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Painting - Strippin minis

Indigo - May 16, 2003 - 08:24 AM
Post subject: Strippin minis

Does anyone have any advice on how to quickly and easily strip paint off old minis? I am mainly using metal ones, so I dont need to worry about melting plastic, although advice on that would be nice too.

I have tried using turpentine, soaking the minis for three weeks, then brushing using a tooothbrush but it is still REALLY hard work and the paint in crevices is nigh on impossible to get out.

I've heard rumours that Dettol (a UK antibacterial cleaner) works wonders - I'll be trying that one out tonight.

Dave - May 16, 2003 - 08:28 AM
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If it works tell me please.

Thinner goes well

Acetone sometimes.

Snots has a wonder brand, don't really know what actually but it works all right

aerofool - May 16, 2003 - 09:43 AM
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What you need for the metal is BIX stripper. It's practicly effortless. You just take a few minis in a glass jar and just pour the bix over them. Let them sit for about 30 min to an hour depending on paint thickness. then pour off the bix (either dilute with water or seal in a separate container and throw away). Then flush the minis in the jar with water (from a hose)and watch the paint just go away! You need to do this outside, and with rubber gloves. Bix is cuite caustic, but the fumes aren't so bad when you work with it outside. If you can get a high pressure nozzle for your hose, it helps "power" some of the paint from the cracks. We're talking little or no scrubbing or brushing at all! After you rince them off, let them soak in a warm bath of soapy water to wash off what little chemical may be left on the minis and you're done!

jaylazer - May 16, 2003 - 09:54 AM
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I haven't done a lot of painting and even less stripping.

But, I just used Rubbing Alchohol to strip some Wood Elves.

I had used Citadel paints but never sealed them.

I just soaked them for about 10 minutes and the paint came right off with a little brushing.

Has anyone else tried this?

I got the idea from an artist that works with my wife. (At an art restoration studio.)

aerofool - May 16, 2003 - 10:00 AM
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Rubbing alcohol works well on most water based paints. It does not work as well with oil based paints once they are dry. I had tried it before and scrubbed all day with no success. I had a similar result with acetone. Maybe it was becuse of my oil based primer I use.

jmccubbin - May 16, 2003 - 10:32 AM
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Try paint thinner with a metal brush, like the one I use to clean my golf clubs. It has both a tooth brush style bristle and a brass bristle. You have to be careful when brushing soft metals (old lead fgs)

Also I think wood/oil paint stripper works well without hurting the minis, just don't breath the stuff. You know the stuff one would strip exterior oil based paints from ther wood trim on the house.

SBG - May 16, 2003 - 02:01 PM
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For those in Canada and US, you can use PineSol.

Fred

Colin - May 16, 2003 - 09:46 PM
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Yeah, Pinesol works great.

Darkson - May 16, 2003 - 11:19 PM
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Stripping mini's?

Make sure you have a complete toolbox (spanners, ratchets, etc), plastic bags to put all the little screws, clips etc in.

And don't forget the most important part, the Hayne's manual. You won't go far with that.

What? What do you mean this isn't the Rover Mini's Owners website? Embarassed

Squiggoth - May 19, 2003 - 02:33 AM
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LOL

Anyways,

Thinner is dead cheap and works after soaking the mini for about 5 minutes. Just get it out and brush it with a toothbrush. It always works for me. For plastic, it seems that a good strong soda bath will clean the model in a few days, but I haven't tested that one yet.

Martijn

Indigo - May 20, 2003 - 03:05 AM
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can I get BIX in the UK? Also, I heard the Dettol contains the same active ingredient as PineSol (which we can't get over here) hence my efforts to try it out. And would you believe it - the one time in my life I've needed Dettol and the supermarket has sold out.

typical

Indigo - May 20, 2003 - 03:06 AM
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Anyway, I'm looking for this bix stuff - can anyone clarify which one of these is best?

http://www.bixmfg.com/products.htm

And a UK source would be appreciated too.

aerofool - May 20, 2003 - 07:27 AM
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It's your regular bix stripper (top of the list). This stuff is excellent!

