Model Paint Stripping Bath Solutions

[Whiterook]

Recently heard that this product makes a great paint stripping bath. Industrial strength, yet biodegradable and phosphate-free. Every bottle is a full-strength concentrate that can be diluted down. $12.98 a gallon at LOEW’s

[Whiterook]

LA’s Totally Awesome

Another one! From a modeler on Facebook…

Go to the Dollar Tree, Dollar General and buy some Totally Awsome. Set model in it for 1 day. Scrub with a toothbrush. You won't believe how easy paint comes off with no damage to the plastic. You won't be disappointed.

From the manufacturer’s site…

Our original All Purpose Cleaner, degreaser, and spot remover is the inspiration behind the LA’s Totally Awesome Name and the cornerstone of our product lineup. A unique blend of proprietary ingredients works between the spot and the surface to harmlessly remove even the most stubborn of stains from any washable surface. Dilute the concentrated formula for the solution to almost any household cleaning need. Nothing gets the job done like LA’s Totally Awesome Products.

LA's Totally Awesome is non-toxic and biodegradable; it's free of acid, ammonia, bleach, and phosphorus; and it's non-flammable and safe for septic tanks

I like this one for the price alone… $3.75 USD for a 64 fl.oz. bottle at Dollar General.

[McCoy]

Many use brake fluid or owen cleaners for paint stripping but both can in some instances harm the plastic and make it brittle. Especially brake fluid can be harmful. Besides that both is harmful for our lungs, especially owen cleaners. So your examples here above is good alternativs to those products.

And you can use chlorine if you want to strip chrome from plastic. Most chromed parts is chrome free after a 5-10 minute bath in chlorine.

[Whiterook]

Oct 19, 2024 8:44:22 GMT -5 McCoy said:

Many use brake fluid or owen cleaners for paint stripping but both can in some instances harm the plastic and make it brittle. Especially brake fluid can be harmful. Besides that both is harmful for our lungs, especially owen cleaners. So your examples here above is good alternativs to those products.

And you can use chlorine if you want to strip chrome from plastic. Most chromed parts is chrome free after a 5-10 minute bath in chlorine.

I was seeing brake fluid as a much used product among modelers it seems, but I really don’t like the idea of it probably needing special disposal requirements for hazardous materials… here in the Northeast United States, our towns and cities have strict guidelines and restrictions on having to bring such substances to hazardous disposal sites near out landfills. I am guessing that brake fluid would be one of those fluids.

I also see the oven cleaners suggestions, but I used those back in my college days, working for an elderly home cleaning service in the summer months, and that stuff is naaaaaaasty! Personally, I’l steer well clear of that stuff 

I like that Super Clean and LA’s Totally awesome are non-toxic and biodegradable.

BTW… I am assuming these work very well on acrylics; not that I use them but, so they work on enamels, as well?

[McCoy]

I've not tried to strip enamels so I can't say certainly if it works. And yes, both those nasty fluids is classed as hazardous pretty much anywhere you go on the western hemisphere...