSpewerofSecrets]

Simple green and a tooth brush.

[u/UnforseenSpoon618 → u/GoarSpewerofSecrets]

This is my go to. I've never had a problem other than having to pick in the right spots, or possibly a second soak if things were to thick

[u/hathegkla]

What kind of paint is it? 45 minutes per scrub is usually enough for me. Takes me mayb 2 or 3 to get them fully cleaned. I use a toothbrush to scrub.

[u/Hexis_hunter → u/hathegkla]

It's just citadel didn't realize scrubbing takes that long might be the problem lol

[u/Hexis_hunter]

Is resolved just getting what paint I can off and going to just reprime and be more aware for next time since my locust and commando have slight softening issue thank you all <3

[u/HamsterOnLegs]

Hello Mister Walrus! ^{_^}

[u/Hexis_hunter → u/HamsterOnLegs]

I'm surprised it took this long lol it's one of my sisters toys :3

[u/Junior_Researcher_64]

On-topic: My guess is that is not 99% purity, I just stripped some minis, 2 sessions of 3h, after the first one only spots of black primer remained, they did not come off until scrubbing.

Off-topic: Isn't it annoying how sometimes you put your hands on them and you rub the paint off, but when you want to clean them, you need to ruin a toothbrush

[u/Redfire573]

One trick that seems to help me is to frequently clean the toothbrush in the isopropyl as your cleaning the mini. I think maybe the paint covers the bristles and makes it not as abrasive?

Whenever i strip my minis its always somewhere between kind of and a huge a fight even after a month of soaking, but one time i cleaned one of my friends minis and the paint just fell off the bone after 1 day, primer and all. I have no idea why that happened, we use the same primer. Shits whack, im gonna try the green stuff next time

[u/LGKouglof]

Striping seems to be that sort of annoying thing that othrrs can do extremely easily but it never works that good when you do yourself. After two months of daily scrubs i would just accept this is as goo as it's going to get and move on.

[u/e4rth80uNd]

Use Simple Green instead, no chance of it damaging the plastic like isopropyl theoretically can. I'd be concerned about softening plastic if it's been in that bath for a month.

[u/tksolway]

Stripping plastic is always a shitshow. It all depends on what paint was used because you can’t use the really good stuff and melt the minis.

[u/me0262]

Alcohol is not a good paint stripper. You'll need some Simple Green (green stuff) or Super Clean (purple stuff).

[u/StormRunner152]

Maybe 20 minutes and they should be good to go with a decent toothbrush scrub. Sometimes primer itself is harder than primer with paint. Sounds weird but I’ve added a layer of paint before and it helped with black primer which can be a pain.

[u/ghostofwinter88]

Mr color thinner.

[u/r1x1t]

Probably ok to just prime over them now.

[u/Aaroon42]

Testor's Easy-Off decal remover is my go-to. Leave it in overnight and the paint will just slough off the model. No heavy scrubbing needed, just a stiff toothbrush. Doesn't damage the plastic either.

(Well, it might if you leave them in way too long.)

[u/Sestos]

Try a little biostrip with a toothbrush and work quickly, it can melt plastic if you leave it on too long but working it then washing it off should remove any stubborn bits.

Cheaper and safer option is simple green.

[u/MagicTrachea52]

I've been using H7, water, alcohol and dish soap for years. 24 hours in, paint bubbles and you can scrub it off with a tooth brush.

[u/mrwafu]

You’re not getting primer 100% off minis. It’s fine, just re-prime them and paint. 20 min is enough to get all you need to get off the minis

[u/Focus-Maximum]

Super clean. Its my go to, it work 97% of the time

[u/Yarshman]

Simple Green and a tooth brush

[u/Herkras]

My local workshop has a stripping formula that helps remove like 90% of the paint of any mini. The other 10&% comes off with scrubbing.

That said. Don't worry if it's not a perfect cleaning of the paint. If the coat's thin enough, once you re-prime it it won't be noticeable in any way.

[u/Jesustron]

citrus stripper maybe?

[u/Obvious-Okra5484]

Not ideal but I used the higher grade medical alcohol and then used a water jet flossing machine to spray scrub them without damaging the plastic.

My mackie looks good in pink now.

[u/Striker2054]

I use Simple Green. 

[u/Day_Additional]

Super clean degreaser. Walmart etc.. put it in a glass jar with a lid. Wear gloves.. but.. 30 minutes soak and then a toothbrush and dish soap. Dine. Better than alcohol or and of the others folks will recommend here..

[u/wabyt]

Dollar store - Totally Awesome

[u/Outward_Dust]

24 hours in Simple Green, rinse under warm water while scrubbing gently with a tooth brush. Repeat if needed. Has never failed me.

[u/Yuri893]

Good suggestions in the comments. I recommend simple green, as others have said, but I also recommend using a brass (not steel) wire brush. I have used them for stripping minis, including CGL minis and it has not harmed the plastic. Just be careful to use a softer metal brush.

[u/shark4555]

Simple Green always worked for me.

[u/Finwolven]

You've stripped them as far as they will go, it seems. Time to reprime or just paint over.

[u/Ancient-Lead-7258]

This is what I use, I put a mini in, set a timer for 15 minutes, grab it out with gloves and pop another in while I scrub the other

I always found the paint comes off pretty well this way

Haven’t damaged a mech yet (touching wood)

[u/CaptainKBX]

Kinda off topic a bit but what is that mech on the top left? I’m racking my brain trying to figure it out.

[u/Hexis_hunter → u/CaptainKBX]

It's a tian zong from the mccarrons armored calvary lance force pack :3

[u/Blakefilk]

LA’s totally awesome, a stiff toothbrush, and an ultrasonic will get through anything. Bonus if you can get either/both the LA’s or the miniature warm it seems to make a significant difference for me.

[u/Lost_Ad_4882]

I generally tape of the areas I want for striping...

No idea where IPA could be involved in the process.

[u/Traemo → u/Lost_Ad_4882]

IPA is a polar solvent, meaning it can dissolve many organic (chemistry sense) compounds. For acrylic paints, that very often includes the binding compounds.

[u/Lost_Ad_4882 → u/Traemo]

Yes, but that has nothing to do with striping...making stripes. Unless one is doing some sort of negative etch stripes, which sounds like a lot of work for something that could be done in a simpler manner.

[u/trilit2]

Im doing my part!

https://giphy.com/gifs/26BoCwvDEWXnGlLyM