Indigo - May 20, 2003 - 07:34 AM
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where do you get it from though?
and according to the file it says it is re-usable... is this true and if so how (do you pour it back into the tin?)

aerofool - May 20, 2003 - 08:04 AM
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I get it at the local hardware store ($5 US a can, would probably run you 3 pounds in the UK), but I'm sure you can find it anywhere that sells painting supplies. Yes, it is re-useable to an extent. Just pour it back in the tin. However, some colors (reds and most flesh tone paints) can make the stripper look dirty and I don't always feel comfortable re-using it.

Indigo - May 20, 2003 - 08:12 AM
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cool - I'll be hitting Homebase after work then
(a DIY store Wink

)

AnthonyTBBF - May 20, 2003 - 09:25 AM
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I think Dettol and PineSol might be the same thing. Dettol looks nastier but if it made of pine oil then that's the stuff.

Easy Off oven cleaner worked well for me too (and I cleaned the oven at the same time! Wink

)

Indigo - May 21, 2003 - 02:26 AM
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lol I'll be forced to clean the oven too if the wife sees me getting oven cleaner for minis

I tried dettol last night, but I dont think the Floor Cleaner version has as much pine oil in as if hardly touched the paint on the minis. I think I bought the wrong stuff though

Indigo - May 21, 2003 - 11:08 AM
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OK sports fans, it's official - by far and away the best thing ever to use to clean minis is "Nitromors". I got it from Homebase (UK) for about £3 and after about 1 minute or less, a small amount had completely removed the paint from about 15 minis! No scrubbing! Well, I did scrub with a toothbrush to make sure the mini was clean so it would hold an undercoat, but the paint literally fell off!!

It's awesome stuff!

bouke - May 22, 2003 - 11:52 AM
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The best stuff I have ever found is Castol's Super Cleaner. It can be found at any auto parts store. And it works GREAT! It sometimes missing getting the primer a little bit. And you will need a tootbrush to scrub it (preferably not one you use to brush your teeth Laughing

), but it should strip it pretty good.

Dave - May 22, 2003 - 11:59 AM
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not here in holland unfortunately

Squiggoth - May 26, 2003 - 02:27 AM
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In Holland you can get Big Boss' huismerk thinner, silly Dave. Did I mention I live thirty meters away from the nearest Big Boss? Razz

Deathwing - Jun 02, 2003 - 06:54 PM
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Indigo wrote:

OK sports fans, it's official - by far and away the best thing ever to use to clean minis is "Nitromors".

LOL! Only just caught up with this thread. It's long established wisdom that Nitromors Green is the weapon of choice in the UK (and a search on TBB would have told you this without messing around with Dettol.. Rolling Eyes

).
Unless you've got some enamelled figures from ebay or something though, any Great Mills/B&Q/Wilkinson's etc own brand paintstripper does the job just as well and is considerably cheaper.

Squiggoth - Jun 03, 2003 - 02:09 AM
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Deathwing wrote:

any Great Mills/B&Q/Wilkinson's etc own brand paintstripper does the job just as well and is considerably cheaper.

I've used Wilkinson to shave myself... Hopefully they make better paint removers Confused

Redfang - Jun 03, 2003 - 02:17 AM
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I used Wilkinson knives too, and I really wanted to like them; they look better; they are better balanced, and the way they hold feels better, but somehow they just don't work. I'm using a Gilette now; I hate it, but it does shave better (a bit)

I think it mostly has to do with the distance between the blades; it's easier to remove hairs from between gilette blades than from between Wilkinson blades...

R

Redfang - Jun 03, 2003 - 02:17 AM
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Or am I Off Topic now?

Indigo - Jun 03, 2003 - 03:19 AM
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just a little
but hey who cares - gilette mach 3 is the best shaver ever and gilette 3 TURBO is the biggest gimmick ever.

Redfang - Jun 03, 2003 - 03:53 AM
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Still, a Gilette Mach 3 looks like Crap, a Wilkinson 3D Protector, while not as good a shave, has a lot better grip and looks a lot more pleasing...

Grasshopper - Jul 29, 2003 - 10:36 AM
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Probably going waaaya overboard, but has anyone tried Brake Fluid? The guy at my locacl hobby shop recommended that.

skummy - Jul 29, 2003 - 11:51 AM
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I've heard good things about brake fluid, but never actually tried it.

Gertwise - Jul 29, 2003 - 02:56 PM
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I've tried brake fluid and it does strip paint, just takes a LOOOOOONG time. Then ya have to scrub the crap out of em.

Colin - Jul 29, 2003 - 08:12 PM
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Just use Pinesol, works great.

Melifaxis - Jul 29, 2003 - 10:52 PM
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Torg wrote:

Just use Pinesol, works great.

Yup, I've had good success with it too.

Paintbeast - Aug 27, 2003 - 10:07 AM
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Pinesol is your safest bet. It works an everything up to and including automotive primers, safe enough to wash down the kitchen drain, dirt cheap, and if you are careful you can use it to strip paint from plastic...but you must be very careful). The reason Pinesol works is that the active ingredient is Pine Oil. There is a European brand with the same properties as Pinesol, but for the life of me I can't remember the name...you can find it in the cleaning section.

Take care!
Eric
Paintbeast@yahoo.com

jaylazer - Aug 29, 2003 - 07:49 AM
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So. What would Pinesol do to plastic mini's?

I've got a bunch that need a stripping. I didn't paint them so I don't know what's on them.

Indigo - Aug 29, 2003 - 07:59 AM
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allegedly, if you water it down 50/50 and leave it a few days, it works wonders

jaylazer - Aug 29, 2003 - 10:09 AM
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Indigo wrote:

allegedly, if you water it down 50/50 and leave it a few days, it works wonders

I can always test on one a lineman and see what happens.

I forgot to ask this in the last post.

How do you separate a mini from it's base when it has been glued in?
I don't really care about the base, but I do care about the minis.

Melifaxis - Aug 29, 2003 - 10:24 AM
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jaylazer wrote:

Indigo wrote:

allegedly, if you water it down 50/50 and leave it a few days, it works wonders

The base is just plastic...Cut it off King

jaylazer - Aug 29, 2003 - 11:00 AM
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Melifaxis wrote:

The base is just plastic...Cut it off King

Um .... yeah .... that's what I was gonna do ... I was just testing you ....

Thanks. Embarassed

40KVet - Aug 29, 2003 - 02:06 PM
Post subject: Another option

Use Easy-off.

I know it sounds wierd but it works and it is friendly to the Environment, Mr. Green

and basically non-toxic.

I usually spray and let stand for an hour, and it dose not harm plastic.

another option is to use Brake Fluid.

It is more potant than Paint thinner, but it is dangerous and expensive.

Also You could try gasoline......... Twisted Evil

then light them on fire.

I did that to a terminator....it worked......sort of......he was black afterwords Twisted Evil

SuM - Sep 03, 2003 - 11:27 AM
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I swear by Oven Cleaner, any brand, for Metal Minis...

When using Oven cleaner, the paint Bubbles up, and in about 15 minutes,
the Paint almost rolls off by just running water over them, then
I take a Finger Brush and Wa-La they are clean...

Take Precaution tho, You can use this stuff inside your House, but
Please don't inhale the Vapors... You will cough forever...
Maybe just take out side and spray your Minis, but if you do spray inside,
spray and back off after the Vaper Dispates, DRIVE ON!!!

Plastics, I don't strip too often, I have friends that use "Simple Green"
and/ or Brake Fluid on their Plastics... I need to try this... I
have a Bunch of 40K Marines that need re-done...

Gertwise - Sep 03, 2003 - 01:56 PM
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If you superglued your bases on, use fingernail polish with acetone in it and it will strip the paint and dissolve the superglue also. I wanna say it's safe on plastic parts too, but I haven't ever tried it.

Khaine - Sep 09, 2003 - 01:15 PM
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Will this work on mini's primed with rustoleum? Bought a used set but the guy told me he used rustoleum to prime them and it's very uneven and bumpy almost as if he flcocked them before he spreayed them <the actual mini not the base>.

Gertwise - Sep 09, 2003 - 01:52 PM
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I can't say if acetone will work on it or not, but it's taken off every paint I've ever dropped in there. Make sure you put the mini's in a covered whatever you're gonna put them in. It will evaporate overnight otherwise.

westonwyse - Sep 11, 2003 - 10:02 PM
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Geez, 3 pages of posts, and no one has mentioned scotch or Jim Bean. I have no idea if it would work or not, but I'm really surprised it hasn't come up. Confused

Indigo - Sep 12, 2003 - 03:25 AM
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probably because people tend to drink the stuff rather than pour it over a metal model... Wink

Grasshopper - Sep 15, 2003 - 08:09 AM
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westonwyse wrote:

Geez, 3 pages of posts, and no one has mentioned scotch or Jim Bean. I have no idea if it would work or not, but I'm really surprised it hasn't come up. Confused

BLASPHEMY

... Scotch, Bourbon & Whickey are meant to be used WHILE you are playing... Silly man. Mr. Green

Melifaxis - Sep 15, 2003 - 09:00 AM
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What's Whickey? Wink

Hangus - Sep 15, 2003 - 10:48 AM
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its whiskey after you have had a few. Normally goes with iishhh

Deathwing - Sep 15, 2003 - 11:08 AM
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Grasshopper wrote:

westonwyse wrote:

Geez, 3 pages of posts, and no one has mentioned scotch or Jim Bean. I have no idea if it would work or not, but I'm really surprised it hasn't come up. Confused

BLASPHEMY

... Scotch, Bourbon & Whickey are meant to be used WHILE you are playing... Silly man. Mr. Green

Agreed...

..throw it into your opponent's eyes if they call IP...

Razz

Hangus - Sep 15, 2003 - 11:12 AM
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is that before or after he sets alight to it?

Melifaxis - Sep 15, 2003 - 01:19 PM
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After. Definitely after. Orc

Grasshopper - Sep 17, 2003 - 04:26 PM
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Now now... theresh no shense in needlesh violensh... after all whaddid that poor drink do to you to desherve shuch hoshtility? King

Savage3e - Oct 09, 2003 - 12:38 PM
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Here in the US I use Simple Green. Its non-toxic, non-harmful, won't eat plastic, disposes of anywhere, and is easy on the skin. The only drawback is that you need to let the minis soak for 12 hours or so to get off enamels and such.

EvilGit - Nov 03, 2003 - 02:46 PM
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indigo

what ratio of nitro mors to water did you use or did you just use it neat?

about to strip some 2nd ed elves that i've been meaning to do for ages.

Indigo - Nov 04, 2003 - 12:28 AM
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I used about 60/40 in favour of the nitromors.
Basically I threw about 8 figures in a glass bowl then gave them a reasonable coating of nitromors, swirling it around with a big stick. Then I added just enough water so all the figs were submerged and swirled it again.

I wouldn't do more than about 8 at a time as I find it tends not to work as well. Also, I've heard mixing it with turps/white spirit has an even better effect although I wouldn't want to risk this....

Colin - Nov 04, 2003 - 08:14 AM
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I would recommend Pine-sol (or any cleaner with pine oil in it, if you don't have Pine-sol in your country), it works great, doesn't harm your minis and no toxic fumes, etc.

howlinggriffon - Dec 02, 2003 - 04:19 PM
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I had a whole team of 15 halflings to strip as well as 20 odd Mordian Iron Guard figures - I popped them in a jam jar, covered them in neat Nitromors and left them for a day. After a little scrubbing with a toothbrush all the paint's gone from all the figs.

The halflings were an Ebay purchase and they must have been painted for years as they're lead. Top product, Nitromors...

Howling Griffon
www.howlinggriffon.co.uk

Deathwing - Dec 02, 2003 - 05:17 PM
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Yeah, I go with griffon's method, chuck em in an empty jar, tip on some neat nitromors and leave them overnight.

Deathwing - Dec 02, 2003 - 05:20 PM
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Indigo wrote:

I wouldn't do more than about 8 at a time as I find it tends not to work as well. Also, I've heard mixing it with turps/white spirit has an even better effect although I wouldn't want to risk this....

INDIGO IN XMAS GOBLIN KITCHEN EXPLOSION SHOCKER!!! Shocked

Indigo - Dec 03, 2003 - 12:26 AM
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Old_Man_Monkey - Dec 03, 2003 - 05:50 AM
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Oh please no! Indie was going to make an all time great trophy for the TKC!!!!

Well, OK, can you send me an arm or other appendage? I'll use it to make up a Memorial trophy for the "Best Sport" award! Wink

-OMM